Cannot run scripts

Greetings.

I was using a Shared hosting account and because the performance was not too
good for my Discus discussion board setup, I went for the Virtual Dedicated
Server service from Godaddy.com.

One BIG problem though...I don't have experience setting up my own server.
The extent of my experience with websites is creating content, uploading
with FTP to the provided (home) directory (usually /public_html), and
placing my scripts in the provided /cgi-bin that is found off the root of my
domain.

But here I am with this server that I'm told by Godaddy I must configure
myself. AHHHHHH!

==========================

Using their 'Simple Control' manager, I created my domain. This created a
subdirectory with my domains 'ID' as the name. Under this subdirectory is
the familiar /public_html and under that the familiar /cgi-bin.

So I have uploaded, via FileZilla, my site content, including my scripts
into /cgi-bin.

PROBLEM 01:

Typing my URL in my browser does not automatically load up the Index.htm
page. I have to specify this file as well in the Address like so:

http://mydomain.com/index.htm

That's nutty.

PROBLEM 02:

I cannot run any scripts from my /cgi-bin directory. I have tried
permissions 755 and 777 and that doesn't seem to be it. Not a single script
will run, although they run fine in my Shared hosting account. For the life
of me, I can't seem to figure out why I cannot run scripts.

http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi or
http://216.xxx.xxx.xxx/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi both will not work. Yet I can
use these to find my http and other files just fine, such as
http://216.111.111.111/mywebpage.htm works fine. So I know my IP or domain
name gets to the correct USER root directory.

I noticed in the httpd.conf file that my ScriptAlias is

ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "/var/www/cgi-bin"

But putting my scripts in /var/www/cgi-bin and then trying to run them
typing http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi won't work. I can't see how
that URL would address /var/www/cgi-bin in the first place. I believe it
directly addresses /mydomainID/public_html/cgi-bin directory. So I'm lost as
to the connection here.

Anyone here have an idea as to why I cannot run any of my scripts in my home
directory/cgi-bin?

I sure can use some help on this. I'm reading everything on the web and a
couple books I bought trying to learn this quickly. Like to get my site
online soon as the Shared is REALLY slow. I'm not afraid of editing
configuration files such as httpd.conf or any others. I'm green but not
totally inept. <g>

Please help.

Thanks.
Rick

WebBiz wrote:
> Greetings.
>
> I was using a Shared hosting account and because the performance was not too
> good for my Discus discussion board setup, I went for the Virtual Dedicated
> Server service from Godaddy.com.
>
> One BIG problem though...I don't have experience setting up my own server.
> The extent of my experience with websites is creating content, uploading
> with FTP to the provided (home) directory (usually /public_html), and
> placing my scripts in the provided /cgi-bin that is found off the root of my
> domain.
>
> But here I am with this server that I'm told by Godaddy I must configure
> myself. AHHHHHH!
>
> ==========================
>
> Using their 'Simple Control' manager, I created my domain. This created a
> subdirectory with my domains 'ID' as the name. Under this subdirectory is
> the familiar /public_html and under that the familiar /cgi-bin.
>
> So I have uploaded, via FileZilla, my site content, including my scripts
> into /cgi-bin.
>
> PROBLEM 01:
>
> Typing my URL in my browser does not automatically load up the Index.htm
> page. I have to specify this file as well in the Address like so:
>
> http://mydomain.com/index.htm
>
> That's nutty.
>
> PROBLEM 02:
>
> I cannot run any scripts from my /cgi-bin directory. I have tried
> permissions 755 and 777 and that doesn't seem to be it. Not a single script
> will run, although they run fine in my Shared hosting account. For the life
> of me, I can't seem to figure out why I cannot run scripts.
>
> http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi or
> http://216.xxx.xxx.xxx/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi both will not work. Yet I can
> use these to find my http and other files just fine, such as
> http://216.111.111.111/mywebpage.htm works fine. So I know my IP or domain
> name gets to the correct USER root directory.
>
> I noticed in the httpd.conf file that my ScriptAlias is
>
> ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "/var/www/cgi-bin"
>
> But putting my scripts in /var/www/cgi-bin and then trying to run them
> typing http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi won't work. I can't see how
> that URL would address /var/www/cgi-bin in the first place. I believe it
> directly addresses /mydomainID/public_html/cgi-bin directory. So I'm lost as
> to the connection here.
>
> Anyone here have an idea as to why I cannot run any of my scripts in my home
> directory/cgi-bin?
>
> I sure can use some help on this. I'm reading everything on the web and a
> couple books I bought trying to learn this quickly. Like to get my site
> online soon as the Shared is REALLY slow. I'm not afraid of editing
> configuration files such as httpd.conf or any others. I'm green but not
> totally inept. <g>
>
> Please help.
>
> Thanks.
> Rick
>
>

Have you check to see what your error log says? It also helps to give
more information, like the actually url you are using, the exact error
message that you get. It helps to post the relevant parts of your error
log also. Perhaps with that info we can give you ideas on how to get
your stuff working.


