Cannot escape from login

I've done a straightforward install, have changed nothing. I can get to the catalogue site ok but going to admin takes me to the login page - I enter the admin login user and pwd but it just takes me back to the login page.

I found a couple of other admin problems but none seemed to be the same as mine. (This must be something to do with my server as I also installed OSCommerce to try out and that had the same problem.)

Anyone got any ideas? My site is hosted so I cannot change the httpd config or php.ini but can change any files and add .htaccess files if necessary.

Thanks,
Tony.

Check all your permissions on the server and also check the PHP Session settings on the server. If you can't hold a session, you may have potential problems holding a login.

Can you login as a CUSTOMER (from the catalog side). If so, then the previous concept might not bee worth looking into, and you should look exclusively within the admin files and configuration themselves.

Make sure your PHP setting have the temp path set (to hold session data etc..). I found one time with another site that the temp path was not set correctly on a server, and as a result, the login would perform similar to what you are describing.

Mind you, that wasn't a Zen Cart site, but it may be worth looking into.

Testing login between customers and admins will at least give you a place to start narrowing down your issue.

econcepts:

Check all your permissions on the server and also check the PHP Session settings on the server. If you can't hold a session, you may have potential problems holding a login.

Can you login as a CUSTOMER (from the catalog side).

Thanks, econcepts. I am not able to log in as a customer either. How do I check the session settings? And what should I look for on the permissions side?

Cheers,
Tony.

I am not able to log in as a customer either
but the customer is created in the database

Also, just picked this up from the server php_info():

Session Support enabled
Registered save handlers files user

Directive LocalValue MasterValue
session.auto_start Off Off
session.bug_compat_42 On On
session.bug_compat_warn On On
session.cache_expire 180 180
session.cache_limiter nocache nocache
session.cookie_domain no value no value
session.cookie_lifetime 0 0
session.cookie_path / /
session.cookie_secure Off Off
session.entropy_file no value no value
session.entropy_length 0 0
session.gc_divisor 100 100
session.gc_maxlifetime 1440 1440
session.gc_probability 1 1
session.name PHPSESSID PHPSESSID
session.referer_check no value no value
session.save_handler files files
session.save_path /tmp /tmp
session.serialize_handler php php
session.use_cookies On On
session.use_only_cookies Off Off
session.use_trans_sid On On

The installer should have warned you about this one:

tonylinde:

session.use_trans_sid On On

It should be Off.

DrByte:

The installer should have warned you about this one:

Originally Posted by tonylinde
session.use_trans_sid On On

It should be Off.

Thanks, DrByte. I created a .htaccess file in the root zencart directory with the two lines:

php_value session.use_trans_sid 0
php_value register_globals 1

I thought that was supposed to fix it. Didn't work - logging in as customer just came up with the 'please log in' message again.

What version of PHP ?

DrByte:

What version of PHP ?

PHP Version 5.1.0RC1

T.

Seems I can add:

AddHandler custom-php .php .pcgi .phtml .inc .phtml~ .php~ .inc~ .html~
Action custom-php /cgi-sys/php4

to .htaccess to get php v4.x.x if that'd be better.

And can specify a separate php.ini file to override any of those if that helps.

tonylinde:

Seems I can add:

AddHandler custom-php .php .pcgi .phtml .inc .phtml~ .php~ .inc~ .html~
Action custom-php /cgi-sys/php4

That did it!!! Admin works too!

Looks like zen-cart doesn't work with PHP 5.1.0RC1.

Thanks, all,
T.

Some PHP5 releases had some session problems. That's why they're up to 5.2.3 now ... much better than an RC1
Glad you found your solution.

DrByte:

Some PHP5 releases had some session problems. That's why they're up to 5.2.3 now ... much better than an RC1
Glad you found your solution.

Thanks, DrByte. I'll pass it on to the hosting company.

Cheers,
Tony.