MediaTemple DV Server: How You Can Change Write Permissions With SSH

Lately, we started moving a lot of our clients to a different devoted-virtual server located by MediaTemple. Unlike other servers and also the power grid-server (GS) service also supplied by MediaTemple, the devoted-virtual server doesn’t allow much file write access automatically.

Who This Helps

Designers not able to programmatically “write” for their server or child sites

Designers using WordPress who discover that they’re not able to upload images or files through WordPress

Designers using WordPress who discover that they’re not able to adjust their permalinks instantly

What’s SSH? How Come I Personally Use It?

Secure Spend (SSH) is really a network protocol for secure data communication and command execution for unsecure systems. Since MediaTemple’s devoted-virtual servers are technically unsecure within the traditional sense, MediaTemple removes the permissions that permit developers to change server-level files through standard FTP methods.

To ensure that us to permit our programs to instantly create and alter files, we should override the default configurations and grant the right permissions.

How Do You SSH In?

While SSH is handled through command-line, it can’t be achieved through traditional means. It takes an assist-program that enables for specific SSH connections. I suggest using PuTTy. You are able to download PuTTy here.

Once you’ve downloaded and installed PuTTy, run this program and you will be motivated with this particular screen:

Came from here, enter your hostname and click on the “Open” button. You’ll certainly be motivated having a command-line screen requesting your username. Enter your “root” or whatever your root username is and press enter. If this prompts for password, go into the root user password. When the program shuts, then you definitely joined incorrect qualifications. Otherwise, you will notice something such as this:

Now we have to adjust some configurations within our server before we are able to result in the actual permission change. Go into the following:

To avoid any accidental changes from crashes your server, create a backup of the group file by typing:

clubpenguin /etc/group /etc/group.BAK

Now we are able to really begin. Make use of the “vi” protocol to spread out your group file to alter overall server permissions:

mire /etc/group

This will load the items in the folder in to the command-line. Make use of your arrow secrets and discover wrinkles:

apache:x:48:apache

psacln:x:2524:

and alter these to read:

apache:x:48:apache,domainuser

psacln:x:2524:apache,psaadm,psaftp

‘domainuser’ may be the primary username you utilize to FTP to your site.

You will find special key-functions you have to press to change data. The primary secrets you’ll use are:

To remove just one character at cursor: x

Place text prior to the cursor: i

Place text following the cursor: a

Place text at oncoming of line: I

Place text at finish of line: A

To exit: ESC :q

Exit (and save changes): :wq

We now have to create group permissions for that folders that you’d like to become writable. Go into the following:

chmod -R g withvar/world wide web/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/wordpress-content

chmod g withvar/world wide web/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs/.htaccess

‘example.com’ is the domain.

To Use The Alterations, Restart Apache

This can be done simply by entering the next within the PuTTy command-line:

/etc/init.d/httpd restart

Your problems ought to be solved. To check whether it labored, attempt to upload some form of media towards the server using a program like WordPress. You may also try modifying your permalink structure or trying some custom PHP code that interacts using the server’s directory system.

Should you encounter any longer problems, make sure to tell me within the comment section. I’ll be happy to assist you.