Can i install without a session save path?

Henning · **Joined:** Thu Feb 16, 2006 9:18 pm **Posts:** 48

To follow up on this topic, so that even we newbies have a chance of understanding it...

I spend a lot of time before I figured this one out. You will have to continue installing joomla even if the install says that session save path is unwritable and then when you are all done with the install, joomla creates the "configuration.php" file which almost all of the above posts are referring to... mindbugling for a newbie...

Would have saved me a lot of time if someone else had posted this!

constantine · **Joined:** Sun Dec 25, 2005 9:25 pm **Posts:** 9

configuration.php lies in the root directory of joomla installation. That is, the directory that you extracted the joomla package. In my server it is: ...../http/configuration.php

But I would recommend -if applicable, that is that joomla is installed in a regularly configured Apache server- implementing the solution of message: http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic ... #msg292879

medea · **Posted:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 3:13 am

(((original problem has been resolved)))

I got the hack to work, my session save path is now writable.

However, I can't install any new components. My server tells me that GZip is enabled, but whenever I run a zip file it can't find the installation file. When I upload all the files into /www/administrator/components/com_installer/ I get an error with creating a new directory and the installation fails. I've set my permissions to 777. What else am I missing?

DeanMarshall · **Posted:** Sun Nov 05, 2006 1:02 pm

It is either a file/folder 'ownership' issue - or your server may have 'safe mode' or some other excessively restrictive setting that interferes with your ability to run your site. Did you see some red warnings during the installation process? Did you solve the issues or ignore them and hope they wouldn't come back to haunt you later?

Dean

karahisar · **Joined:** Tue Nov 07, 2006 10:19 pm **Posts:** 4

DeanMarshall wrote:

Hi,

You need to ask your host to make the session_save_path writable.

If they wont you can try this.

Create a sub-folder called sessions in the same folder as the configuration.php file.

Find out the location of your Joomla folder by reading the $mosConfig_absolute_path entry from your configuration.php file.
Take the path from within the quotes on that line.
Put that value between the quotes on this line
session_save_path('');
and add a /sessions on the end of that entry - still inside the quotes.

It should look something like this session_save_path('/path/to/joomla/sessions'); but your actual path will be different.
Place that line (with your path) with the other settings in configuration.php - on its own line.

Hope that helps.

Dean.

Hi, I cannot find the line : session_save_path(''); in the configuration.php

sinank · **Joined:** Fri Oct 20, 2006 4:11 pm **Posts:** 29

DeanMarshall wrote:

Hi,

You need to ask your host to make the session_save_path writable.

If they wont you can try this.

Create a sub-folder called sessions in the same folder as the configuration.php file.

Find out the location of your Joomla folder by reading the $mosConfig_absolute_path entry from your configuration.php file.
Take the path from within the quotes on that line.
Put that value between the quotes on this line
session_save_path('');
and add a /sessions on the end of that entry - still inside the quotes.

It should look something like this session_save_path('/path/to/joomla/sessions'); but your actual path will be different.
Place that line (with your path) with the other settings in configuration.php - on its own line.

Hope that helps.

Dean.

Thanks Guys - this thread really helped me. I was experiencing the same problem but all gone Now!!
Thanks Dean !

DeanMarshall · **Posted:** Sat Nov 11, 2006 1:34 pm

I'm glad people are still getting some mileage out of this 'hack' - but on balance I do believe it is the worst of about four different options.
Whilst it works it is 'volatile' - every time a change is made to global configuration the edit will be lost.

Here is a copy of my standard advice on the matter - produced here en masse - to save me having to type it all out (again):

Quote:

When you installed did you notice a warning about 'session save path unwriteable'?

Here are the telltale signs.
- You can login to the front end but not the backend
- You do NOT receive an incorrect username/password message - you are just dumped back to login screen.

If this is you then there are three solutions:

a) edit php.ini (a server configuration file) if you have access to, or control of, the server.
If you don't have access to the server - you could ask your host.

b) edit .htaccess file and add the following line:
This option is useful if php is being run as a server module (isapi) - but not if run through CGI.
If you don't know what that means - either suck it and see, or check out PHP system info.

