Help with server errors - GoDaddy server

[Johnnycopilot]

Using Zen v1.5.0, Abagon red template on Godaddy Servers. I'm not sure where to post this thread, but I have read that some of the 500 errors are security related, and I wouldn't want to post anything from an error log anywhere but here. Please instruct me as to where to post for help if this isn't the correct place, and where/who I can send a copy of, or post my error logs if need be. I have read the FAQ's (on Zen-Cart.com) about server errors with no luck. Googled with no luck.. Do I need to contact someone in the Commercial Help Wanted section for help, or is this something that I can look for assistance here? My store is almost ready to open, and a few weeks ago I started getting 500 errors. lots of them, and it's to the point now that the website isn't reliable enough to open. The website intermittently goes down, frequently.. and sometimes for 10 min, sometimes 2 min... over and over........Then may work for an hour or more. I don't have a clue where to start.. Godaddy Customer support told me this "once browser reaches sight, it is looking for these two files, and they do not exist.. -[robots.txt] and [missing.html]". The error logs that I have LOOK simple enough, a lot of things like...

[Sat Apr 14 21:52:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] File does not exist: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/addons
[Sat Apr 14 21:52:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] File does not exist: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/galleries
[Sat Apr 14 21:52:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] File does not exist: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/extension

and things like

[Sat Apr 14 21:56:53 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/docs/index.shtml
[Sat Apr 14 21:59:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/includes
[Sat Apr 14 21:59:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/includes/
[Sat Apr 14 22:00:24 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/includes/templates/abagon/buttons/english

Please steer me in the right direction, I need help desprately. Thanks!!
One more thing to add, I HAD two other domain names on the root of this hosting, and when Godaddy told me that the [robots.txt] [missing.html] were supposed to be in the "other domain name folders", I closed those 2 accounts and deleted the folders.. Please help. and Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[DrByte]

on Godaddy Servers.

That's probably a huge contributor to the problems.

I'm not sure where to post this thread, but I have read that some of the 500 errors are security related.

Nothing you've posted here is any security risk. Thus the thread has been moved to General Questions instead.

My store is almost ready to open, and a few weeks ago I started getting 500 errors.

What changed just before the errors started?
Do you have a backup of the site from then?

lots of them, and it's to the point now that the website isn't reliable enough to open. The website intermittently goes down, frequently.. and sometimes for 10 min, sometimes 2 min... over and over........Then may work for an hour or more.

That really sounds like a server problem.

Godaddy Customer support told me this "once browser reaches sight, it is looking for these two files, and they do not exist.. -[robots.txt] and [missing.html]".

Zen Cart doesn't have or supply or use files by those names. So it's not a Zen Cart issue that's triggering those.
It's normal for search engines to look for the robots.txt file, and on some servers I guess it might be normal to direct visitors to a "missing.html" file if a "404 Not Found" condition is encountered (ie: someone tries to access a file that doesn't exist). But the choice to use the name of "missing.html" is probably one made by your hosting company. They should have also supplied that file for you in the first place.

The error logs that I have LOOK simple enough, a lot of things like...

[Sat Apr 14 21:52:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] File does not exist: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/addons
[Sat Apr 14 21:52:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] File does not exist: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/galleries
[Sat Apr 14 21:52:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] File does not exist: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/extension

If you don't have addons installed that are directing people to such folders, then there's no reason for anyone to access those folders, so those "hits" are likely from people probing for vulnerabilities.
Or, if something GoDaddy installed in your hosting account is directing people to those folders, then I suppose you ought to sort that out with them.

and things like

[Sat Apr 14 21:56:53 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/docs/index.shtml
[Sat Apr 14 21:59:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/includes
[Sat Apr 14 21:59:40 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/includes/
[Sat Apr 14 22:00:24 2012] [error] [client 72.167.191.24] client denied by server configuration: /var/chroot/home/content/90/8945990/html/includes/templates/abagon/buttons/english

A few things here:
"client denied by server configuration" probably refers to .htaccess rules that are intentionally preventing visitors from accessing resources they have NO BUSINESS accessing.
So, these entries are caused by two possibilities:
a) rogue visits
b) incorrect or bad links in your templates and/or addons

The index.shtml reference is probably caused by an ErrorDocument directive set up by GoDaddy or by something you or an addon has added to your .htaccess file.
There is no such file in Zen Cart, so it's got to be caused by someone intentionally trying to go there ... either because they triggered an error that's causing the redirection, or because they typed in the URL directly.

The references to /html/includes/ are also caused by the same thing ... someone trying to go there, either because they typed it in or because something in your template or addons is directing them there either by a link to click or by a reference in an image path or a stylesheet image.

And again the same thing for the buttons/english/ reference. Again, probably an incorrect/incomplete/bad image reference in your template and/or stylesheet.

You will indeed want to clean these up, because they're in your control ... namely in your templates/addons/stylesheets.

