Topic: Symlinks

[ltwally]

I've been trying to get softlinks working with an ibay, and am having no luck getting it running.

So far, I've tried adding "Options +FollowSymLinks" to the /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf section for the appropriate ibay, followed by an "apachectl graceful".

I also tried "db accounts setprop testibay PHPBaseDir /home/e-smith/files/ibays/testibay", followed by a "signal-event ibay-modify testibay".

I've been poking around the manuals, and don't seem to find a way to do this.

The directory that I'm trying to link to is the ibay's "files" directory, which I would like to make available from the ibay's website.

Anyone know what I'm doing wrong?

[ltwally]

The exact error that I'm getting is:

"Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /files/ on this server."

[cactus]

The exact error that I'm getting is:

"Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /files/ on this server."

What is the current setting in the database for your ibay:

Code: [Select]

db accounts show ibay
To where are you symlinking? Another ibay? Somewhere else on the file system?

What does the webserver log file say at the time you received the error, it most of the times holds a clue to where and why things do not work. Please post that as well.

[ltwally]

What is the current setting in the database for your ibay:

Code: [Select]

[root@server ~]# db accounts show test
test=ibay
    CgiBin=enabled
    Gid=5017
    Group=test_user
    Name=tests
    PHPBaseDir=/home/e-smith/files/ibays/test/
    PasswordSet=yes
    PublicAccess=global-pw-remote
    Uid=5017
    UserAccess=wr-admin-rd-group

Do I need to add "/home/e-smith/files/ibays/test/files/" to the PHPBaseDir ?? (I had thought that a parent directory would include the child-directory.)

To where are you symlinking? Another ibay? Somewhere else on the file system?

The directory that I'm trying to link to is the ibay's "files" directory, which I would like to make available from the ibay's website.

What does the webserver log file say at the time you received the error

[Sat Oct 04 21:41:33 2008] [error] [client xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] Directory index forbidden by rule: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/test/files/



Thanks for the help.  I definitely appreciate it.

[Normando]

I suppose you have added httpd parameters through db keys and not directly in httpd.conf file, right?

I use the following commands for tunning my ibays as hosting for dinamic web content:

Code: [Select]

db accounts setprop test FollowSymLinks enabled
db accounts setprop test AllowOverride all
db accounts setprop test PHPBaseDir /home/e-smith/files/ibays/test:/tmp
signal-event ibay-modify test
For references look at http://wiki.contribs.org/DB_Variables_Configuration#Apache_server_ibay_specific_.28httpd-e-smith.29

[cactus]

I suppose you have added httpd parameters through db keys and not directly in httpd.conf file, right?

I use the following commands for tunning my ibays as hosting for dinamic web content:

Code: [Select]

db accounts setprop test FollowSymLinks enabled
db accounts setprop test AllowOverride all
db accounts setprop test PHPBaseDir /home/e-smith/files/ibays/test:/tmp
signal-event ibay-modify test

But that is not what the OP asked and only works for PHP applications, OP does not state clearly he is using a PHP application.

The files folder he wants to share is normally not exposed by the webserver and protected to not be accessible from the webbrowser. It is this protection the OP is finding on his path.

ltwally why do you need to expose the files location, can you not put the contents in a (sub)folder of the html folder? This folder is exposed to the web  by default and your content of files should be available without further hassle.

If you really want to expose the files location to the web you will need to create a custom-template fragment. The permissions are defined in the following file: 90e-smithAccess40ibays, you need to create the same directory structure in the templates-custom tree and copy the file in there and make modifications to this copy. More information on the template system can be found in the SME Server Developers Guide which can be found in the wiki.

Be carefull, the file defines the properties for every files folder in all available ibays, so you might be better of relocating the files folder.

[Normando]

But that is not what the OP asked and only works for PHP applications, OP does not state clearly he is using a PHP application.

Now I remember who is.
Look at these threads Cactus:

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=42079.0
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=42081.0

[cactus]

Now I remember who is.
Look at these threads Cactus:

http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=42079.0
http://forums.contribs.org/index.php?topic=42081.0

Do not judge current behavior by his history, OP has not shown any behavior like this in this thread. He might be turning for the better.