Code:

php_value session.save_path '/path/to/a/writeable/folder'

(change '/path/to/a/writeable/folder' to a folder that is actually writable)
create the folder first if you need to - ideally put it above your /public_html/ or /wwwroot/ folder

c) If PHP is being run as CGI on your server - or if trying the .htaccess method didn't work
You may be able to create a 'local' php.ini file in your folders. With this method you can override the main php.ini settings on a folder by folder basis. This is important FOLDER BY FOLDER. This means that each folder that contains an executable php script must have its own php.ini file. So your main Joomla folder, your /administrator/ folder and perhaps some of the sub-folders within /administrator/ too - as they contain utility scripts - such as file uploads - that may be called directly.

The format of the setting to place into your php.ini file is as follows:
session.save_path = w:/tmp

NOTE: even on windows systems the forward slash is the preferred directory separator.
Drive letters are optional and in most cases can be omitted - so the path would start with an initial forward slash /tmp
No quotes are required - unless the path contains spaces (which ideally it should NOT)

d) if .htaccess files are something that you are not comfortable with - or your host doesn't allow them to be used this way:
you could add the following line somewhere in Joomla's php code

Code:

session_save_path('/path/to/a/writeable/folder');

The easiest place to add it is within configuration.php - BUT - if you (or any component) changes any 'Global config' settings the edit will be lost and will need to be replaced.

Again point the path to a folder that you can make writeable
You could copy the value of $mosConfig_absolute_path and append '/sessions' (without the quotes)
Then make a folder called sessions and ensure it has permissions of 755.

Please remember
Contacting your host requesting assistance is still the preferred solution.

Dean

medin · **Posted:** Fri Nov 17, 2006 10:12 pm

I try all option what you wrote here but does not works.

I put file with name .htaccess in my public_html map with

Code:

php_value session.save_path /tmp

Now is session.save_path Writeable but I don’t know is these solution good or maybe not.

antoni_NT · **Joined:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 1:56 pm **Posts:** 1

I am a newbie. This is the first time I use Joomla, and the first worst unsuccessful installation.
I have read all FAQ about session save path that is unwriteable in this forum, and I've tried it. NONE of THEM work.
At pre-installation check, there is always "session sava path unwriteable".

I put file with name .htaccess in my public_html map with

Code:

php_value session.save_path /tmp

It never worked.

I use joomla in my local webserver. So run it on my own PC, offline.
I can edit PHP.ini, and I found:

Code:

session.save_path = "C:\tmp"

I use windows, how can I know it is writable, normally all things are writeable in windows!

Help me, I attach the figure when session save path is unwriteable, you may want to check it.

DeanMarshall · **Posted:** Mon Dec 25, 2006 6:05 pm

Your problem on windows is either that the c:\tmp folder doesn't exist OR that the \t (which is a special code for a tab) is being epanded and c:mp does not exist and is not writeable.

On windows use forward slashes as folder delimiters.
On you live web server it is possible that administrators have not allowed the .htaccess overrides and you are therefor stuck.
You will need to either ask your hosts politely to sort it out or shout at them and threaten to take your business elsewhere.

Dean

darb · **Joined:** Thu Jul 06, 2006 12:57 pm **Posts:** 470

Does anyone know if there is a software and tweaking for hosting companies for ie Midnight Commander file manager that can override these settings for Safe Mode on? One of my hosting companies using this but will not tell how they did it and I know they are using MC....

Midnight-Commander
http://www.ibiblio.org/mc/
http://www.chm.tu-dresden.de/edv/mc/mc4.5/manual1.html

Its really a mess this safe mode on!

bkim84 · **Joined:** Fri Jan 12, 2007 3:57 pm **Posts:** 1

My host doesn't want to make session_save_path writable as he says security will be compromised.

I'm just trying a new install, and things are so troublesome.

My session save path says not set. How would I set it?

configuration.php Unwriteable
You can still continue the install as the configuration will be displayed at the end, just copy & paste this and upload.
Session save path Unwriteable
Not set

PHP register_globals setting is `ON` instead of `OFF`

Edit: I'm not quite sure how to modify the php.ini file, do I just create a file called php.ini and put it in with the code which you said? and how do i put in the save path from the configuration.php file as I can't even find it, is it the configuration.php-dist file?

Ragnar · **Joined:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:09 am **Posts:** 7

Hello-
I'm experiencing this problem and the host referred me back here, saying they won't create the folder or create permissions (UNIX server w/ PHP 4.1.0, dunno about Apache...)

I've created a folder in the root directory ('httpdocs') called 'var' with a folder called 'session' inside that, both with writable permissions.

