New Install on new server.

Hia All, I have been battling with Zen Cart and my server all day but to no avail.

I really didn't want to post on here as ive fallen at the first hurdle and hate asking when I know somewhere deep down someone has already asked, but ive searched and gone through the recommendations and im still in limbo.

I have PHP Version 5.2.6, Zen Cart 1.3.9f and im using FileZilla to upload.

my webroot is;

/htdocs/

and ive uploaded to /htdocs/shop/ (permissions on each 707)

I have set the dist-configure.php files to configure.php and set permissions to 777.

I have my directory permissions set;

admin 707
cache 777
docs 707
download 707
editors 707
email 707
extras 707
images 777 & all subdirs 777 (the files contained are 604)
includes 707
pub 777
zc_install 777

When I go to;

myweb.com/shop/

I see the zencart page, however, the zencart image in the top left isn't showing. And when i click to install i get "internal server error" although I can confirm the file index.php is exactly where its pointing;

/shop/zc_install/index.php

:unsure:

I have been trying most of the day, re-uploading, leaving the permissions, used a different FTP client, uploaded direct to htdocs.

My only inkling now is that the version of php im using is the cause? But im likely to be wrong!

As for permissions, normally folders are set to 755 and files to 644, with a few exceptions where folders or files need to be writable, in which case 777 would be typically used, depending on hosting server limitations. Discussed here: https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=9

As for your "Internal Server Error", that's likely a conflict with .htaccess directives supplied in the Zen Cart files as security precautions to prevent hackers from doing bad things if they were ever to get into your site for any reason. The server requirements for allowing those directives to work are outlined in the /docs/whatsnew_1.3.9a.html file, among others.

Your webserver should have an apache errorlog, which can be viewed via your hosting company's control panel. That log should show you the exact causes of the "500 Internal Server Error" messages, and you can take action accordingly.

Thanks DrByte. I shall go through the documentation & logs and hopefully be able to update this thread with a big smile as I document my idiocy!

Ste_1:

and ive uploaded to /htdocs/shop/ (permissions on each 707)

I have set the dist-configure.php files to configure.php and set permissions to 777.

I have my directory permissions set;

admin 707
cache 777
docs 707
download 707
editors 707
email 707
extras 707
images 777 & all subdirs 777 (the files contained are 604)
includes 707
pub 777
zc_install 777

When I go to;

myweb.com/shop/

I see the zencart page, however, the zencart image in the top left isn't showing. And when i click to install i get "internal server error" although I can confirm the file index.php is exactly where its pointing;

/shop/zc_install/index.php

:unsure:

I have been trying most of the day, re-uploading, leaving the permissions, used a different FTP client, uploaded direct to htdocs.

My only inkling now is that the version of php im using is the cause? But im likely to be wrong!

I'm 99.99% sure it isn't a PHP problem. Alas, with all you have done so far it is hard to tell what your original problem(s) were. What I/we can tell you though is that your curent permissions are totally wrong, which is probably the cause of the infernal ,, err, internal server error.

Almost all the directories should have permissions set to 755 ... I've no idea where you got the '707' from, but I have never ever seen this setting used for anything.

OK, I'm not a great deal of help, but setting these back to what they should be will go a long way to getting it working.

As for your FTP program (Filezilla), some people aren't keen on it, but it is one of my personal favourites and has never let me down.

Good luck
Cheers
Rod

Thanks RodG. The permissions are what have gone up as default. Im just in the process of re-uploading to my server, ive deleted everything and re-downloaded zencart. Just to be safe.

I was following the guide provided "installing Zen Cart (tm)" and as it mentioned to set the permissions on certain folders, but not what the ones you don't change are left to I didn't touch them! Foolish Assumptions lol!

Thanks Again!

Ok, ive got a little further, but still no clue :). The following messages were displayed after a total re-upload and correction of the permissions;

2. Your /includes/configure.php and/or /admin/includes/configure.php file contains invalid path information and/or invalid database-connection information.

3. Additional Details: includes/configure.php file contents invalid. ie: DIR_FS_CATALOG not valid or not set

I took a copy of the files to have a look to see if I could do it manually but I don't know PHP and w3schools can't save me here!!

/htdocs/catalogue/includes/.htaccess: order not allowed here
/htdocs/catalogue/zc_install/.htaccess: DirectoryIndex not allowed here

Those are entries in my error log on the server, does anyone know what I need to do to allow said order & directory index?

Ste_1:

3. Additional Details: includes/configure.php file contents invalid. ie: DIR_FS_CATALOG not valid or not set
   That specific issue is what's causing your problem.
   ie: the path specified there is invalid or doesn't match where your store is installed.
   That's common if you've relocated the site to another server or folder, and haven't updated the configure.php files to match.

