I am trying to move a Joomla site off my dev server onto the client's live server. I am installing a new copy Joomla in the process. I went through the install fine, pasted the config code together for the new site, but now then I wasn't able to update any site settings or install any modules/plugins/components. I changed all folders to 777, and double checked these settings multiple times through my Terminal. However...when I am in the Joomla Admin, and I go to Help > System Info > Directory Permissions all folders read as Unwriteable. I have no idea why this is and I am completely stuck at this point, unable to configure anything. Any and all help is GREATLY appreciated. Thanks J
A:
I had a similar sounding problem when I first installed Joomla on a web hosting service. This is a guess, but it might help you.
There are some Joomla pages that won’t save because configuration.php has the wrong permissions. I tried to change this via FTP but the CHMOD command failed. Initially I hacked around it by copying configuration.php to another machine, deleting it from the server, and copying it back. That solved the admin problem. Unfortunately it created a security problem.
The correct solution was to define the FTP account and password in the Joomla global configuration page. Joomla uses the account behind the scenes to modify the configuration.php account without opening it up to hackers by setting the permissions to 777. I had a article on why this worked, but I can't find the reference now.
If you've changed all the file permissions to 777, then you may have left the Joomla installation in an insecure state. I recommend restoring them to their default values; or perhaps just redoing the installation as it might be hard to determine what the defaults are.
Wayne Johnston
2010-01-06 05:08:16
A:
What version of joomla are you using?
unfortunately joomla does have some problems when you install components/module/etc trough the administration, that makes the installed/uploaded files to be owned by root (server) insted of user (you) with version 1.0.x
but it's fixed in the newer version of joomla 1.5 > with the new FTP layer (the form that asks you for your FTP authentication when you install it), assuming you're installing it manually not using automated scripts like fantastico
that said, here's a trick I used. try logging in to your Cpanel account, and use the built in file manager to delete the files and re-upload the files trough FTP so the file ownership belongs to you.
keep in mind though, this problem is not entirely joomla's fault, its a known php file upload problem. so the problem will persist if you try to install/upload files while not using joomla's FTP layer. Try updating your joomla settings and supply it with your FTP authentication for your uploads and components/module/plugin installation.