First:

In the htaccess.txt file, I added:

php_value session_save_path '/var/session'

With no effect (install pre-check page is still looking for /var/lib/php/session Where is it getting this path originally? I've been searching the install files but can't find it mentioned)

Second:

I tried adding the " session_save_path('/path/to/a/writeable/folder'); "

to my configuration.php-dist file in two forms:
session_save_path ('/var/session');
then as
$mosConfig_session_save_path ='/var/session';

neither of which have worked.

The pre-check doesn't seem to see any of these and always refers to '/var/lib/php/session'

Any clues to my nearsightedness are greatly appreciated.

Thank you,
Steve

DeanMarshall · **Posted:** Tue Jan 23, 2007 3:15 pm

Guys - please re-read my post about 4 messages above this one.

@Steve (Ragnar):
The file to use is the .htaccess file - htaccess.txt is a sample .htaccess file and needs renaming (and probably editing) before use.
The filename is '.htaccess' (without the quotes but with a leading dot).

Also note: the file path mentioned is from the ROOT of the DRIVE - not from your webroot.
If you are on shared hosting you will not have access outside of your own diskspace.
The host will have communicated the path to your webroot to you - probably after you signed up with them - re-check your 'welcome' messages. But creating your own /var/ folder inside your webspace will not help - unless you tell the session_save_path to use the new folder - but this will need to be the FULL path.

@bkim84:
You will need to make the public_html (or wwwroot) or whataver your web root is called writeable.
On some systems it may help to place an empty (less than 10bytes) configuration.php file into the webroot and make sure it is writeable. Joomla will still run the installer as long as the file is very small.

PHP Register globals can be turned off by your host - by you if you have control of the server, or by you locally with .htaccess or local php.ini files in your own folder(s) BUT only if your host allows.

@darb:
Safe Mode is a killer - best advice I can offer is this - if a host won't turn it off - find a better host - sorry.

Dean

Ragnar · **Joined:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:09 am **Posts:** 7

Thank you for the reply, Dean.

It seems this server is a bit tighter than most others I've used, so I've taken your thorough summary and returned that information to the host admins. seeking further assistance from their end.

Thank you again for your great help with a wonderful platform,
Steve

Asphyx · **Joined:** Sun Aug 28, 2005 5:03 pm **Posts:** 2404

Some comments here....

1 - the best place to fix this is in the PHP.INI....
while it may not be possible for a user on a shared server to access this file, in MOST cases an ISP who has sessions set to an unwriteable status also has their server set up in a way to easily override the setting for each account by placing a PHP.INI subfile in the private FTP (or cgi-bin) space where you can make changes from the default such as turning register globals off and setting the session path. But you have to call them to find out where such a file should be placed for it to be read. This is the most secure way of doing it! What this allows the ISP is to have one master PHP.INI everyone uses and it then loads us the subfile to override certain settings from the default.

2 - The HTACCESS hack for changing PHP only works if PHP is run from apache with mod_php. If your apache does not run php from the module it can not make any changes to php at all. It is useless in a windows enviornment using IIS since for one IIS doesn't support htaccess without a 3rd party program and there is no mod_php for IIS that could process it even if you had something to deal with htaccess. PHP under windows acts as a seperate program from the server so there is no way for the webserver to tell PHP how it should act. without mod_php it is pretty much the same thing for apache!

the above applies to ANY problem that may be encountered with a PHP setting!

3 - Session data should NEVER be in the public_html space! If you have to create your own session folder it should be placed in the FTP root (not web root or public_html) where it can not be seen by anyone but the server itself and those with FTP access. Valuable account information is saved in these session files and if left in the public space it could easily expose account and password data that could be used to hack or compromise a site! Since the session.save_path uses absolute path to find this folder PHP will be able to find the data but no one else can since apache (and therefore php) can not see these folders via a simple URL!

a.gallo · **Joined:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:13 pm **Posts:** 12

Hello,
I have a virtual server based on Plesk (can manage multiple hosts/domains) and I changed the permissions of the path but didn't work;

Better: in Joomla the info check says that path is unwriteable but everything seems to work fine (installed some components and module, users/administrators can register and log

What do you exactly mean "the best thing is to fix in the PHP.INI?

I could change the PHP.INI, but the only thing it's possible to do is to change the path to a writeable one or are other setting?

Thank you
Andrea

Asphyx wrote:

Some comments here....

