You don't have permission to access / on this server.

[marjorie]

A bit of  crazy one but... I've set up a forum in a subdomain (forum.xxxx.co.uk) and getting a situation where some users - including me occasionally! - get an Access denied messgage. Its so hard to fathom

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access / on this server.

Additionally, a 404 Not Found error was encountered while trying to use an ErrorDocument to handle the request.
-------------
I'm wondering of its anything to do with the current theme directory /home/linweb29/a/xxxxx.co.uk/user/htdocs/forum/Themes/default appearing as a full rather than relative path?

Comments?

[LiroyvH]

That's either:
1.) A chmod problem
2.) A problem with rules in your .htaccess
3.) A ownership problem (eg: files or folder(s) not "chown"ed properly. Note: that can also be a, or multiple, parent directories)
4.) Mod security triggers

The full path should not be a issue.

[JustOneOldMan]

Probably one of the things CoreISP mentioned, but just another thought.

Are your users adding a "www." in front of the address?  If you're not configured for it, that can also cause issues...

[marjorie]

I defined the subdomain a couple of days ago, tested it on my lappy with three browsers and it was fine.

Gave it to the world to have a look at and some reported problems, not all.

I tried connecting this morning from lappy 2 and three bowsers failed to connect. Then later only two browsers worked, not Chrome. I had a chat with the webhost (FastHosts, as you asked) who said it was obviously a software problem and my version of Chrome 'didnt support subdomains' (...). Later this pm - After my op - only one of the browsers on lappy 1 would connect and none of the browsers on lappy 2. Now they are all connecting. Meanwhile I have made No Changes.

Its a strange one...

[JustOneOldMan]

Can you post the actual subdomain URL if it's not private?

[marjorie]

Tried various things but the problem continues.

The URL is forum.acme.co.uk which redirects to www.acme.co.uk/forum

Right now I can connect from IE and Chrome but not FF from the laptop I'm using now. In the past I ve been able to connect using all and none of the  browsers. Other users have a similar variable experience. I can always connect via teh full url

I get the feeling its a webhost setup issue but their take is that if they can connect locally there is no problem.

Comments?

[Kindred]

Why does a subdomain redirect to a subdirectory?
That's just poor setup, and likely to cause issues...

However, your issue itself , aside from domain/directory confusion, is likely to be a host issue, as you said.

[marjorie]

Why does a subdomain redirect to a subdirectory?

right now the subdomain and main domain are colocated on the same server, but down the line the subdomain may move somewhere else.

Also its less to type/easier to remember... but that aside...

[TheFitnessclubdotnet]

I am having the same problem.. Hosting with go daddy and installed through a cpanel. I try adding a board and get the same error message as the OP

[LiroyvH]

This starts to lean very much towards mod_security going ape... ehh... getting angry.
Please ask GoDaddy to (temp.) disable it on your account and try again, see if that fixes it.