Safe Path problem (corrected title)

[FrankA]

Installing latest vm on Linux vps.

Created vmfiles above httpdocs (location as suggested by vm config) in root but vm said it was not writable. Ownership was correct so I presume the issue here relates to server configuration. Can anyone suggest what needs adjusting to make it writable?

[jenkinhill]

No server should be using "safe mode" now - especially as it was shown to really be unsafe to do so....

If the directory is not writable then chmod it to 755 - that should be the highest permissions level required.

[FrankA]

Sorry Jenkinhill, slip of the fingers, I meant safe path, not mode (Title of thread corrected)

The issue is with having the vmfiles directory above httpdocs. I have full control of the server but am not sure why it has this problem. Ownership of the folder which I had to create using root admin was changed to match ownership of the site folders/files. So it is not an ownership issue. I guess that as I had to use root admin to create the folder points to some sort of server permission issue.

[jenkinhill]

Some shared servers do not permit setting up directories below normal web root - although most server admins will set one up for you.

If you cannot do that then you can place the directory above web root, but give it some unguessable name - eg fgterrsskk

[FrankA]

It is a VPS and I have the misfortune to be the server admin, I guess the only downside of moving to a VPS. I could sort out this matter if I knew where to look tried all the plesk 10 manuals and googling, but as I found before unless you know the terminology finding the answer in these highly techy matters is almost impossible.  For example after migrating to the server I could not upload images to VM, it took three months of hair-pulling until I discovered that FastCGI had to be enabled 

Would you know of a guide to the 'ideal' server configuration settings for Joomla/VM installations as that is the majority of the sites I have. I never had problems on the 2 previous shared servers. I presume that there vmust be some form of standard config that is a best fit for joomla but mostly I find people advised to go to a better host. Well, I guess I am on as good as you can get now, performance on VM 5k products with multiple categories per product is blisteringly fast, their support is good but does not extend to server config or users scripts.

[jenkinhill]

I believe this is a Plesk issue, as I have come across a few reports of Plesk issues with Joomla & Drupal. I have used Plesk, Ensim and cPanel based servers and have found a properly set up & secured WHM cPanel, which I now have,  to offer the best and most reliable options - and easier to understand.

I have had no issues with installing and running Joomla/VM and other components on this setup.

[FrankA]

Thanks I have asked the company to advise me on cost etc. for switching. Been reading that automated conversion can be hit and miss...