[Normando]

Do not judge current behavior by his history, OP has not shown any behavior like this in this thread. He might be turning for the better.

??¿¿??
I talk about PHP. I refer you these posts because he always talk about PHP.

But that is not what the OP asked and only works for PHP applications, OP does not state clearly he is using a PHP application.

[cactus]

I talk about PHP. I refer you these posts because he always talk about PHP.

Sorry, I misunderstood you.

[ltwally]

Normando:

The instructions were a no-go. 

I still get:

Code: [Select]

Forbidden

You don't have permission to access /files/ on this server.
And this in the httpd error_log:

Code: [Select]

[Tue Oct 07 08:06:48 2008] [error] [client xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx] Directory index forbidden by rule: /home/e-smith/files/ibays/test/files/


[ltwally]

ltwally why do you need to expose the files location, can you not put the contents in a (sub)folder of the html folder? This folder is exposed to the web  by default and your content of files should be available without further hassle.

Because e-smith only shows the /files/ directory to normal users, via SMB.  And we also want those files available over HTTP.

[ltwally]

If you really want to expose the files location to the web you will need to create a custom-template fragment. The permissions are defined in the following file: 90e-smithAccess40ibays, you need to create the same directory structure in the templates-custom tree and copy the file in there and make modifications to this copy. More information on the template system can be found in the SME Server Developers Guide which can be found in the wiki.

I will look into this and give it a try.  Thanks!

[ltwally]

Well, I looked at the templates.

E-smith is a really cool server... but the problem I always have is that doing things beyond what's included in the server-manager, and doing them the e-smith way, seems to require you to become an expert.  I just don't have that kind of time.

So, I modified httpd.conf, adding the following to <Directory /home/e-smith/files/ibays/test/files>

Code: [Select]

    Options None
    Options +Indexes
    Options +FollowSymLinks
    Options +Includes
Of course, the entire file will get nuked next time I do anything from the server-manager... but in the end, I'll spend less time re-creating my entries than I would reading up on templates and then doing the trial-and-error to getting it right.

Anyhoo.. thanks for trying.

[Stefano]

Well, I looked at the templates.

ok

E-smith is a really cool server... but the problem I always have is that doing things beyond what's included in the server-manager, and doing them the e-smith way, seems to require you to become an expert.  I just don't have that kind of time.

well.. if you want to use SME, you should find the time to understand how it works.. templating system is easy as 1,2,3 if you read this:http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Developers_Manual#Configuration_file_templates

and the time needed is.. less than 15 minutes

So, I modified httpd.conf, adding the following to <Directory /home/e-smith/files/ibays/test/files>

Code: [Select]

    Options None
    Options +Indexes
    Options +FollowSymLinks
    Options +Includes
Of course, the entire file will get nuked next time I do anything from the server-manager... but in the end, I'll spend less time re-creating my entries than I would reading up on templates and then doing the trial-and-error to getting it right.

Anyhoo.. thanks for trying.

I don't subscribe this point of view (Cit. )

I repeat: read the dev manual (link above) and  retry.. You'll find that you can create your "own" server easily..

my 2c

Ciao
Stefano

[ltwally]

ok

well.. if you want to use SME, you should find the time to understand how it works.. templating system is easy as 1,2,3 if you read this:http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Developers_Manual#Configuration_file_templates

and the time needed is.. less than 15 minutes

I don't subscribe this point of view (Cit. )

I repeat: read the dev manual (link above) and  retry.. You'll find that you can create your "own" server easily..

my 2c

Ciao
Stefano

That does not look like 15 minutes of reading to me.  Maybe you're just a faster reader than I am.  Maybe the templates system is less intuitive to me than you.  Whatever the case, just skimming it took more than 15 minutes, and I didn't derive the answer in that time.

Sorry, I just don't have the time to become an expert in SME or SME templates.

[cactus]

Sorry, I just don't have the time to become an expert in SME or SME templates.

