Problem with restricted tmp folder on new host

[EssentialParadox]

Been a long time since I came here for any advice, I'm glad to see how large Zen cart has grown since! :)

Anyway, my problem is quite simple. I've moved hosting provider, instead of re-installing zen cart I'm just trying to transition it to the new server. Seems successful aside from one error, which is a restriction against accessing the root 'tmp' directory on my new, free hosting.

Warning: file_exists() [function.file-exists]: open_basedir restriction in effect. File(/var/www/sential.co.uk/htdocs/shop/admin/includes/local/skip_version_check.ini) is not within the allowed path(s): (/home/:/usr/lib/php:/tmp) in /home/a8601869/public_html/shop/admin/includes/application_top.php on line 52


I did my googling, and saw someone solve a very similar problem on the same hosting provider, but with different software. The solution was:

just replace $_SERVER['DOCUMENT_ROOT']; with '/home/a7396436/public_html/'

forum.phpvideotutorials.com/showthread.php?p=65606#post65606

…which makes sense to me, but can someone tell me what file, and which line[s], I should edit in zen cart.

Thank you! :)

[DrByte]

Is there a reason why you're not following the tried-and-true FAQ which tells you the best way to switch between hosts? https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=100

[EssentialParadox]

Oh, I didn't think it was a problem with the installation per se, but I'll give it a go and hopefully you're right.

[EssentialParadox]

Started the installation process and got this big red X in the prerequisites…

PHP open_basedir restrictions = /home/:/usr/lib/php:/tmp

The same error I said before. So is there some way I can change the tmp directory zen cart is trying to use to a tmp directory within /public_html/ ?

[EssentialParadox]

My host doesn't allow access to that directory. I think all I need to do is edit the chosen path and that should fix it, right?

I don't know if this problem is solved in the latest version, I'm currently on a patched 1.2.7 installation. I'm aware of the security risks, but I'm not in a position to re-customize the whole store again at the moment.

[DrByte]

Zen Cart does *NOT* need to use the /tmp folder.
The error message in your first post is a result of your 2 configure.php files containing path references that were used on the OLD server. And now since your NEW server is trying to use those references (because you've not edited them properly to suit the new server) , you're getting error messages.

Following the FAQ instruction to do a complete new installation on the new server will result in correct NEW configure.php files being built to suit your NEW server specifically.

You can ignore the open_basedir restriction *warning* in the installation prerequesites screen. It's simply there to alert you that your particular server *is* using that feature as part of its security setup and thus if you attempt to use paths outside of its allowed restrictions you will encounter problems.

Just carry on with the installation as guided by the FAQ article. There are only a couple truly fatal system-inspection situations and if those occur then the "Install" button won't be clickable and won't let you proceed, but will give you very specific details about what's wrong and needs fixing.

[EssentialParadox]

Thanks for the reply.

After installing the demo store it does appear to work… but as soon as I restore my old database to the store I get the error again.

Do you know exactly what it is about the database that's important here? My problem is that due to my host, the only way I can upload my old database is using their 'database restore' function, which overwrites the other database completely, inevitably giving me the error.

Is there any way I can manually edit the database with the correct configuration info before uploading it to overwrite the old one?

[DrByte]

... as soon as I restore my old database to the store I get the error again.

Are you referring to the exact same error message as you quoted in your opening post above? If so, then that information doesn't come from the database. It comes from your configure.php files.

Following the FAQ article I mentioned, you should have installed a new copy of Zen Cart on your NEW server.
Then you preserve the configure.php files it built as part of the install process.
Then you upload all the old files from the old site, EXCEPT the configure.php files. Or, if you *do* put up the OLD configure.php files, then you take the preserved copies you made of the NEW ones just made, and replace the OLD ones with those. That's the whole reason for doing the new install on the new server.

[EssentialParadox]

edit: una momento

[EssentialParadox]

I think it was that cache fix utility that I needed to run… Should've just followed the FAQ in the first place!

Thanks doc.