Can't upload, problems with CGI

[jxm28788]

I am currently trying to upload my site and am trying to configure the details first using "web/configure website details"

So I'm trying that and have got to the "directories" window, and entered the correct directories.

But when I press next it says "An error occurred while attempting to change permissions of the file actinicbasiccgitest.pl. the ftp server returned a reply code of 553. the current permissions of the file are 0664 and the required permissions are 0755. etc etc".

I assume this is a permissions test which has failed.

I've looked on my FTP server and found the following -

The permissions on the CGI directory are "drwxrwxr-x", and the rights on the file are "-rw-rw-r--".

How do I convert 0755 to -rw-rw-etc? And how do I set the default permissions for the directory? Or isn't this supposed to be set correctly when writing the file?

Any ideas what I'm supposed to do now? (ps. the server is under the control of the ISP)

[garyhay]

If it's a windows/nt server it might not support CHMOD. you may have to ask the ISP to do this

[jxm28788]

When I ftp to the server, during the login it says -

215 UNIX type : L8
Host type (S) : UNIX (Standard)

and additionally when I get the directory/file info it returns the permissions in the unix format.

Besides, can't imagine Demon Internet would use NT...

[taliesyn]

What's the URL of the server?

[jxm28788]

www.taotech.demon.co.uk (currently contains a test page)

[taliesyn]

The Server identifies itself as follows,

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Age: 10
Date: Mon, 28 Jul 2003 13:21:50 GMT
Content-Length: 11898
Content-Type: text/html
Connection: close
Server: thttpd/1.00.disbu
Last-modified: Fri, 25 Jul 2003 11:30:56 GMT
Via: 1.0 webcacheB09 (NetCache NetApp/5.3.1D2)

and as the Server ID's as running thttpd, which is most likely the "thttpd - tiny/turbo/throttling HTTP server", as seen here, then it's most definitely some sort of UNIX server (most probably FreeBSD), so there is no reason that CHMOD shouldn't work.

Have you tried using CHMOD with your FTP program?

[jxm28788]

it doesn't appear to have that functionality (ws_ftp from xp).

Can anyone suggest one that will allow me to do that?

[taliesyn]

WS_FTP Pro has it, don't know about the standard version. It is accessed as follows:

Highlight a file on the server, select FILE>Operations>FTP Commands, and right at the very bottom of the menu, you will see CHMOD(Unix).

[jxm28788]

there must be a new version. I downloaded it and the option isn't in the list - but it is built into the properties instead.

However, when I try to change the settings it says "553 Permission denied. (chmod)" which is the same error code it reported in the first place.

I guess that means it won't let me change the settings, and it won't let actinic do it either.

Is this something the ISP has to sort out?

[garyhay]

We are having getting form-mail to work as we want on a clients demon web space.

Are you sure they (Demon) allow CHMOD?

[jxm28788]

it doesn't seem like it (by default anyway). I have put a support request in with Demon, I'll post the reply if I get one...

[jxm28788]

Answer from Demon

Hello

Unfortunately our standard homepages do not allow file permissions to be changed. and there is no option to have the access rights altered to allow this.

You haven't mentioned which software you were using to upload your pages but there may be an option within the software that will stop it from trying to alter permissions.

I hope this information is of assistance to you.

I've seen in the knowledge base that other people are using demon, so how did they get it to work...?

[Nadeem]

Hi there

You are quite correct; we do have customers who are using Demon Webhosting.

Normally all of them have the following Permission settings;

/acatalog/ folder has a permission of 777
/cgi-bin/ folder has a permission of 755

Actinic cannot work; if the permission are not set like this.

However, when I try to change the settings it says "553 Permission denied. (chmod)" which is the same error code it reported in the first place.

This looks like that Demon have not given you the CHMOD function which will allow you to change your permission on your webserver. When Actinic tries to upload it does try to change the permission on your website to be that of 777 (acatalog) or 755 (cgi-bin)

Kind Regards

[taliesyn]

"I hope this information is of assistance to you"

Not really, as it's telling you exactly what you didn't want to hear. No chmod facility, therefore no actinic

Demon do actually offer E-commerce hosting, as I remember talking to them when I was looking for some hosting earlier this year, and I went through the Actinic requirements with them and they were all supported on their business package (although they were in the process of improving it when I spoke to them).

Looks like you'll have to upgrade to that (or go elsewhere - there are plenty of good Actinic hosts on here), because they've deliberately disabled the function on their standard hosting probably for security reasons.

Try and make sure you host on Unix/Linux though, as Windows hosting can be problematic.

[jxm28788]

I am currently applying for hosting at Clara.net and transferring my domain name accross - as recomended by actinic so that should work...

I just wanted to upload to my (unused) demon webspace for testing purposes. However, I have now discovered actinic has a trial area for this, and that works fine...

well, except that now I can see the basket and checkout I discover lots of things that need changing...