Anw we do not have the time to do all your work. It seems you bit off more than you can chew. If you want to support (clients using) SME Server systems you should make yourself familiar with it's internal architecture and stop expecting the people in the forums to supply perfect solutions to your problems.

[ltwally]

Anw we do not have the time to do all your work. It seems you bit off more than you can chew. If you want to support (clients using) SME Server systems you should make yourself familiar with it's internal architecture and stop expecting the people in the forums to supply perfect solutions to your problems.

This is one of our own internal boxes.

Thank you for your polite and helpful reply.  Thank you for your advice.  Always good to talk with friendly folks like yourself.

[cactus]

This is one of our own internal boxes.

Thank you for your polite and helpful reply.  Thank you for your advice.  Always good to talk with friendly folks like yourself.

I have given you advice on different matters in the forums, but you seem not to want to invest in your knowledge yourself as you complain over and over that you do not want to read the documentation.
Most if not all of the users have come to the forums with questions they could have easily found, however only a few of them are not satisfied with pointers to appropriate documentation and show unwillingness to try and understand it. I am more than willing to help you, but you should at least read the documentation and try and understand it as I see no use of retyping the documentation in the forums, as it available to you (and others).

If you have questions after reading the documentation or things are unclear ask specific questions and you will most likely get a short and prompt reply, from me or the other experts available in the forums, with a proper answer to your question which will help you further (at least one step).

If you keep acting like this I think I will not be the only forum reader, let alone SME Server expert, that is not even going to bother reading any of your posts, which in the end will not help you at all.

So once again my advice: Read http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Developers_Manual#Configuration_file_templates even if it takes you a day.

Oh and BTW my signature is not there for fun only...

[ltwally]

I have given you advice on different matters in the forums, but you seem not to want to invest in your knowledge yourself as you complain over and over that you do not want to read the documentation.
Most if not all of the users have come to the forums with questions they could have easily found, however only a few of them are not satisfied with pointers to appropriate documentation and show unwillingness to try and understand it. I am more than willing to help you, but you should at least read the documentation and try and understand it as I see no use of retyping the documentation in the forums, as it available to you (and others).

If you have questions after reading the documentation or things are unclear ask specific questions and you will most likely get a short and prompt reply, from me or the other experts available in the forums, with a proper answer to your question which will help you further (at least one step).

If you keep acting like this I think I will not be the only forum reader, let alone SME Server expert, that is not even going to bother reading any of your posts, which in the end will not help you at all.

So once again my advice: Read http://wiki.contribs.org/SME_Server:Documentation:Developers_Manual#Configuration_file_templates even if it takes you a day.

Oh and BTW my signature is not there for fun only...

It's a difference in goals and philosophies, I suppose.  The folks in charge here seem to strongly mirror the linux style of "advice."  Which is always, RTFM.  Sure, you said it more politely....

But in the end, lots of people don't have the time to RTFM.  I'm sorry if that bothers you.  We only have one SME box in-house, and I don't have the time or energy to become an expert.  Every now and again, I have a specific problem and come looking for a specific answer.

To those people willing to at least try and give me a specific answer to that specific problem:  I'm very appreciative.

But the manuals... well, I'm not attacking you personally, as I see you're a member of the documentation team... but reading the manuals is just flat-out a lot more time and effort than I have to spend.

So, I take the route that gives me the answer I need in the quickest amount of time.

In this case, I ended up doing it the stock Apache way.  Becuase the SME-way was just flat-out too time consuming.

If I have to become an expert just to warrant a specific answer from you or many others on this forum.... well, you can just not give me help when I ask.  If that's what makes you happier.

Cheers,
-ltwally

[cactus]

But the manuals... well, I'm not attacking you personally, as I see you're a member of the documentation team... but reading the manuals is just flat-out a lot more time and effort than I have to spend.

I won't. If you have suggestions on how to improve them: let me know, please.
So, I take the route that gives me the answer I need in the quickest amount of time.

In this case, I ended up doing it the stock Apache way.  Becuase the SME-way was just flat-out too time consuming.

