Package Manager not displaying

[bosswhite]

I have posted this on SimplePortal forum also, but post here incase anyone else has encountered this or knows of a solution.

I have SMF 2.0.4 installed.

Since installing SimplePortal 2.3.5 the  Package Manager only displays as a blank white page and I cannot use it. All other administration features work fine.

What could be causing this?

[kat]

Have you looked in your error-log?

Anything pertinent, there?

[bosswhite]

Nothing in error log.

I am only assuming there is a connection with SimplePortal installation as that was the last time that I had accessed and used Package Manager.

The url shown when I select PM is
index.php?action=admin;area=packages;b6d73a284c85=b4dc2b90cb0501ada5ba7f4992749bec

Does this seem correct?

[Storman™]

I would guess that SP has not installed completely.

Suggest you manually check all the file edits that SP makes.

[Kindred]

this seems to be a recurring issue with some folks.

I have never been able to reproduce it and I wish that we had some commonality between the reports that we could point to (like, all on the same host, or all making the same edits, etc)

The likely cause has to do with chmod permissions on files...
in which case the resolution is simple - make sure that all of your files (new and edited ones, especially) are the correct chmod for your host (likely to be 644)

the other likely cause has to do with improperly modified files.
Did your install of simpleportal go automatically and without an errors? Did you have to make any manual edits?

[bosswhite]

Did your install of simpleportal go automatically and without an errors? Did you have to make any manual edits?

It appeared to install OK and I didn't have to modify any files.

I am test driving SMF with SimplePortal before making a decision on switching my established forum to these.

I have backed up my database and will now reinstall SMF and then SimplePortal and keep a log of any issues, as and when they occur.

[kat]

A hunch...

Do you have a mod named PrettyURLs installed, by any chance?

[bosswhite]

Do you have a mod named PrettyURLs installed, by any chance?

No, I didn't have that mod installed.

Now, here is the weird thing:
I deleted ALL files from my forum directory. I then copied a fresh install of SMF 2.0.4 into that directory but, instead of running Install.php I copied Settings.php (from my earlier install) back into the forum directory.
I then went online and, hey presto, everything works fine (obviously not the portal stuff) and when I went into Package Manager all was well and displayed correctly.

Then I uploaded (via FTP) SimplePortal mod into packages as I had done previously (when the site was working OK) with all my mods. Then, when I tried to go into Package Manager on my site - blank white screen!
So I deleted the SimplePortal directory from packages and then Package Manager is working OK again but obviously there are no packages to view!

[Storman™]

Try installing it as a package instead of uploading it in a directory.

In  Administration Center => Package Manager => Download Packages use the "Upload a Package" functionality instead.

[bosswhite]

Weird!

As soon as I clicked on upload - blank white screen
If I then delete the package I uploaded everything is back to normal.

It appears that as soon as a file is placed in SMF/Packages directory this is what happens.

[Storman™]

Are the permissions of the Packages folder set at 755 or something else. Also is the "owner" the same as all the other folders ?

[bosswhite]

Packages folder is set to 755

How do I check the 'owner'?

[Kindred]

I wonder....


What you uplaod the file through the package manager and you get a blank screen, look in the packages directory... what is the chmod of the mod file


Does this same problem happen with all mods or just simpleportal?

[bosswhite]

• I just tried uploading another package and the same thing happens
• When I upload I am selecting a .zip file, is this the correct way?
• I am using free hosting to test these utilites (SMF and SimplePortal) and they are currently displaying the following:
  
  We're currently experiencing issues due to a DDoS attack targeting our servers. This is resulting in some of our customers sites being slow or even unavailable. Our admin team currently blocking attack source and server should back online shortly.
  
  This is a global issue and most of the incoming traffic is being directed to the WordPress login page which is why during the attack WordPress logins will be disabled and wp-login.php script will redirect to our error page.
  
  could this be anything to do with it, although I don't get redirected to their error page

[fanta291327]

The same thing is happened to me, it lets me download them, but when i go to install it just has a blank white page.... nothing happens and it wont install.... is there anyway SOMEONE can fix this for me....?

[fanta291327]

But i do get a warning in the warning log:



Ron Neal
74.139.33.56   
    Today at 02:41:28 AM
ac07db0d73aca1987912284b10e6a4a7
Type of error: Undefined
hxxp:star-rp.net/index.php?action=admin;area=membergroups;sa=edit;group=18 [nonactive]: Undefined index: group_inheritFile: /home/starrpne/public_html/Sources/ManageMembergroups.php
Line: 659


Problem Line:
==>659:         if ($_POST['group_inherit'] != -2 && !allowedTo('admin_forum'))

[Kindred]

Fanta, that error has nothing to do with the package manager problems.

[fanta291327]

Sorry,
Its just aggravating that i cannot install mods....

[Kindred]

So, answer the same questions that I asked bosswhite...

