Ok, this is probably an easy question to answer but I can't find the solution no matter how many Linux books or vids I watch.

It doesn't matter the distribution I use I still end up with the same problem. Here's the deal...I have a new install of linux running. I install LAMP on it or manually using RPM / DEB packages (it doesn't matter) When I try to FTP into the file system that's pointed to /var/www/html as anyone other than root, I can't create dirs or files using the FTP client. Soooooo, I checked the permissions. Not the issue as I chmod'ed the whole dir and sub dirs to 777. That didn't work so I chgrp and chown the folder to the user that logged in and still can't upload files or folders as that user. So the folder has 777 perms - the same group and owner name of the guy that's logged into the FTP but still can't upload a file or create a dir.

What the heck am I doing wrong? Now all these problems go away if I just login as root using SSH protocol for FTP. But I don't want to login as root. Assistance would be appreciated.

Hey there!

Welcome to the forums. Let's see now. On the server (I've got one here), you need to make an account (of a user) that is allowed on. Secondly, you'll need to "chroot-jail" that user into his/her home folder (some setting in the config - by the way, what are you using as server?)
If you want that user to have access to "elsewhere" on the system, I suggest you make a folder in that home, and mount the desired destination into that folder.

Good luck.

And, by the way
not really, you took on a "biggie" - good for you!

Thor

Thanks for you response but creating a sim link in the home dir of the user to /var/www doesn't change the fact that he still can't access the folder contents. Also chroot-jailing him there doesn't either unfortunately. This is crazy...seems like there is an easy fix for this. Just unable to come up with one. BTW, I'm running VSFTPD as the daemon of choice.

Okay! This is the same I've got here. We can compare notes.

The simlink is secondary, let's get the user on the system first.

Let's go down the list.
( ) Did you create a user account on the server?
( ) Can the user log in with the login/password combo locally?
( ) can this user list the contents of his/her folder (locally)?
if so
( ) can that user log on remotely?
Let's not yet look at the rest, just log on is a first step...

I'll try to dig up my conf to compare with yours...
(need to fire up the servcer first)

Thor

Ok, fixed the problem. On a "default" install of VSFTPD the directive in vsftpd.conf of "write_enable" was commented. I just simply un-commented it and POOOOF!!! All users are able to write to dirs.

Thor..Thank you so much for taking the time out to help me. You are a gentleman and a scholar!

I would strongly suggest to set the permissions back to the original state.

Kind regards

Hey, only happy to help out! And thanks for posting the "answer" - with that, you helped others in the future. Thanks

Thor