THAT is why the Tutorial on moving to another server directs you to do a clean new install on the new server, which then builds a good set of configure.php files, then preserve those files as you upload your old site's files. https://www.zen-cart.com/tutorials/index.php?article=100

This is a new install. Infact I re-downloaded everything and re-uploaded it all last night.

So do I need to upload direct to /htdocs or edit the config file to say its in /htdocs/catalogue. The config file that is named dist-config... from the oem package.

Im following the instructions word for word.

As per the installation instructions, you need to create a configure.php file in order to do an install.
A sample dist-configure.php is provided, and you can safely rename it to configure.php if you don't already have a configure.php file on your server. You need to make it writable.
Then zc_install will walk you through your server's settings, and build appropriate new contents for that file, based on your answers.
Then it writes that content to the configure.php files.
It has to write that content successfully or you won't be able to use the site.

The install im using is;

zen-cart-v1.3.9f-full-fileset-08142010

DrByte:

As per the installation instructions, you need to create a configure.php file in order to do an install.
A sample dist-configure.php is provided, and you can safely rename it to configure.php if you don't already have a configure.php file on your server. You need to make it writable.
Then zc_install will walk you through your server's settings, and build appropriate new contents for that file, based on your answers.
Then it writes that content to the configure.php files.
It has to write that content successfully or you won't be able to use the site.

I have been following the installation instructions given with the .zip package, not the articles you are linking to. Can you give me a direct link to the installation instructions that show you how to setup the config.php file as at present renaming the dist- one's is obviously not working thus sending me in circles.

Can you copy/paste an example of your configure.php file or a demo one.

From that Ill be able to figure out what needs to go in mine. Other than doing that I think im at lands end. :(

Ste_1:

This is a new install. Infact I re-downloaded everything and re-uploaded it all last night.

So do I need to upload direct to /htdocs or edit the config file to say its in /htdocs/catalogue. The config file that is named dist-config... from the oem package.

Im following the instructions word for word.

Actually you are giving us some conflicting information.

In your first post you stated " I have set the dist-configure.php files to configure.php and set permissions to 777"
.
You now say it is a new install. One of those statments is incorrect, because new installations don't have the configure.php files until after the installation scripts have been run, and those scripts will provide the correct path information that prevents the errors you are now getting from occuring.

Keep, don't modify the dist-configure.php files. Delete the configure.php files and take it from there....

On the homepage, i clicked download now. I downloaded the most recent version, I unzipped it. I then uploaded it.

The files dist-configure.php are in the default download package, which I then renamed to configure.php, I haven't created them, I bought the web space only a few days ago! I can assure you this server has never had zen cart on it prior to me trying to get it on.

If im not supposed to do anything with the dist-configure.php files how come the documention, to install from scratch, says;

On the server locate the file: /catalog/includes/dist-configure.php
Rename this file to configure.php and change the permissions to 777 (read-write-execute for all)

Next, on the server locate the file: /catalog/admin/includes/dist-configure.php
Rename this file to configure.php and change the permissions to 777 (read-write-execute for all)

All im trying to do is get the installation going, I havent got past the;

Hello. Thank you for loading Zen Cart™.
You are seeing this page for one or more reasons:

screen yet.

So are you saying I need to put the dist-configure.php files, that I renamed to configure.php, back to dist-configure.php. Both files being under the directories /admin/includes and /includes/

Sorry if im going in circles but im dead certain that im following the instructions as I should be.

EDIT: I renamed to dist-configure.php now the Hello. Thank you for loading Zen.... page says "includes/configure.php not found"

Ste_1:

The files dist-configure.php are in the default download package, which I then renamed to configure.php,

Someone please correct me if I'm wrong, but you only need to copy/rename the configure.php file if moving from one server to another, correct?

What I'm suggesting here is that you may be following the wrong instructions.. (just tossing out possible ideas)

Ste_1:

I haven't created them, I bought the web space only a few days ago! I can assure you this server has never had zen cart on it prior to me trying to get it on.

I've no doubt about the truth of this, BUT, let us assume you made some major mistake with the first configure.php, which gets uploaded to the server.. Now let us assume on your second upload attempt you did what I beleive to be the right thing (not mess/touch the dist-configure.php file) and performed the upload to the same location, telling it to overwite files, it WON'T overwrite the faulty configure.php file because there wouldn't be a new one to overwrite it with... So, when you load the cart for the first time now, instead of creating the new configure.php files it is still using the old one from the first attempt.

What I'm really saying here is that it is very easy to go around and around in circles without really understanding why. Now, I can't tell you where you went wrong, if indeed it was your error in the first place, but I can (hopefully) get you the 'break the loop' so you can sit back, look at where you are, and hopefully get you back on track.. I know I made 2 too many assumptions above, but hopefully it shows how even a 'completely fresh install' may not be a fresh or complete as you think it is. (been there, done that).