1 - the best place to fix this is in the PHP.INI....
while it may not be possible for a user on a shared server to access this file, in MOST cases an ISP who has sessions set to an unwriteable

a.gallo · **Joined:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:13 pm **Posts:** 12

Hello,
I have a virtual server based on Plesk (can manage multiple hosts/domains) and I changed the permissions of the path but didn't work;

Better: in Joomla the info check says that path is unwriteable but everything seems to work fine (installed some components and module, users/administrators can register and log

What do you exactly mean "the best thing is to fix in the PHP.INI?

I could change the PHP.INI, but the only thing it's possible to do is to change the path to a writeable one or are other setting?

Thank you
Andrea

Asphyx wrote:

Some comments here....

1 - the best place to fix this is in the PHP.INI....
while it may not be possible for a user on a shared server to access this file, in MOST cases an ISP who has sessions set to an unwriteable

Vytautas_ · **Joined:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 5:07 pm **Posts:** 10

Hm, i don't get... I didn't repaired that red session paths error, but i've installed and all working perfectly. Can be some errors in the future?

Asphyx · **Joined:** Sun Aug 28, 2005 5:03 pm **Posts:** 2404

Quote:

I changed the permissions of the path but didn't work;

Well that is a pretty ambiguous statement...How did you change the permissions?
Who owns the folder?
Either you have to set Apache account as owner for the sessions folder or set chmod xx7 which is only advisable if it is no where near a public accessible path...

I'm not familiar with Plesk at all so that may explain why logins work.

a.gallo · **Joined:** Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:13 pm **Posts:** 12

Hi,

Permissions should be 777: drwxrwxrwx
I set the Ownership as you said
User : apache
Group: apache

but is stil unwritable.

fo other paths permissions have a "t" more: drwxrwxrwxt
but in Plesk there's no way to set it.

I got an error with joomfish:
Notice: Array to string conversion in /var/www/vhosts/fasi.biz/httpdocs/administrator/modules/mod_pathway.php on line 30

Could it be related with unwritebale session path?

Thanks
Andrea

cosfrog · **Joined:** Fri Feb 16, 2007 9:29 pm **Posts:** 4

Ive been reading this thread to see if I have this problem. The session path shows up red and unwritable, went ahead and finished installing. My host says it is writtable...

I am able to log into the admin, so from what I have read I should not worry about the sessions path. BUT I can not see my frontpage at all and in admin when I select templat manager or install (anything) I get a blank page....

Any help would be appreciated, am I missing a file? Ive been double checking every directory to be sure I uploaded everything.

[MOD note: Please do not crosspost your messages. See the Forum rules: http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,65.0.html - pe7er]

deepwebtech · **Joined:** Sat Feb 17, 2007 5:46 pm **Posts:** 4

when i sucessfully install joomla 1.0.12...and when i open my site..only words appear..no xml or php content occurs..i mean no joomla logo or pic,no menus..just same as if we make a site with css..and we upload only html part..not css file..same as that.. while installing i too get a red mark message every time that "session save path is unwriteable"...but i remember when i installed joomla for the first time.i did a successfull installation having session save save path red marked as well..i mean that css kinda prob..but after that i installed it tons of times..but that problem surely occurs..plz plz help me

Andreitza · **Joined:** Sat Feb 17, 2007 7:25 pm **Posts:** 8

I installed with session save path unwritable .. at final step I deleted the Install folder , and added session_save_path('/path/to/joomla/sessions') and the sessions folder with 777 permitions .. it did not work .. what now..?

DeanMarshall · **Posted:** Tue Feb 20, 2007 5:10 pm

@cosfrog
Sounds like one of two things:

you are hitting a 'fatal error' but your server is NOT showing you the errors - the php.ini setting 'display_errors' should be set to on.
OR
you are hitting a memory limit and the server is killing the process stone cold - again this is a php.ini setting.

I think both of these can usually be overridden with a .htaccess or local php.ini setting if you do not have access to the main php.ini configuration file for your server.

@deepwebtech
Sounds like you have incorrectly set your $mosConfig_live_site variable in configuration.php
If you view the source of your page where is the css supposed to load from?
If you copy the path into your browser's address bar does the file show in the browser?
If you see double slashes in the middle of the path it is probably that you have a trailing slash on the end of $mosConfig_live_site.
It should NOT end with a slash.