One more thing to add, I HAD two other domain names on the root of this hosting, and when Godaddy told me that the [robots.txt] [missing.html] were supposed to be in the "other domain name folders", I closed those 2 accounts and deleted the folders.

I've no idea what you're talking about there, but see my earlier note about those filenames, and then talk to your host to sort out whatever confusion they've caused you.

[schoolboy]

You could probably solve most (if not all) of these problems by taking just your zencart site to a more reliable host.

Within two hours, your site could be functioning properly.

How do I know this?

We've moved SEVERAL sites off these "cheap 'n nasty" hosts in recent years, and after doing this, what looked like complex problems have magically evaporated.

[uswebworx]

I agree with SchoolBoy GoDaddy hurts ZC and most others.

[Johnnycopilot]

What changed just before the errors started?

I beleive this started when I enabled the Godaddy "Website Protecation" software. it's one of those programs that tries to find vulnerabilities in the security of your site. I believe that it pokes around EVERYWHERE. I disabled it about a week ago, but website still freezing. Heck whatever is causing the problem is also causing THEIR FTP manager to not work. I use WSFTP, but I need their FTP manager to view and download the error logs. I am going to move to a new server

Do you have a backup of the site from then?

I have several backups, before and after, but... since I don't know when the problems started, when I move to a new server, can I use a backup from now, and just move certain files from earlier? I mean, what files could I use from now? or what files should I NOT use from now.. I would rather not loose the style changes and admin settings from now if possible. I have never moved a website from one server to another and so I just don't want to mess it up..

That really sounds like a server problem.

ok thanks, I am going to find new servers.

If you don't have addons installed that are directing people to such folders, then there's no reason for anyone to access those folders, so those "hits" are likely from people probing for vulnerabilities.
Or, if something GoDaddy installed in your hosting account is directing people to those folders, then I suppose you ought to sort that out with them.

yea I think the searching was done by that service that I am not using anymore "godaddy website protection".. I used it because I know from past experiences that retail sales are better when I have a security validation icon that people can click on to see the site is tested.. so I used the Godaddy one... as far as Godaddy sorting anything out, they are absolutely no help. They spend the time with me on the phone, but they have no clue how to fix any of this.. none..

A few things here:
"client denied by server configuration" probably refers to .htaccess rules that are intentionally preventing visitors from accessing resources they have NO BUSINESS accessing.
So, these entries are caused by two possibilities:
a) rogue visits
b) incorrect or bad links in your templates and/or addons
.......
You will indeed want to clean these up, because they're in your control ... namely in your templates/addons/stylesheets.

I think website protection is the "rogue visits",,, because it's a new domain name, and don't have any traffic yet.. as far as cleaning them up... do I need to do this when I move servers?? if so, I am just as lost on the new server as I am now. In other words, I don't know how to clean this mess up, so will these problems probably be fixed on new servers? what about that .htaccess file? can I upload the ORIGINAL .htaccess file so the one I have doesn't cause me any problems.. it changes often doesn't it, will an original .htaccess fix itself to match all of my new settings? I don't know what it does, obviously.. as far as addons, all I have is "Lightbox" and "SNAF"..

I've no idea what you're talking about there, but see my earlier note about those filenames, and then talk to your host to sort out whatever confusion they've caused you.

when I told Godaddy to "host" a few other domain names that I had (static websites, not ecomerce), they put them on the root folder of stageandtheaterlighting.com ... I wasn't really happy about it, and had never seen that done before with any of my other ecommerce websites.. I have removed the other domain accounts and deleted their respective folders.. as far as sorting things out with them, there is no sorting it out with Godaddy, they are clueless..

THANKS for all of your time addressing my problems,, now I have to move to another server.. When the time comes (probably in about 5 days), if I have any problems I will try to post in the appropriate topic area.. Do you have any preemptive ideas? will new server people help me get this installed and any problems fixed?? I have a copy of the database, and all of my files..

[Johnnycopilot]

You could probably solve most (if not all) of these problems by taking just your zencart site to a more reliable host.

Within two hours, your site could be functioning properly.

How do I know this?

We've moved SEVERAL sites off these "cheap 'n nasty" hosts in recent years, and after doing this, what looked like complex problems have magically evaporated.

Thanks, where should I move to? I would really like someone that can actually help me if I have problems.. Thanks!!

[DrByte]

Tutorial on moving to a new server: https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/i...hp?article=100

As for hosts, note that cheapest isn't always best.
Some ideas to explore: www.zen-cart.com/hosting
Other suggestions should be made via PM.

[schoolboy]

Thanks, where should I move to? I would really like someone that can actually help me if I have problems.. Thanks!!

PM me if you need specific assistance...

[uswebworx]

Thanks, where should I move to? I would really like someone that can actually help me if I have problems.. Thanks!!

If you need anything feel free to PM me as well.