500 Internal Servor Error

[Tikkuy]

Hi you guys!

Recently I was trying to install the SMFArcade mod, but as I clicked on the install button my site showed this message:

"The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling the request.
The script had an error or it did not produce any output. If there was an error, you should be able to see it in the error log."

I don't think any of the installation files were actually transferred onto my website so I'm not sure if it has anything to do with the mod itself. I've heard this could have something to do with the permissions but I'm not sure which ones I should check and which should be what values.

Any help?

[Colin]

You backed up prior to installing the modification, right?

[kat]

Check your file permissions. Admin>Packages>File permissions.

Set that to the standard setting.

If you still get the problem, give your host a nudge. Two things that you'll need. "mod_security" should be DISabled (It's crap) and you should have full CHOWN ownership of the files on your site.

[Tikkuy]

You backed up prior to installing the modification, right?

No.



I checked the auto-backup thing in the packages directory but it doesn't seem to have a backup from today - the last one is from the 7th. Should I try using that?

Check your file permissions. Admin>Packages>File permissions.

Set that to the standard setting.

If you still get the problem, give your host a nudge. Two things that you'll need. "mod_security" should be DISabled (It's crap) and you should have full CHOWN ownership of the files on your site.

I can't actually access the ADM at all right now. I can manually change the file permissions through FTP but I'm not sure what file/folder should have what permission.

As for talking to my host, I can send them a support request but I'm quite sure I already have both of those things. I'll send them a request just in case though.

Thank you both for your help.

[kat]

"The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling the request.
The script had an error or it did not produce any output. If there was an error, you should be able to see it in the error log."

Can you get to the error log, in your site's CPanel?

[Tikkuy]

"The server encountered an unexpected condition which prevented it from fulfilling the request.
The script had an error or it did not produce any output. If there was an error, you should be able to see it in the error log."

Can you get to the error log, in your site's CPanel?

Yup! I downloaded it and it does have several mentions of "arcade". Do you want me to post it for you? I was going to do it earlier but I wasn't sure if I should attach, PM or e-mail?

[kat]

Best bet, if there aren't too many, is to simply paste them into a post, as a quote.

As they're probably all similar, just isolate-out the specific ones.

The arcade can be a total pig. But, in this case, I'm still leaning towards this being related to what I mentioned, above. "mod_security" and/or CHOWN ownership.

[Tikkuy]

Best bet, if there aren't too many, is to simply paste them into a post, as a quote.

As they're probably all similar, just isolate-out the specific ones.

The arcade can be a total pig. But, in this case, I'm still leaning towards this being related to what I mentioned, above. "mod_security" and/or CHOWN ownership.

Hmm, it's a little too long to quote so I've added it as an attachment. I wasn't really sure what I should be deleting or looking for so I just uploaded the whole thing. Sorry it's so long!

[Storman™]

Think K@ was referring to the error log, thats the access log you've posted. The error log is in the same "section" in cPanel.

Also, what errors do you have in the SMF error log:

Administration Center » Logs » Error Log

Most probably the mod only partially installed, it's probably changed a few files then gone belly up. Might be best to simply re-instate the files from the backup.

Check to see if there's a backup file in: /Packages/backups

If its there it'll be named with a date and say "before" "name of mod"..

[Tikkuy]

Think K@ was referring to the error log, thats the access log you've posted. The error log is in the same "section" in cPanel.

Also, what errors do you have in the SMF error log:

Administration Center » Logs » Error Log

Most probably the mod only partially installed, it's probably changed a few files then gone belly up. Might be best to simply re-instate the files from the backup.

Check to see if there's a backup file in: /Packages/backups

If its there it'll be named with a date and say "before" "name of mod"..

Alright, I took your advice and restored the latest backup from the Package directory. However, the error is annoyingly still occuring.

As I've said, I can't access SMF itself to view the error log. I looked for a section for error logs on cPanel but all I can find is access logs! However, looking in my FTP folder I can see one called "cgi_error_log" and lots called "ftp_log". Would those be useful?

[kat]

Nope, 'fraid not.

I'm still leaning towards this being related to what I mentioned, above (Twice). "mod_security" and/or CHOWN ownership.

Have you asked your host about those, yet?

[Tikkuy]

Nope, 'fraid not.

I'm still leaning towards this being related to what I mentioned, above (Twice). "mod_security" and/or CHOWN ownership.

Have you asked your host about those, yet?

Yup, I just got a reply from them then. Apparently both of those things were wrong but they've been remedied. Any other ideas?

[kat]

They disabled the mod_security thing and gave you full CHOWN ownership, yes?

You're refreshed pages, emptied caches, deleted cookies and done all that stuff?

[Tikkuy]

They disabled the mod_security thing and gave you full CHOWN ownership, yes?

You're refreshed pages, emptied caches, deleted cookies and done all that stuff?

Yeah, they did.

I just emptied my cache and deleted all my cookies and the problem's still persisting.

I've seen a few other threads about this and most of them seem to mention file permissions. I'd like to take a look at all my permissions but I'm not sure exactly what folders should have what permissions and so on. Is there some kind of list that I could take a look at to find out about this?

[kat]

Generally speaking, going to Package Manager>File permissions and setting that to the standard setting will see you right.

[Tikkuy]

Generally speaking, going to Package Manager>File permissions and setting that to the standard setting will see you right.

As I've said, I can't access the package manager, let alone my forum at all. Is there any way to externally set the settings to default?

[Tikkuy]

Anyone? I don't wanna lose the forum again!

[xrunner]

Anyone? I don't wanna lose the forum again!

In my Cpanel they have a backup app that allows me to go back to any day in the past - it's called R1soft Restore Backups. It automatically makes entire backups of the site every day. If you have it your Cpanel you could try it. Just go back beyond the day you were having problems. Maybe someone smarter than me can provide a better solution though ...

[LiroyvH]

Usually, a error_log is generated in your public_html or the forum directory.
Without the error_log, it is near impossible to determine the cause.
There must be one in cPanel anyway...

Either find it, or ask your host to grab the details from the main server log.

[MrPhil]

If it's a permissions and/or ownership problem, you can see that through your hosting control panel, or maybe an FTP client. Be aware that many servers will silently ignore permission change requests from FTP clients, and you'll have to use your hosting control panel. If ownership is wrong, usually your host will have to fix that for you. Files should normally be 644 and directories 755, although some may need to be 664/775 for PHP and SMF to write to them. They should almost never be 666 or 777. In fact, some servers run security software such as suPHP that will block access (500 error) to "world writable" (xx6 or xx7 permissions) files and directories.

There are other causes of 500 Internal Server errors. See my sig > FAQs > 500 (Internal Server) Errors for more hints. These include bad .htaccess or php.ini entries and blank lines at beginning or end of files.