Running FC8 here, and Apache server.  My cgi-bin path is /var/www/cgi-bin but my web root is /var/www/html   I can't browse to the setup.pl or install.pl files as they are not in my web root directory.  Setting up, or copying the cgi-bin folder to the web root directory, does not work either.

Surely this has been a problem for other linux users?  How, then, to fix?

Mike

Fix it by editing Settings.pl.  Did you get a red box error or something?

Justin:

Nope, no red box.. install instructions say:

Now that you have uploaded and set your directory and file permissions, it is time to run the Setup Script. To do this, type in the web address to the Setup.pl file. Typically, this address is like the one below.

http://www.yoursite.com/cgi-bin/forum/Setup.pl

However, my cgi-bin directory is not web browsable sp? as it's not in the web root path, which is /var/www/html.  In other words, all files in /var/www/html are able to be seen by the broswer, but by default, apache puts cgi-bin in the path: /var/www/cgi-bin  or one level higher than I'm able to browse.

When I installed, I put the 'forum' folder in cgi-bin directory - /var/www/cgi-bin/forum and the blahdocs directory in the root of my website - /var/www/html  

Hope that isn't confusing?  but I can't 'browse' to the setup or install files...

Mike

That sounds like a server error.  But wait, are you getting a 404 error or a 500 error?

It's not a server error.  I have the webserver sitting beside me, not online to the outer world, still building it, so posting the URL won't help.

None the less, I have Root access to all files and directories.

When I unpacked the files, I put the forum directory and all contained files in the cgi-bin folder as the instructions say.  Additionally, I put the blahdocs folder in the root directory of my webserver that is /var/www/html  on my linux system.  If you go to http://www.mysite.com you hit all files in /var/www/html.

Problem is, I believe, Linux puts the cgi-bin directory one level UP from the web root, for security reasons.  SO, I can't 'browse' to the cgi-bin directory, and consequently the sub directories - forum, which has setup.pl or install.pl   Moreover, the paths are as such:

/var/www/html/blahdocs
/var/www/cgi-bin/forum

So, the forum directory is not in the same path as blahdocs, nor can I browse to any files contained in the forum directory because it is not in the web root path.

If a manual edit of those files is the answer, then what to do?

mike

If Apache is set up correctly, the cgi-bin, that is in the location you put, will work fine.  You'll have to change the permissions (chown, chomd, and chgrp) on all of the files in the cgi-bin for them to work at all though.

What is your access/error logs showing when you try to go to site.com/cgi-bin/forum/Setup.pl?

Quoted from Justin

If Apache is set up correctly, the cgi-bin, that is in the location you put, will work fine.  You'll have to change the permissions (chown, chomd, and chgrp) on all of the files in the cgi-bin for them to work at all though.

What is your access/error logs showing when you try to go to site.com/cgi-bin/forum/Setup.pl?

This is what is says.. if I make the path in my browser as http://mysite.com/cgi-bin/forum/Setup.pl ---> because the cgi-bin directory is NOT in the the web root:

Not Found

The requested URL /cgi-bin/forum/Setup.pl was not found on this server.

That's what I've been trying to say... the cgi-bin directory is nested one directory HIGHER than the root directory for visable web files.  In my httpd.conf file, the root directory for all web pages is defined as /var/www/html   meaning all files in the /html directory are available/visible via browser.  The cgi-bin directory is /var/www/cgi-bin and NOT in the viewable path of /var/www/html.  

Thanks for hanging in there with me, but I'm not sure how else to describe it.  The install instructions say to browse to Setup.pl, but again, in summary, my cgi-bin directory that holds the /forum/Setup.pl directory and file are not browsable.  Apache has the cgi-bin directory nested above the web root directory for security purposes, I imagine, and you can't browse to it... so, is there a work around?


Mike

I think I understand what you are saying.  It would help if you posted your httpd.conf file.

You could also just add E-Blah to the /var/www/html directory (make it /var/www/html/forum).  If it just shows text, you'll need to add the following to a .htaccess file:

Options +ExecCGI
AddHandler cgi-script .cgi .pl

Then, if you get a 500 error, CHMOD it 755.  If still get a 500 error, chown and chgrp it to apache or http.