Joomla! Discussion Forums

I want to finish a website today and i have a problem with the session sava path... This is red, unwritable or not exist...
I cant acess the php.ini and i dont have a ftp connection with the server to try to do something that some people say (as set configuration.php in joomla folder, i test it on a local server and it didnt work )... My question is:
-If i install withou a session save path what problems should happen?
-When i contact the server administrator how can he solve this problem withou set the php.ini?

Excuse my litle english... tnx

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.


UPDATE

Ultimately for most people the *best* solution to this issue would be to contact
their host explaining the problem. Some hosts aren't as good as we would like.
If you get no useful assistance from your host then the rest of this message
(and this thread) is for you.

You may save a lot of time if you jump directly to the following post:
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic ... #msg562118
where I try to distill four possible solutions to this issue.

Of course reading the whole thread may still be of benefit to some - but can
probably be left until after reading the post I just referenced.

MOST of this thread discusses a less than ideal 'hack' or workaround for the
problem that should only be used by those who can find no better way. The
post referenced above lists this as the final of four options the other three
being much better.

Good luck.

Dean

Tnx Dean, it works well

I tried this but I couldn't get it to work.
My site is hosted on this path on the server: E:\Web\joomla
And the sessions folder is E:\Web\joomla\sessions

Is this line correct?? It's not working.
$mosConfig_absolute_path = session_save_path('/sessions');

Leave the mosConfig_absolute_path alone - do not edit it in any way, simply copy the VALUE from between the quotes and add the name of your sub-folder to it:
$mosConfig_absolute_path = 'E:\Web\joomla';
session_save_path('E:\Web\joomla\sessions');

BUT as I have said before, BACKSLASHES on Windows are tricky.
I would change the \ for / and I drop the E: or any other drive letter.

BTW: Is E: where the JSAS or other WAMP software places the files?
Is that the actual address once the server is running or does it map a new drive letter?

One more thing - if this is running on your own system then it shouldn't be necessary.
You should edit the value within the php.ini file AND/OR make sure that the sessions folder named in php.ini is accessible.

Dean

We actually do have a dedicated server. I edited the php.ini file and got Joomla to install correctly. I was just curious if the localized settings were better IF we were to run mutiple Joomla sites. Thanks for your help!

Rob

Hmmmm well I got everything to install. According the install everything was correct. Pre and post. Now when I try to add new content items I get errors. No idea what the problem is. Any ideas? Please see my post at: http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic ... html 

This thread contains a quick description and a link to a more detailed description:
http://forum.joomla.org/index.php/topic,21581.0.html

Hope that helps

Dean

Super, that did it!

I made the changes to the in mySQL admin, uninstalled the site, deleted that database, restarted the server, then reinstalled Joomla. Then when I tested, new content items worked. 

I had a similar problem when I wanted to remove php-cgiwrap due to bugs in the handling of 404 errors. When I removed cgiwrap the sessions wouldn't write on my host and I couldn't get in administrator. Dean gave some great information and it worked perfectly, until I saved a configuration change using the back-end which then removed the line. Now that I was pointed in the right direction I solved my problem by adding a line to my .htaccess file (apache only) that looks something like this:
# change php session temporary directory to one owned by me and world writeable
php_value session.save_path /usr/www/users/myuser/Joomla/sessions

An added advantage to adding the session change from the default /tmp is to keep all your session data out of public eyes.

Hope this helps,
Harry

I installed Joomla without messing with my session save path, and now I am paying for it.  I have tried to change my session save path through configuration.php.  After doing so, I can't even log in as an admin in Joomla.  Upon changing the configuration file back, the number of times I hit the button to log in show that number of admin logged in.  I have made the file with 777 chmod, and I have the correct absolute path.  Any idea on what is wrong?

Now you have me intrigued - if you needed to mess with the session save path it was because you couldn't log in.
If you can login without the change then don't mess.

Perhaps if we start by having a description of what doesn't work - what are you trying to fix when you change the session_save_path?


This is 'normal' or at least expected behaviour with Joomla. If you go to /administrator/ you can log in repeatedly - each login being visible in the admin panel.


777 is evil - it is a major security risk and I strongly recommend that you move back down to a less permissive setting.
On most systems 644 for files and 755 (sometimes 775) for folders.

Dean

Hi,

where do I find these line "session_save_path" ?
It's not in my configuration.php !
Have I to create it then?

Firstly, make sure you need this: It is only required if attempts to login 'cycle back' to the login page - without showing an incorrect username/password message.

If you are affected then copy the line to your configuration.php file - it is not normally present in the file, it is only added as a workaround.

Dean

I have opened a new topic here. This describes exactly what happened to me.