You will bite yourself in the tail as if you change parameters and the httpd.conf template is regenarated your changes will be lost and you will be left wondering why, because the template system is inplace. Just so you know and do not need to wonder...

[ltwally]

ps.  If you ever have a manual entry where it simply says, "do these commands here to achieve the desired result", that is what people like me need.

I'm looking for a simple answer.  A cheat-sheet, if you will.

Whereas the SME approach to documentation is more like a college text book designed to teach you all of SME.  Just picking out the answer to one thing isn't possible - you have to learn far more.  And, that's great... if that's your goal.

I don't get paid to be an SME expert, though.

[ltwally]

You will bite yourself in the tail as if you change parameters and the httpd.conf template is regenarated your changes will be lost and you will be left wondering why, because the template system is inplace. Just so you know and do not need to wonder...

Yup. I've got several customizations in httpd.conf, and other places.

Sure, it sucks having to redo them when I mess with the server-manager.... but I do that very rarely.  In the end, it's quicker and easier to not learn the SME-way.

What a fella like me needs is not an education in SME, but rather a series of how-to's for specific problems.

[cactus]

I'm looking for a simple answer.  A cheat-sheet, if you will.

Whereas the SME approach to documentation is more like a college text book designed to teach you all of SME.  Just picking out the answer to one thing isn't possible - you have to learn far more.  And, that's great... if that's your goal.

There are a lot of howto's in the wiki, perhaps one of them is covering your problem, if not please post your findings in a howto when you succeed. BTW you did read my suggestion to simply solve the issue in one of my earliest posts?

I don't get paid to be an SME expert, and I'd certainly rather persue other things in my own time.

Me neither, I work in radiotherapie, a whole different ball game.

[mercyh]

I don't get paid to be an SME expert, though.

neither do most of the rest of us.  

A server is not free. Even if the software doesn't cost you anything.

Windows=$$$
Open Source = Time

[cactus]

Sure, it sucks having to redo them when I mess with the server-manager.... but I do that very rarely.  In the end, it's quicker and easier to not learn the SME-way.

I doubt that... I have read the docs (long a go for the first time and still use them), once you have read them and know your way around they truly are a well off knowledge. If you are willing to customize your system I truly think you should read and try to understand the templating system as it is the core of SME Server.

[ltwally]

There are a lot of howto's in the wiki, perhaps one of them is covering your problem, if not please post your findings in a howto when you succeed. BTW you did read my suggestion to simply solve the issue in one of my earliest posts?

If you're refering to:

If you really want to expose the files location to the web you will need to create a custom-template fragment. The permissions are defined in the following file: 90e-smithAccess40ibays, you need to create the same directory structure in the templates-custom tree and copy the file in there and make modifications to this copy. More information on the template system can be found in the SME Server Developers Guide which can be found in the wiki.

I spent a while looking for that file in /etc/rc.d/......  and did not find it.  I did a search for "e-smithAccess" in the developers guide, without any results.  After that, I quit on that.  Because what I really am looking for is a very specific answer.  A how-to.

It may be simple to someone with loads of SME knowledge.  That is not me, and, once again, I simply don't have the time, energy or desire to become an SME expert.  So if there isn't a cheat-sheet answer... I go with what I already know about Apache, and just edit the httpd.conf file.  Because that works, and I could do it without having to read 20 pages of documentation.

[ltwally]

I doubt that... I have read the docs (long a go for the first time and still use them), once you have read them and know your way around they truly are a well off knowledge. If you are willing to customize your system I truly think you should read and try to understand the templating system as it is the core of SME Server.

I have so many different systems that I have to manage... I get told to RTFM on a regular basis.  But I don't have the time to RTFM and become an expert for 20 different OS's.  I just have the time to learn the basics and then find time when a specific issue crops up.

[Stefano]

I spent a while looking for that file in /etc/rc.d/......  and did not find it.  I did a search for "e-smithAccess" in the developers guide, without any results.  After that, I quit on that.  Because what I really am looking for is a very specific answer.  A how-to.

