Vanilla: moving domain, white page displayed

Dinoboff

I can write an extension to use the database for session data in the mean time.

Can you use php5?

stml

I can use php5, but I'm not really comfortable with writing additional extensions - I'd rather figure out what the root cause is. I'll take the session issue to the administrator.

Dinoboff

Here is the extension: http://lussumo.com/addons/?PostBackAction=AddOn&AddOnID=416

stml

My domain administer is wondering: "Do you know if there's a place in the forum software where the tmp path is set? I checked through the various settings files but couldn't find anything." Where would this be? Thanks.

Dinoboff

Vanilla doesn't set session.save_path.

Dinoboff

You can check what session.save_path is set to by adding var_dump(ini_get('session.save_path')); at the top of Authenticator::GetIdentity() in library/People/People.Class.Authenticator.php. The session is started there.

stml

I've put this in a few places and it's not outputting anything. Ho hum...

Dinoboff

check on the login page.

vanilla cleaning the output buffer:
//init_vanilla.php line 58 ob_end_clean(); ob_start();

stml

Dinoboff: I've installed your extension, but there's a problem in People.Class.DbSessionSession.php - lines 23-27: include_once 'Zend/Session.php'; include_once 'Zend/Session/Namespace.php'; include_once 'Zend/Session/SaveHandler/DbTable.php'; include_once 'Zend/Db.php'; include_once 'Zend/Db/Table/Abstract.php'; All reference an absolute path which doesn't exist. The server is running Zend Optimiser - should these paths be prefaced by something, or are there files missing from the extension?

Dinoboff

you need to install the zend framework somewhere; eg: /home/stml/library/ (it will contain the Zend folder).
Then /home/stml/library/ needs to be in your php include path. You can let the extension do that by adding to conf/settings.php:$Configuration['DBSESSION_ZEND_FRAMEWORK_PATH_TO_INCLUDE'] = '/home/stml/library/';

Dinoboff

ps: Why your provider can't get your php session to work?

stml

Hmm. I don't think it's going to be possible to install extra frameworks - this is a virtual server on a shared host. I added var_dump(ini_get('session.save_path')); to the top of Authenticator::GetIdentity() in library/People/People.Class.Authenticator.php, and at the top of the login page it says: string(20) "/var/lib/php/session" Does that help?

Dinoboff

You can do almost as much on a virtual server than an a dedicated server.

Here is the solution to your problem:
http://kb.mediatemple.net/questions/652/(dv)+Session+Save+Path+Errors+and+the+Vhost.conf

I don't know who is managing your server, but he just has to follow the article. If for any strange reason he can't, you just need to download the zend framework (it is just a collection of a php file, no compilation), put it in /var/www/sites/XXXXXX/library/ and add to conf/settings.php $Configuration['DBSESSION_ZEND_FRAMEWORK_PATH_TO_INCLUDE'] = '/var/www/sites/XXXXXX/library/';

ps: if someone is renting a virtual server to sell some share hosting on it and can't fix that basic problem after 1 week you reported it to him/her, you probably should look for an other provider.

Dinoboff

An other solution is to create a tmp folder in /var/www/sites/XXXXXX/ and add o the top of Authenticator::GetIdentity() ini_set('session.save_path', '/var/www/sites/XXXXXX/tmp/');

/var/www/sites/XXXXXX/tmp should be writeable.

PghRed

I need to move my Vanilla Message Board to another server. The domain name will be the same. I have skimmed through this thread and it looks like the task is over my head. Can you guys give an overview of the basic steps involved in moving?

Dinoboff

When moving your forum, you simply need to move the database (dump it and reinstall it) and the files on your new server, and then update conf/database.php )to update your database server address, name, user name and password) and conf/settings.php to update any path related settings.

stml also had to update its domain name related settings (its url has changed I think) and its current problem is that his new server php session is not properly set (Your new provider documentation should tell if something need to be done to enable session).

PghRed

Bear with me please. You say "move the database (dump it and reinstall it) and the files on your new server." When the domain is re-pointed, I won't have access to the old server right? And while the domain is at the current host, I don't have access to the new server yet. How exactly do I move the database?

Dinoboff

You close your forum and then export your database (using PhpMyAdmin or mysqldump).
When your new server is up and running you import the data in the new database (using mysql: "mysql -u username -p < backup.sql"*)

*if you don't have shell access you either need access to the database and use a mysql client on your computer:
- mysql -h you.server.com -u username -p < backup.sql
- use PhpMyAdmin import - but there is a limit of 2mb for the size of the data.

PghRed

This is over my head. I don't believe I have shell access. I am just a client to GMH and planning to move to GoDaddy. PhpMyAdmin is available on GMH through the c-panel. I can see the data base but do not know how to manipulate it. So, it seems I will need a mysql client on my computer (this is database software?) Then I have to get the data base on my computer? And them put it on the new server? Put all the files in the Vanilla Folder on the new server . Then then update conf/database.php )to update my database server address, name, user name and password) and conf/settings.php to update any path related settings. I don't think I'll be able to do this.

Dinoboff

Check this discussion about export/import of the database using PhpMyadmin: http://www.webhostingtalk.com/showthread.php?t=226796 If your export is < 2mb you can use PhpMyadmin to import it (You can drop any record in the lum_iphistory table first before exporting the database).