include_path related issue

[Schraalhans Keukenmeester]

I suspect the following problem IS hosting provider specific, but they
haven't been able to help me out so far. Perhaps I am doing something
wrong and someone is able to spot the issue... Here goes.

The actual path of the root dir of my account with hosting provider
(H.P.) is:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/
The webroot is a subdir of the root:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/httpdocs.
Include files go in:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/includes.
..htaccess in httpdocs contains:
php_value include_path ".|../includes"

I can specify additional subdomains in the control panel of my account.
They automatically go in
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/
One of these:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/customer
which also has the subdirs 'httpdocs' and 'includes'
To browse httpdocs/index.php the subdomain the URL reads:
http://customer.mydomain.com[/index.php]
The .htaccess file in httpdocs is similar to the one in my master domain.
PHP recognizes the include_path setting properly, yet fails to open ANY
file in the includes directory (e.g.):
Fatal error: main() [function.require]: Failed opening required
'dbconn.inc' (include_path='.:../includes') in
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/customer/httpdocs/counter.php
on line 4

Permissions are set along the same lines for both master and
sub-domains, 'r-x' to others for all subdirs involved, 'r--' for the files.

Any ideas what prevents PHP from opening include files for my
subdomains? Open_basedir is set to my root dir btw by H.P., if that
makes any difference for this issue.

Hope my message is readable enough. Thanks in advance!
Sh.

[Rik]

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

php_value include_path ".|../includes"

(include_path='.:../includes')

If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.

--
Rik Wasmus

[Schraalhans Keukenmeester]

Rik wrote:

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

> php_value include_path ".|../includes"

>(include_path='.:../includes')

If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.

The pipe was a typo, alas. If only it were so easy, Rik.Thanks for your
keen eye though! No news from my provider either. WEIRD!

Sh.

[Rik]

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

Rik wrote:

>Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

>> php_value include_path ".|../includes"

>>(include_path='.:../includes')

If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.

The pipe was a typo, alas. If only it were so easy, Rik.

Wish it was...

Thanks for your
keen eye though! No news from my provider either. WEIRD!

What happens if you try to include it specifically? Does that work or
does that give a more clear error?
--
Rik Wasmus

Estimated date being able to walk again: 01-05-2007.
Less then a week, hurray!

[shimmyshack]

On Apr 24, 4:34 pm, Schraalhans Keukenmeester <[e-mail]>
wrote:

I suspect the following problem IS hosting provider specific, but they
haven't been able to help me out so far. Perhaps I am doing something
wrong and someone is able to spot the issue... Here goes.

The actual path of the root dir of my account with hosting provider
(H.P.) is:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/
The webroot is a subdir of the root:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/httpdocs.
Include files go in:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/includes.
.htaccess in httpdocs contains:
php_value include_path ".|../includes"

I can specify additional subdomains in the control panel of my account.
They automatically go in
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/
One of these:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/customer
which also has the subdirs 'httpdocs' and 'includes'
To browse httpdocs/index.php the subdomain the URL reads:
http://customer.mydomain.com[/index.php]
The .htaccess file in httpdocs is similar to the one in my master domain.
PHP recognizes the include_path setting properly, yet fails to open ANY
file in the includes directory (e.g.):
Fatal error: main() [function.require]: Failed opening required
'dbconn.inc' (include_path='.:../includes') in
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/customer/httpdocs/counter.php
on line 4

Permissions are set along the same lines for both master and
sub-domains, 'r-x' to others for all subdirs involved, 'r--' for the files.

Any ideas what prevents PHP from opening include files for my
subdomains? Open_basedir is set to my root dir btw by H.P., if that
makes any difference for this issue.

Hope my message is readable enough. Thanks in advance!
Sh.

the short answer is not to reply on the includes directive/.htaccess
files, just define the application include root (and any and all other
paths your application needs) for yourself in your php application and
then prefix any attempt to open an include with that definition. Your
application becomes more portable as it doesnt reply on the ability to
set the includes dir in an .htaccess file. that's what i would do
anyway!

[Schraalhans Keukenmeester]

Rik wrote:

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

>Rik wrote:

>>Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:
php_value include_path ".|../includes"

(include_path='.:../includes')
If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.

The pipe was a typo, alas. If only it were so easy, Rik.

Wish it was...

>Thanks for your
keen eye though! No news from my provider either. WEIRD!