Code: [Select]

[root@fileserver /]# find -iname 90e-smith*
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess10icons
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess40ibays
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess00
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/admin-conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess20password
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/admin-conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess20manager
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/admin-conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess15common
./etc/e-smith/templates/etc/httpd/admin-conf/httpd.conf/90e-smithAccess15brand

now, please, instead of spending minutes to defend your position and your bad attitude and lazyness, search for templates in the forums.. and you'll find the answer

Stefano

[electroman00]

ltwally

Modindex will accomplish what your after.

Also has some nice features, so read the instructions.

Here's a little script that will install modindex for ya, paste it as /tmp/modindex.sh

set the perms to 750 on modindex.sh

Run with

Code: [Select]

./modindex.sh

Code: [Select]

#!/bin/sh

 # ========= Software Install ===================
 # Website_info = http://www.schirrms.net
 
 f_files_root="modindex"
 f_path="/tmp/$files_root/install"
 url_rpm="http://www.schirrms.net/files/"
 f_rpm="smeserver-modindex-0.0.6-01.noarch.rpm"
 f_srpm="smeserver-modindex-0.0.6-01.src.rpm"
 
 clear

 echo "===== Downloading & Installing  modindex....."

 # mod_perl is required by modindex so we check if installed

 echo "===== Check installed --- mod_perl"
 rpm -q mod_perl
 
  # create & change to install directory if not exists
 
  if [ ! -d $f_path ]; then
 echo "===== MKDIR >>" $f_path
 mkdir -p $f_path
 fi
 echo "===== CD >>" $f_path
 cd $f_path
 
  # wget source rpm if not exists
 
 f_dl=$f_path/$f_srpm

 if [ ! -f $f_dl ]; then
  echo "===== Downloading >> $f_srpm"
  wget $url_rpm$f_srpm
  echo "===== Download completed... >> $f_srpm"
 else
  echo "===== File already Downloaded... >> $f_srpm"
 fi

 # wget rpm if not exists
 
 f_dl=$f_path/$f_rpm

 if [ ! -f $f_dl ]; then
  echo "===== Downloading >> $f_rpm"
  wget $url_rpm$f_rpm
#wget $url_rpm$f_deps
  echo "===== Download completed... >> $f_rpm"
 else
  echo "===== File already Downloaded... >> $f_rpm"
 fi
 
 echo "===== yum localinstall modindex"
 yum localinstall $f_rpm

 echo " "
 echo "===== Install $f_rpm complete....."

[cactus]

If you're refering to:

No I was referring to this:

ltwally why do you need to expose the files location, can you not put the contents in a (sub)folder of the html folder? This folder is exposed to the web  by default and your content of files should be available without further hassle.

... so you might be better of relocating the files folder.

The html folder is exposed to the web, why do you need to share the files folder, why not (just) relocate your files physically?

I spent a while looking for that file in /etc/rc.d/......  and did not find it.  I did a search for "e-smithAccess" in the developers guide, without any results.  After that, I quit on that.  Because what I really am looking for is a very specific answer.  A how-to.

You either made a typo or did not read properly as I never mentioned the /etc/rc folder in this case.

It may be simple to someone with loads of SME knowledge.  That is not me, and, once again, I simply don't have the time, energy or desire to become an SME expert.  So if there isn't a cheat-sheet answer... I go with what I already know about Apache, and just edit the httpd.conf file.  Because that works, and I could do it without having to read 20 pages of documentation.

If you search in the proper places it is, the template system really is not that hard, but you seem reluctant to have a go at it. By reading some of the howtos you might also get a hint on how the template system works, but it seems that you are not even listening/reading properly judging from above.

Consider this my last nudge in the proper direction, as I am getting quite tired of supplying you advice and getting told that you do not want to hear that. It is impossible to have a standard set of code for every single used-case when using SME Server, especially not the non-standard like you are wishing for. If you could provide the cheat sheet after reading the documentation you are more than welcome to add it to the wiki. Open source comes with penalties as well, being not money, but time either to read and understand what you need to do or to provide something back to this ever growing community of in general very satisfied SME Server users.