406 Not Acceptable (2.0.7)

[k1ngqu33n]

Do you know if the Linux hosting plan lets them switch the mod security without affecting others?

[Lou69]

They should be able to whitelist your domain without affecting anyone else.

Depending on if they are using modsec1 or modsec2 also determines how it can be done.

[Lou69]

I have had this same problem on a Joomla install, a SMF install and another forum software install. It was always mod_sec causing the problem.

If you move to another host let them know you are moving due to mod_sec. If you are using 2.0.7 then ask for a server with PHP 5.5. If you can not get that 5.5 then install 2.0.6 on a 5.4 or lower PHP version.

Now, you could try installing 2.0.6 on the GD server and see how it works out.

[k1ngqu33n]

He just said they made some changes in the mod_security thing and to let it take about an hour to take affect.
Does that seem about right?

[Lou69]

Yep .. that sounds about right. It can actually be quicker but the host will always pad the time a bit. I can't blame them for that.   If you tell a customer it will be ready in 5 minutes they expect it in 5 minutes. Always tell them it takes longer and deliver it in half the stated time. 

They probably are not whitelisting your domain but are writing a rule set for your domain. Someone else in GD is now working your problem and they probably have seen this before with SMF or other software. They will write a ruleset and push it to the server. Soon you will be good to go.

Good for you for standing your ground with them. Sometimes you have to do that. 

[k1ngqu33n]

Yep .. that sounds about right. It can actually be quicker but the host will always pad the time a bit. I can't blame them for that.   If you tell a customer it will be ready in 5 minutes they expect it in 5 minutes. Always tell them it takes longer and deliver it in half the stated time. 

Good for you standing your ground with them. Sometimes you have to do that. 

Well I was on the phone for about 2 and a half hours.

[Lou69]

Is that all!   

Well, that is a long time actually but sometimes you have to be the squeaky wheel when dealing with customer service with any company. Usually squeaking and being nice goes a long ways with a CSR rep.

GD is a huge outfit with probably a thousand CS reps and not all have the same level of understanding. Sometimes you get the person that understands right away and sometimes you have to squeak for a good while.   

[k1ngqu33n]

Is that all!   

Well, that is a long time actually but sometimes you have to be the squeaky wheel when dealing with customer service with any company. Usually squeaking and being nice goes a long ways with a CSR rep.

GD is a huge outfit with probably a thousand CS reps and not all have the same level of understanding. Sometimes you get the person that understands right away and sometimes you have to squeak for a good while.   

Yeah I get ya lol.
Well, thank's a lot for helping me through the whole time I was on the phone and off

[Lou69]

Glad to help you.   

If after GD does their magic, should you still have problems, continue to work with them. They may need to work with the rule set a bit. Probably though they will get a good rule set for you the first time.

When it all works, please come back and mark the thread as solved so others will know to use your experience as a learning tool.

Good luck with the new site!   

[k1ngqu33n]

Should it be working by now?
I just tried it and it's still giving me the error.

Should I give it more time?

[Lou69]

Oh yeah, defintely give it the full hour. It really does take more than 5 minutes.    At this time of the night, it may actually may take longer should they have any maintenance activity or mirroring activity going on. Give it an hour at least.

If you have FTP ( filezilla ) then do not use any auto install facility that GD may have. Go to the Downloads page here and download the 2.0.6 version and install it. You will have to unzip the package on your PC and upload it with Filezilla. Then do the install. Don't try to use the package you have on the server now. Delete it and start anew.

Don't use the 2.0.7 yet as I don't think you are on a PHP 5.5 server, though you may be. Use 2.0.6 first. You can ask GD what the PHP version is when you next talk with them. If you have CPanel access, the version will be listed on the left side of the panel. If you do not have Filezilla or are not familiar with it then certainly use the GD tool for auto install.

[k1ngqu33n]

I already used their installatron for the process he led me through.
And it installed 2.0.7 Simple Machines. Should I just keep it the way it is now?

[Lou69]

Sure, keep it on 2.0.7 if it is installed now and working.

2.0.6 is a known safe version for 5.4 and below.

2.0.7 is a known safe version but it prefers 5.5.

So keep it on 2.0.7 if he has worked with you on getting it installed. You should be good to go. 

When you are satisfied with the install please mark the thread solved so others can learn from your experience.

[k1ngqu33n]

Alright. I'ma head to bed and fill you in the news in the morning.
It's 1:00 AM here.

Lol. Good night mate and thank you for all your help.

[Lou69]

You are very welcome.   

[k1ngqu33n]

Nope. The problem is still occuring.

[Lou69]

Ugh!  Well, you will have to talk with them again. Have their tech on line, get them to do the walk through install and then ask them to access the site. They will need to work on the rule set again. Force the issue with them, especially as they did the install with you last night. It could also be that after their tech wrote the rule set it got mangled in mid-night server maintenance. You may be back to the default/original rule set.

As you are not using any other security mod the issue will lay with their server and mod_security. They will need to alter the rule set again.

[k1ngqu33n]

Would you recommend I try re-installing the Simple Machines through the installatron again then?

[Kindred]

Honestly no.

You should never use such auto installers, because you have no real control over the extra crap that they install.  If you are going to try a reinstall,  I would suggest just using the standard smf install package from our download site here.... (Instructions are clearly detailed in the wiki)

[k1ngqu33n]

Honestly no.

You should never use such auto installers, because you have no real control over the extra crap that they install.  If you are going to try a reinstall,  I would suggest just using the standard smf install package from our download site here.... (Instructions are clearly detailed in the wiki)

Alright, thank you Kindred, sir.
I'll keep you guys notified on what's going on.

I'm on a live support chat with them now, and I'm not going to go easy on them anymore.
This is taking too long.