Ste_1:

So are you saying I need to put the dist-configure.php files, that I renamed to configure.php, back to dist-configure.php. Both files being under the directories /admin/includes and /includes/

In a word, yes.. err, chanfe that.. no... ...
If this were a site I was working on I wouldn't have renamed 'em in the first place, I would have made a copy, using the name 'configure.php' instead ... This way, if things went wrong, and they will,all I'd need do is delete the configure.php files and start afresh (the original dist-configure.php forever remaining untouched).

You however have renamed the files (as instructed) and something went amiss.. We don't know what, it doesn't matter.. but it was probable that the 'new' configure files were modified when first accessed by the browser, so if you rename them back to dist-configure now, you will be creating a new broken dist-configure file... so once again another circle of errors. .

Ste_1:

Sorry if im going in circles but im dead certain that im following the instructions as I should be.

Many people install first time without a problem, occasionally something goes amiss and it is very very easy to get caught by the many possible circles of errors... IOW, don't feel bad about it.

As for following the instructions, they are excellent to a point, but the do assume a 'known' starting point .. and your starting point is current in the middle of one of these circles..

Ste_1:

EDIT: I renamed to dist-configure.php now the Hello. Thank you for loading Zen.... page says "includes/configure.php not found"

To be expected... you have deleted (by re-renaming the dist-configure.php file) the configure.php file, and the dist-configure.php file has been made unusable because it is a modified copy rather than the original.

What you NOW need to do is delete all the the configure and dist-configure files from your server and replace them with unmodified copied from the original zencart distribution files.

OTOH, you might want to just consider starting afresh, again.. Yeah, a pain, but before doing so ensure you remove every sign of zencart on the server... don't try to overwrite files, and don't use a different directory each time you make a new attempt (this is a huge tempation for many people, all it does is confuse things like file locations even more).

Good luck.... I'm outa here for the night...

Cheers
rod

Apologies for giving you the link to the "move to a new server" instructions. Somehow in the midst of hundreds of posts I read your post as "move to new server" instead of "new install".

Regardless, the instructions for installing a new install are exactly as the documentation says, and that's the same as what I posted to you earlier:

DrByte:

As per the installation instructions, you need to create a configure.php file in order to do an install.
A sample dist-configure.php is provided, and you can safely rename it to configure.php if you don't already have a configure.php file on your server. You need to make it writable.
Then zc_install will walk you through your server's settings, and build appropriate new contents for that file, based on your answers.
Then it writes that content to the configure.php files.
It has to write that content successfully or you won't be able to use the site.
When I say you need to "create a configure.php file", I mean: the installer CANNOT make the file for you. It can only replace the contents of an existing file.
THAT is why the dist-configure.php file is provided. ALL you need to do is rename dist-configure.php to configure.php, and make the file writable.
Then zc_install takes care of the rest.

So, starting from there, what are you confused about?

I wouldn't say im confused, what you have all contributed is spot on and has helped me gain further understanding. I just think its fudged. I have followed the instructions word for word again this morning starting a fresh and still have the same screen.

I have logged a support call with my webhost as tbh im convinced im not doing anything wrong. Or whatever is going wrong isn't down to me being misguided.

The fresh install (zen-cart-v1.3.9f-full-fileset-08142010.zip downloaded from sourceforge via the link on zen-cart.com)was uploaded to htdocs/catalogue/

the files are all set to 644 and the folders all to 755.

Except for;

catalogue/cache - 777
catalogue/images (including all sub dirs) - 777
catalogue/media - 777
catalogue/pub - 777

And;

catalogue/admin/includes/ configure.php - 777
catalogue/includes/ configure.php - 777

(the oem dist-configure.php files renamed to configure.php)

I mean if you would like to double check my working and have a look on the ftp site yourself that's fine with me, i can create a password for you, and as its a fresh server there's nothing on there that can't be put back in seconds.

My next step, if the webhost says everythings fine, is shoot myself. No lol Im going to have a go at putting the entries in the configure.php file myself as I have all the info needed. I just don't know the format so ill have to dig for a completed install configure.php file to reference.

Ok so I have been told this;

We do not support Order and DirectoryIndex

Our htaccess file only support mod_rewrite codes.

Hosted with streamline, anyone know if there's anything I can do?

If they won't let you use the protections in the .htaccess files, then you may as well delete the .htaccess files, since they're useless to you. But, that means you leave yourself open to fraudsters and hackers. Even as just a test/demo site.

Better to use a host that supports contemporary security capability for your advanced ecommerce site.

But that still doesn't explain why the installer isn't able to write the configure.php file updates properly. But, it might be an indicator that there are other incompatibilities between your hosting company and the advanced capabilities of the Zen Cart code.