@Andreitza
You don't mention actually having had a problem logging into your site. Please wait until you actually have a problem logging into the /administrator/ backend of your site before messing with settings.
These 'hacks' are only needed if a problem materialises. As has been pointed out previously there are better ways to overcome the problems. The suggestion of applying that particular fix to configuration.php is a last ditch workaround and should only be used temporarily.

Dean

DaaX · **Joined:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:51 am **Posts:** 5

Hi DeanMarshall,

I need help, i am a newbie and i really don't always follow all that is said in all the posts on this subject. I have passed 3 days reading all the posts on this problem and i didn't have much success. I'm still stuck in a login loop. >:(

So, I have this :

- WinXp sp2
- xaampplite 1.5.5

I installed joomla on local, so i didn't have the message that said that my session save path was unwrtitable. My session save path in the php.ini file is set to /xampplite/tmp. This folder is writable since everything on my pc is in local, right ?

Guess what... it doesn't work >:(

I really don't know what to do and i'm desperate. I even tried to add the line you said in the .htacces file and it doesn't work either (btw, i have 3 files .htaccess. One in the /xampplite/htdocs/forbidden folder, another one in the phpmyadmin and another one xampplite/htdocs/xampp/sqlite. Which one should i use ?).

What the hell am i supposed to do next

???

DaaX · **Joined:** Sat Feb 24, 2007 3:51 am **Posts:** 5

Hi DeanMarshall,

Hi everyone with the same problem,

Like I said earlier, it's been 3 days I try to make Joomla work on my computer and... MIRACLE ! IT FINALLY WORKS

Guess what : my problem was the browsers I used... I tried all the solution that I understood with either ie7 or Firefox 1.5.9 (I ddidn't try Firefox 2 though) and it doesn't work. I installed Joomla at work and I use ie6 and I didn't have problem at all. So, I fired my old Maxthon browser (wich uses the ie6 engine) and it works

So, I share the information for everyone in this situation and maybe the problem is browser based

DeanMarshall · **Posted:** Fri Mar 02, 2007 12:06 am

Hi DaaX,

Sorry I didn't get to you sooner. It is unlikely that the issue is actually browser related but there are a couple of ways that browsers can confuse the issue. Here is a classic I have stumbled upon from time to time.

You try to access your new Joomla site - and as it is early days you have a setting incorrect and you get an error message: 404 page not found, server 500 fatal error, or 403 permission denied. It doesn't matter which - but the fact that you tried a site and got the error is the important part.

You then tinker and find an obvious error which you correct - when you try again your browser shows the same error.
It is possible that you have actually solved the error and your browser has remembered the error and simply shown you the stored 'page' (the error message).
In the past this has caused me to carry on messing with settings often introducing new errors.

To be sure - after one of these errors (and after your attempt to correct it) hold down the shift key while you press the reload/refresh button with the shift key still held down.

Other possible issues are privacy/security and anti-virus programs: these can interfere with cookies, sessions, and javascript and their tinkering is very often implicated. If you have issues with a Joomla site login you should experiment with briefly turning off as many of these security apps as possible. Don't worry - the odds of your PC being exploited in the 2 minutes that you disable your firewall are pretty remote.

And finally - just because a folder is local doesn't automatically mean it is writeable - for example if the folder doesn't exist or a hard drive is full such errors can still result.

Hope something in there helps someone.

Dean

jmscott77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 23, 2007 7:56 am **Posts:** 6

OK, so.. I got the "hack" to work, but now I cannot install modules/components to my site.. it says "Failed to move uploaded file to /media directory."

Any suggestions?

tommygj · **Joined:** Fri Mar 09, 2007 6:58 pm **Posts:** 4

Heh, can see I am not the only frustrated about this.

I have http://www.one.com for hosting, and I have tried doing the .htaccess fix in about 50 ways without any luck.

Everytime I put something in to .htaccess it failed to show any page at all, comming up with a "Contact One.com support ,, yada yada..".

Then I found out that you can use ini_set( var, value) to override some values.

So what I did was:
1. Create a folder called '/tmp' in the root of my website.
2. Opened globals.php
3. Inserted at the very top:
ini_set('session.save_path','/customers/xxx.dk/xxx.dk/httpd.www/tmp/');

And now it do not complain any longer. I have tried logging in and it seems to work fine, will be honest though, I do not see any files being created in /tmp, anyone know why that is? I would expect there be one per logged in user at least..

Update: I have noticed that it started writing in /tmp now, it just do not happen immediately at login, but seems to be when I edit or create content.

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