Back to my previous post...sorry it has taken me so long to post again!  The original problem may possibly outside the scope of even Joomla.  I have installed the Virtuemart ecommerce component and module.  I can upload pictures fine through Joomla when dealing with the static content and such, but when I try to upload a picture through Virtuemart, I get an error that says this:

Warning: getimagesize(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/tmp/phpv7w1Y2) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www) in /home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_main.php on line 70

Warning: getimagesize(/tmp/phpv7w1Y2): failed to open stream: Operation not permitted in /home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_main.php on line 70

Warning: getimagesize(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/tmp/phpv7w1Y2) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www) in /home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_main.php on line 70

Warning: getimagesize(/tmp/phpv7w1Y2): failed to open stream: Operation not permitted in /home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_main.php on line 70

Warning: is_readable(): open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/tmp/phpv7w1Y2) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www) in /home/sunglassesrxonline.com/www/administrator/components/com_virtuemart/classes/ps_main.php on line 195

Error: Cannot read uploaded full image temp file: /tmp/phpv7w1Y2.
One common reason for this that the upload path cannot be accessed
because of the open_basedir settings in the php.ini. Or maybe the
directory for temporary upload files on this server is not readable.

Since I had went ahead and installed Joomla without worrying too much about the session save path permissions, I was just assuming that it was the problem.  It really baffles me if that isn't the problem!

First of all, the configuration.php is empty. Now it looks like
session_save_path('/home/httpd/vhosts/halkos.gr/httpdocs/GrJ108/sessions/');
?>
,
but nothing happend, instead i get

Why is configuration.php empty - did you not install the script first?

Dean

Am I being silly but I cant find the session_save_path(''); line anywhere in the config file.

HELP

No you are not being silly - there is no such line ordinarily.
You will need to create it - and rememeber that any time you change global config options it will be wiped - and you will have to recreate it.

Dean

Just for general info

I had the same issue that the first thread had, and the rewrite of the session save path in the cfg.php worked, but I took my site offline, and the issue happened again.  I had to hack the cfg.php to put it back online, and then input the same fix for the session save path again.

Just throwing it out there

EDIT***
The issue also occures again when installing JCE editor.

I'm running into major issues here.  If I cant get the functionality that I want out of this site due to server constrictions, is there an alternative way of handling the issue?

So, do I need to worry about the seesion save path, unwritable, if I can login and not cycle?

-Beau

@JesuSlaveX
Applying this command to configuration.php is not the best way to solve the issue - it is a workaround for those not familiar with .htaccess AND who don't have access to their servers php.ini file.
Editing the session save path in php.ini is the best option.
Applying an edit to .htaccess is the next best option.
Applying this edit to configuration.php is VOLATILE - any AND every change to 'site' -> 'global config' will require this edit to be re-applied.

@beaubrewer1977
If you can log into the /administrator/ section of your site - and stay logged in - then no don't worry about it.
Logging into the front end is a less rigourous process and is NOT an indicator that you need not worry.

Dean.

This worked for me. Thanks

Just a quick note to everyone re-iterating that the configuration.php route for handling this is VOLATILE.
*EVERY* change to your site's global configuration - such as installing a new editor, changing the site name, taking the site on/off line will require the HACK to be re-introduced.

The better way really is to get your host to edit php.ini to set the sessions.save_path to a folder that is writeable.

The next best fix is to add the following line to .htaccess or to a php.ini file in the joomla folder


Using configuration.php for this purpose is a 'last gasp' fall back - for if neither of the above fixes work / are available to you.

Dean

Edit: Damn keyboard - wrong keyboard combination submitted the post before I was more than one line in.
Sorry about the initially incomplete post.

*sigh* I am installing joomla and am encountering the "Session save path Unwriteable" error

I do not have access to the php.ini on my host.

I tried editing .htaccess, still no luck.

deleted .htaccess and tried making a php.ini in my joomla folder, still no luck

I can see the joomla installer reading either .htaccess or php.ini i made because i keep editing the save session path and the change registers when I reload the joomla web installer.

the directory/directories (I actually tried 2 directories) both had 777 permissions

What could be the problem 

btw, web installer also indicates that SAFE MODE  is ON

Change hosts my friend - no two ways about it, SAFE MODE is a killer.
You have to jump through so many hoops to do the most basic things - it is entirely unworkable in my humble opinion.

If this is a new host you can try asking them to relax their security for the sake of usability - or you can politely point out that their hosting service isn't suitable for the purpose for which you acquired it. Any decent host will give you your money back - of course decent hosts aren't as thick on the ground as they should be.

For anyone going the local php.ini route it appears that the settings do not cascade into sub-folders so you may need to put a copy in your joomla folder and your /administrator/ folder.

Dean

dean,

Actually, it's a "free" host that I'm using, so i guess I'll have to find another one.

thanks so much for the feedback   

It work for me !!! But I've a error :

- on the front end , went i go to site on the first , it have  error on the top site

      "Notice: Undefined index: QUERY_STRING in F:\PHP\JL\includes\frontend.php on line 206" 

every thing work but have this error !

- on the admin this error on the below footer:        " PHP: Error parsing C:\WINDOWS\php.ini on line 828 "

I change th php.ini  value : 
  session.save_path('C:/PHP/sessiondata');  or session.save_path('C:\PHP\sessiondata');

  I use mysql server& client  4.0.26 on IIS with php 4.4.2, it's work fine for me but i have 2 error !!  please help me 

Dean, thank you a lot. You don't know how lucky I was when I saw your post which solved my problems