[fanta291327]

Not sure what you mean and ALL MODS i do not even have simpleportal

[Kindred]

I want to know what the chmod permissions are on the files in the packages directory

[fanta291327]

 /home/starrpne/public_html   Writable  (chmod: 0750)               
      agreement.txt   Writable  (chmod: 0777)               
      Settings.php   Writable  (chmod: 0644)               
      Settings_bak.php   Writable  (chmod: 0644)               
        attachments   Writable  (chmod: 0777)               
        avatars   Writable  (chmod: 0777)               
        cache   Writable  (chmod: 0777)               
        Smileys   Writable  (chmod: 0777)               
        Sources   Writable  (chmod: 0755)               
        Themes   Writable  (chmod: 0777)               
        Packages   Writable  (chmod: 0777)

Then the things on the side all say "No Changes"

[mashby]

@fanta291327:
Inside Packages...is there a temp folder? If so, what is it set to?

[fanta291327]

No theres no temp folder...

but it says:
Please Note:
Be careful when changing file permissions from this section - incorrect permissions can adversely affect the operation of your forum!
On some server configurations selecting the wrong permissions may stop SMF from operating.
Certain directories such as attachments need to be writable to use that functionality.
This functionality is mainly applicable on non-Windows based servers - it will not work as expected on Windows in regards to permission flags.
Before proceeding make sure you have an FTP client installed in case you do make an error and need to FTP into the server to remedy it.


These are the only folders:

/home/starrpne/public_html            
      agreement.txt               
      Settings.php            
      Settings_bak.php                  
        attachments               
        avatars                  
        cache               
        Smileys               
        Sources               
        Themes               
        Packages

[mashby]

Make a folder titled "temp" inside Packages and try 755 on it. Then try and install a mod.

[fanta291327]

Nope.
Temp was already added in actually i was looking in the wronge spot, but no it still doesnt work and Temp is already in packages.

[Tavsih]

White screen problem happened with me too .It was a webhost issue .Free webhosts have  a limit of PHP/HTML files for each user and that is why the white screen was coming when i was clicked 'Browse Packages' .
'Temp' folder thing happened with me too when i installed 2.0.3.I deleted the forums and reinstalled and this time no problems were there.

[fanta291327]

My hoster is not free.
hosting 24 -- $21.88 /month
Anyways, if i uninstall and reinstall will i loose all of my boards, members, etc...?

[bosswhite]

Sorry, i've missed a lot of this as I am based in UK and it was sleeptime!

I want to know what the chmod permissions are on the files in the packages directory

When I upload the file and check on server via FTP the permissions are 777.

As mentioned earlier I am uploading a .zip file but nobody answered my question as to whether that was OK.

[Kindred]

zip should not matter.

chmod777 MIGHT matter.

Try changing it to 755 and see if you can install it then...

[bosswhite]

No, changing it to 755 has no effect.

Under normal circumstances I can access and view the following pages:

• Administration Center » Package Manager » Browse Packages
• Administration Center » Package Manager » Download Packages
• Administration Center » Package Manager » Installed Packages
• Administration Center » Package Manager » File Permissions
• Administration Center » Package Manager » Options

Once a file has been uploaded I can access and view all of the above pages, with the exception of Administration Center » Package Manager » Browse Packages which becomes a blank white screen and can only be re-accessed and viewed after the file has been removed from the Packages folder.

Just as a side issue I have noticed that all folders have a file size of 4,096 when they are 0 file size on my PC. Don't know if this is normal as I have never really looked before.

[Kindred]

whoops...   my mistake.  change the FILE chmod to 644
see if that makes a difference.

My guess, based on the fact that it only craps out on you when it goes to look at the packages directory is that something on your server is choking when it tries to read that directory. the most common cause that I have seen to do this is invalid chmod permissions based on the host's set up.

You should also go to your host and ask if they have a maximum chmod setting for directories and files...

[bosswhite]

No, I changed it to 644 and still no different.

You must remember, though, that originally I was able to install packages.
I transferred them via FTP and then installed them via Package Manager which was able to see them.

It is just that now, however I transfer them they produce this blank white screen once they are in the Packages folder!

I am beginning to think now that SimplePortal is not such a good idea anyway (even though I like its features) because I have posted a couple of queries on their site and had no answers and each time I have visited (quite a lot of times) there is never more than 1 or 2 members online, so I don't think that support would be very good if I did install it.

Disregarding this, though, I am down to just SMF at the moment and am getting this problem.

[Kindred]

bosswhite,
Just to confirm, you have uploaded a clean set of SMF files (fomr the large upgrade) thus uninstalling EVERY mod...  and you still get this error?

If so, at this point, I can only suggest that you check with your host and see if they can shed some light on it.

[fanta291327]

If i uninstall and reinstall,
will i loose my members, boards, posts, etc...?

[Kindred]

no one said anything about uninstalling.

I said - tkae the files form the large upgrade package and overwrite all of your forum files with those (Settings.php should not be overwritten)

All of your posts and members are stored in the databse, which has nothing to do with replacing the files.