What happens if you try to include it specifically? Does that work or
does that give a more clear error?

No matter what I try, just the filename, or including the relative or
even full path to the include file, same error, no further specification
of why this happens.

(Helpdesk people can be really annoying, you tell them you have a
working solution with include files outside httpdocs which you'd like to
work for subdomains as well. The reply after two working days: "You
can't include files outside your httpdocs on the server, that's why it's
not working." Sigh!!! Guns please!)

[Schraalhans Keukenmeester]

shimmyshack wrote:

On Apr 24, 4:34 pm, Schraalhans Keukenmeester <[e-mail]>
wrote:

>I suspect the following problem IS hosting provider specific, but they
haven't been able to help me out so far. Perhaps I am doing something
wrong and someone is able to spot the issue... Here goes.

The actual path of the root dir of my account with hosting provider
(H.P.) is:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/
The webroot is a subdir of the root:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/httpdocs.
Include files go in:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/includes.
.htaccess in httpdocs contains:
php_value include_path ".|../includes"

I can specify additional subdomains in the control panel of my account.
They automatically go in
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/
One of these:
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/customer
which also has the subdirs 'httpdocs' and 'includes'
To browse httpdocs/index.php the subdomain the URL reads:
http://customer.mydomain.com[/index.php]
The .htaccess file in httpdocs is similar to the one in my master domain.
PHP recognizes the include_path setting properly, yet fails to open ANY
file in the includes directory (e.g.):
Fatal error: main() [function.require]: Failed opening required
'dbconn.inc' (include_path='.:../includes') in
/usr/local/psa/home/vhosts/mydomain.com/subdomains/customer/httpdocs/counter.php
on line 4

Permissions are set along the same lines for both master and
sub-domains, 'r-x' to others for all subdirs involved, 'r--' for the files.

Any ideas what prevents PHP from opening include files for my
subdomains? Open_basedir is set to my root dir btw by H.P., if that
makes any difference for this issue.

Hope my message is readable enough. Thanks in advance!
Sh.

the short answer is not to reply on the includes directive/.htaccess
files, just define the application include root (and any and all other
paths your application needs) for yourself in your php application and
then prefix any attempt to open an include with that definition. Your
application becomes more portable as it doesnt reply on the ability to
set the includes dir in an .htaccess file. that's what i would do
anyway!

Valid point, I'll make sure all stuff in my main domain uses that
solution instead. The .htaccess solution only existed in my 'testlab'.
However, in this case that doesn't seem to be the culprit. PHP has the
include path right, just isn't able to open any files in it.

Right now a 2nd helpdesk employee is modifying some configs to make
things work, he thinks he has the solution. Once fixed, I'll ask him
what exactly caused this behavour, I'll report back here.

Thanks for the input.
Sh.

[Rik]

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

Rik wrote:

>Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

>>Rik wrote:
Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:
php_value include_path ".|../includes"
(include_path='.:../includes')
If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.

The pipe was a typo, alas. If only it were so easy, Rik.

Wish it was...

>>Thanks for your
keen eye though! No news from my provider either. WEIRD!

What happens if you try to include it specifically? Does that work or
does that give a more clear error?

No matter what I try, just the filename, or including the relative or
even full path to the include file, same error, no further specification
of why this happens.

Hmmmz, normally I'd say there's probably another open_base_dir
restriction in effect for the subdomain, that would mean another error
message though... Are you sure the settings for the subdomain are the
same as for the main one?

(Helpdesk people can be really annoying, you tell them you have a
working solution with include files outside httpdocs which you'd like to
work for subdomains as well. The reply after two working days: "You
can't include files outside your httpdocs on the server, that's why it's
not working." Sigh!!! Guns please!)

Hehe, I've more then once explained a hoster how to configure Apache to
my wishes, after being told they didn't think something was possible...
Helpdesk ignorance is OK if they trust you enough to give them the
education they lack :-). It's a pain if they're slow though, the bulk of
the hosters I deal with reply within the hour.
--
Rik Wasmus

Estimated date being able to walk again: 01-05-2007.
Less then a week, hurray!

[Rik]

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

Right now a 2nd helpdesk employee is modifying some configs to make
things work, he thinks he has the solution. Once fixed, I'll ask him
what exactly caused this behavour, I'll report back here.

OK, awaiting in anticipation.

