[SOLVED] Ubuntu Server edition 9.10, http://localhost/phpmyadmin = blank white page in browser

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 02:55 PM

I'm usually fairly handy at finding solutions to or causes of my web server problems. This ones had me flumuxed for a few days.
http://localhost/phpmyadmin gives me a blank white page when called from Firefox. Calling from outside the LAN using qualified domain name gives the same result.
I can and echo "test" to Line No. 3 /usr/share/phpmyadmin/index.php and I'll see it in Firefox. If I added the echo "test" further down the document I don't see the output in Firefox.
Also, /var/log/messgaes has the following error over and over.

Code:

type=1503 audit(1261164315.109:231): operation="open" pid=17032 parent=17031 profile="/usr/sbin/mysqld" requested_mask="r::" denied_mask="r::" fsuid=0 ouid=0 name="/sys/devices/system/cpu/"

What is it the phpmyadmin/index.php does exactly. Wha does it pull together.

I can log into MySQL which several user names and set up new users etc. I have tried linking phpmyadmin to the MySQL phpmyadmin DB a couple a different ways but I never get asked for the password because it's only a blank page..

Am I missing the obvious?

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 03:47 PM

Could anyone give me a brief description of how
/etc/phpmyadmin/apache.conf
and
/usr/share/phpmyadmin/index.php
pulls together the info from /usr/share/phpmyadmin/libraries/
and what it is it's doing.
Any understanding that can be passed on is appreciated.

tdnnash25 · 12-18-2009, 04:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VipX1

I'm usually fairly handy at finding solutions to or causes of my web server problems. This ones had me flumuxed for a few days.
http://localhost/phpmyadmin gives me a blank white page when called from Firefox. Calling from outside the LAN using qualified domain name gives the same result.
I can and echo "test" to Line No. 3 /usr/share/phpmyadmin/index.php and I'll see it in Firefox. If I added the echo "test" further down the document I don't see the output in Firefox.
Also, /var/log/messgaes has the following error over and over.

Code:

type=1503 audit(1261164315.109:231): operation="open" pid=17032 parent=17031 profile="/usr/sbin/mysqld" requested_mask="r::" denied_mask="r::" fsuid=0 ouid=0 name="/sys/devices/system/cpu/"

What is it the phpmyadmin/index.php does exactly. Wha does it pull together.

I can log into MySQL which several user names and set up new users etc. I have tried linking phpmyadmin to the MySQL phpmyadmin DB a couple a different ways but I never get asked for the password because it's only a blank page..

Am I missing the obvious?

What are the permissions on that directory?

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 04:51 PM

Most permissions are set to 774 for the moment and owned by root and the Staff Group. Me and the other Programmers on the web servers are members of the Staff group. Gives us editing privileges.
.htaccess are 640 and maybe 1 or 2 others but that's it.
Apache runs under the staff group also.

Web31337 · 12-18-2009, 05:16 PM

something with /sys/devices/system/cpu/ permissions? track PHP errors with this code

Code:

ini_set('display_errors','on');
error_reporting(E_ALL | E_STRICT);

and see what it outputs when you access phpmyadmin. also check for HTTP status code.
just a notice: you don't want to run apache under staff, if someone will break in, he will control all files are belonging to staff group and having group writing permissions, which can cause many disasters.
any server application must only have the most minimal rights required for it to properly run, that's all.

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 05:21 PM

If I place inindex.php echo "test 1" on Line No. 3
And then echo "test 2" on Line No. 59
can I then take it if I see test 1 in Firefox when I call index.php
And I do not see test 2
Can I then take it that the script is getting stuck between line no. 3 and line no. 59 ?

Web31337 · 12-18-2009, 05:33 PM

sorry i can't see your sources (yet) from here, but what if you place code i gave on the first lines?

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 05:37 PM

I have error reporting in php.ini set to
error_reporting = E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE | E_STRICT
And I've xdebug loaded and On.

Other php pages give minor notices about trival things and still
index.php gives nothing. I have this script in the top of the page now:

Code:

function callee( $a ) {
            echo sprintf("callee() called @ %s: %s from %s",
            xdebug_call_file(),
            xdebug_call_line(),
            xdebug_call_function()
         );
    }

    $result = callee( "arg" );

It returns:
callee() called @ /usr/share/phpmyadmin/index.php: 11 from {main}

Cheers, for security tip. It's something I will have to consider. When we are ready to go live I hope to lock it down but it's still early days.

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 05:39 PM

If I swap that code with the code you gave me I get Blank, Nothing.
Error reporting is already on though.

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 05:43 PM

<?php
phpinfo()
?>

Returns a full page of correct settings BTW

Web31337 · 12-18-2009, 06:06 PM

reinstall pma? maybe the package is broken. what's version do you use?
also check if "mysql" CLI util is able to connect and manage data on mysql serv.

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 06:41 PM

I deleted the contents of config.ini.php and I got the phpmyadmin page up but with
#1045 - Access denied for user 'root'@'localhost' (using password: NO)
So I must configure from scratch...
The config.ini.php page

There was a notice at the top of config.ini.php saying for Debian configure a file in /etc/phpmyadmin instead of the config.ini.php so I did that. It looks like that was why I had nothing.

VipX1 · 12-18-2009, 07:39 PM

I used the /phpmyadmin/libraries/config.default.ini.php
and copied the setting across to /phpmyadmin/config.ini.php (Which I had to create myself BTW) and then tweaked each line with MySQL settings and .sock etc. and up she came!!

So, what is the story with 9.10 Srv. Ed. LAMP when myphpadmin is installed. I didn't matter how I configured it the index.php Killed the Firefox page.. phpmyadmin

/*I'm not the only person working on the server so I can't say anything for sure*/

VipX1 · 12-19-2009, 10:29 AM

Further Investigation has found that in /usr/share/phpmyadmin/config.ini.php it is the require file (PATH to mysql username +pword file) with the mysql connect details that causes the phpmyadmin web page to be blank. In the config.ini.php file instead of cfg[server] and the normal mysql details there's a require file location.
Comment out the require file line and I get a "cannot connect, authenticate with database" error. Uncomment the line again and I am back to blank white page in firefox.
If I enter the mysql details straight into the config.ini.php file and do not redirect the configuration to some other file with the mysql detail then phpmyadmin will work perfectly.

I take it from the notice in the Repository installed phpmyadmin config.ini.php file saying "do it this way for Debian" that this is a Debian setup that redirect to a different file for MySQL details.

Symptoms = blank white page for phpmyadmin login