ftp, sftp and php

[Pandacoder]

Hi,

PHP runs as 'nobody' on my dedicated server. I have a php script that needs to copy a template file from a file or from a mysql db to the web directory.

Once it is in the web directory it needs to change ownership and group to the owner of the web directory (not 'nobody').

Initially I tried php functions chown(), chmod() etc but of course because the web dir is not owned by 'nobody' php has insufficient permissions, it cannot write the files to the directory and it cannot modify the directory (chmod 777) to allow the files to be written.

So I need to follow the ftp route, I want to ftp_connect() using php, to the server locally using the web directory owner's login details, but I have hit a problem, the server is setup to only allow sftp login.

Is there a way to allow ftp login but only locally from within the server, so php can login and chmod the directory to 777, copy in the template file and then chmod back to 755?

What is a good secure ftp program to install on the server?

Is there a better way?

Any help or pointers appreciated.

[AlexP]

Hello,

I would like to suggest you please enable php suexec on your server for more details please refer PhpSuexec - what do I need to know? post.

[Pandacoder]

Thanks for the help. Do you have a 'how to' enable phpsuexec page, that article gives the benefits etc but not how to actually enable it.

I may need to disable it rather quickly as well because it seems the $PHP_SELF var no longer works once phpsuexec is enabled and i use $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] in many of my scripts. I will need to test.

[AlexP]

Originally Posted by Pandacoder

Thanks for the help. Do you have a 'how to' enable phpsuexec page, that article gives the benefits etc but not how to actually enable it.

I may need to disable it rather quickly as well because it seems the $PHP_SELF var no longer works once phpsuexec is enabled and i use $_SERVER['PHP_SELF'] in many of my scripts. I will need to test.

Please send mail to our dedicated server department ( dedicated@eukhost.com )with server details , I will enable it for you.

[Pandacoder]

Hi Alex,

Please could you tell me how to enable it or point me to a tutorial. I would like to understand how it is done and research for any affects it may have on other scripts we run on the site and server.

Thanks

[AlexP]

You have to recompile apache/php with mod_suphp and suexec module , If cpanel is installed on your server then please run ./scripts/easyapache script to recompile apache/php