--
Rik Wasmus

Estimated date being able to walk again: 01-05-2007.
Less then a week, hurray!

[shimmyshack]

On Apr 26, 3:17 pm, Schraalhans Keukenmeester <[e-mail]>
wrote:

Rik wrote:

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

Rik wrote:
Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:
php_value include_path ".|../includes"

>>(include_path='.:../includes')
If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.

The pipe was a typo, alas. If only it were so easy, Rik.

Wish it was...

Thanks for your
keen eye though! No news from my provider either. WEIRD!

What happens if you try to include it specifically? Does that work or
does that give a more clear error?

No matter what I try, just the filename, or including the relative or
even full path to the include file, same error, no further specification
of why this happens.

(Helpdesk people can be really annoying, you tell them you have a
working solution with include files outside httpdocs which you'd like to
work for subdomains as well. The reply after two working days: "You
can't include files outside your httpdocs on the server, that's why it's
not working." Sigh!!! Guns please!)

it does sound rather as though your setup there is non-standard, it
stragely uses .htaccess to fiddle with include paths, when of course
you should handle the environment within your app.
i wonder if it isnt because there are symbolic links which are
resolving to be outside the openbase dir restriction.

my advice: name and shame your host with its bad customer service - to
me it sounds like http://1and1.co.uk who are also notorious for
getting back to you after weeks only to have misunderstood what you
asked, and insist on telling you something along the line of "its your
browser settings" which means I just dont bother reading their
replies!

after youve named and shamed them, consider moving to somewhere wher
you are in control of your environment, which doesnt depend on
architechtural restrictions, which after all wont work on IIS etc...
are on apache with htaccess disallowed!

[Schraalhans Keukenmeester]

Rik wrote:

Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:

>Rik wrote:

>>Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:
Rik wrote:
Schraalhans Keukenmeester wrote:
> php_value include_path ".|../includes"
>(include_path='.:../includes')
If a unix box, the colon seems correct (windows would have a
semicolon).
I've never seen a pipe use for this though, but that might be my lack
of OS knowledge and environmental variables.
>
The pipe was a typo, alas. If only it were so easy, Rik.
Wish it was...

Thanks for your
keen eye though! No news from my provider either. WEIRD!
What happens if you try to include it specifically? Does that work or
does that give a more clear error?

No matter what I try, just the filename, or including the relative or
even full path to the include file, same error, no further specification
of why this happens.

Hmmmz, normally I'd say there's probably another open_base_dir
restriction in effect for the subdomain, that would mean another error
message though... Are you sure the settings for the subdomain are the
same as for the main one?

>(Helpdesk people can be really annoying, you tell them you have a
working solution with include files outside httpdocs which you'd like to
work for subdomains as well. The reply after two working days: "You
can't include files outside your httpdocs on the server, that's why it's
not working." Sigh!!! Guns please!)

Hehe, I've more then once explained a hoster how to configure Apache to
my wishes, after being told they didn't think something was possible...
Helpdesk ignorance is OK if they trust you enough to give them the
education they lack :-). It's a pain if they're slow though, the bulk of
the hosters I deal with reply within the hour.

Issue solved by changing open_basedir for the subdomains. Hosting party
have a quite standard CentOS LAMP box, but in their setup open_basedir
is set separately for subdomains. Which basically is a good thing.

Like you expected Rik, I would have guessed an open_basedir related
error message would have reared its ugly head, but appaerantly it does
not! Not sure whether this is a general rule or just something related
to my specific server setup.

I should add some nuance to the remarks about this provider. There is
one person who portrays the (unfortunately) 'typical' helpdesk mentality
(no can't do, not possible, or just plain no. Doesn't properly read
questions etc. You know the type). The others have shown a keen
understanding of the matter, usually are swift in their replies and
solutions, can handle constructive criticism, are open for sensible
suggestions, apply fixes speedily, and are always willing to be
pragmatic about all requests I make. After all, the vast majority of
their clients probably never burden them with technical stuff. On a
whole, I am quite content about them.

I pay about 10 euros a month, which isn't an incredible amount, can't
expect miracles. That said, I am always open for suggestions about good
hosting providers, preferrably in the Netherlands.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments. Glad I got this out of the
way. One happy customer coming up today.

Regards, enjoy the weather (It's top notch here, welcome climate
change!) and have a great weekend all.

Sh.