--
MicroSoft's NEW Motto: "Good enough." When you're on top, that's the
only standard that matters.

Thanks David.

I gave up and cancelled my account. Will just stick with Shared hosting for
now.

:-)

"David" <youcantoo@findmoore.net> wrote in message
news:naydnV42E6HDaBjYnZ2dnUVZ_rCsnZ2d@centurytel.n et...
> WebBiz wrote:
>> Greetings.
>>
>> I was using a Shared hosting account and because the performance was not
>> too good for my Discus discussion board setup, I went for the Virtual
>> Dedicated Server service from Godaddy.com.
>>
>> One BIG problem though...I don't have experience setting up my own
>> server. The extent of my experience with websites is creating content,
>> uploading with FTP to the provided (home) directory (usually
>> /public_html), and placing my scripts in the provided /cgi-bin that is
>> found off the root of my domain.
>>
>> But here I am with this server that I'm told by Godaddy I must configure
>> myself. AHHHHHH!
>>
>> ==========================
>>
>> Using their 'Simple Control' manager, I created my domain. This created a
>> subdirectory with my domains 'ID' as the name. Under this subdirectory is
>> the familiar /public_html and under that the familiar /cgi-bin.
>>
>> So I have uploaded, via FileZilla, my site content, including my scripts
>> into /cgi-bin.
>>
>> PROBLEM 01:
>>
>> Typing my URL in my browser does not automatically load up the Index.htm
>> page. I have to specify this file as well in the Address like so:
>>
>> http://mydomain.com/index.htm
>>
>> That's nutty.
>>
>> PROBLEM 02:
>>
>> I cannot run any scripts from my /cgi-bin directory. I have tried
>> permissions 755 and 777 and that doesn't seem to be it. Not a single
>> script will run, although they run fine in my Shared hosting account. For
>> the life of me, I can't seem to figure out why I cannot run scripts.
>>
>> http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi or
>> http://216.xxx.xxx.xxx/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi both will not work. Yet I can
>> use these to find my http and other files just fine, such as
>> http://216.111.111.111/mywebpage.htm works fine. So I know my IP or
>> domain name gets to the correct USER root directory.
>>
>> I noticed in the httpd.conf file that my ScriptAlias is
>>
>> ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "/var/www/cgi-bin"
>>
>> But putting my scripts in /var/www/cgi-bin and then trying to run them
>> typing http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi won't work. I can't see
>> how that URL would address /var/www/cgi-bin in the first place. I believe
>> it directly addresses /mydomainID/public_html/cgi-bin directory. So I'm
>> lost as to the connection here.
>>
>> Anyone here have an idea as to why I cannot run any of my scripts in my
>> home directory/cgi-bin?
>>
>> I sure can use some help on this. I'm reading everything on the web and a
>> couple books I bought trying to learn this quickly. Like to get my site
>> online soon as the Shared is REALLY slow. I'm not afraid of editing
>> configuration files such as httpd.conf or any others. I'm green but not
>> totally inept. <g>
>>
>> Please help.
>>
>> Thanks.
>> Rick
>>
>>
>
> Have you check to see what your error log says? It also helps to give more
> information, like the actually url you are using, the exact error message
> that you get. It helps to post the relevant parts of your error log also.
> Perhaps with that info we can give you ideas on how to get your stuff
> working.
>
>
> --
> MicroSoft's NEW Motto: "Good enough." When you're on top, that's the only
> standard that matters.

WebBiz wrote:
> Greetings.
>
> I was using a Shared hosting account and because the performance was not too
> good for my Discus discussion board setup, I went for the Virtual Dedicated
> Server service from Godaddy.com.
>
> One BIG problem though...I don't have experience setting up my own server.
> The extent of my experience with websites is creating content, uploading
> with FTP to the provided (home) directory (usually /public_html), and
> placing my scripts in the provided /cgi-bin that is found off the root of my
> domain.
>
> But here I am with this server that I'm told by Godaddy I must configure
> myself. AHHHHHH!
>
> ==========================
>
> Using their 'Simple Control' manager, I created my domain. This created a
> subdirectory with my domains 'ID' as the name. Under this subdirectory is
> the familiar /public_html and under that the familiar /cgi-bin.
>
> So I have uploaded, via FileZilla, my site content, including my scripts
> into /cgi-bin.
>
> PROBLEM 01:
>
> Typing my URL in my browser does not automatically load up the Index.htm
> page. I have to specify this file as well in the Address like so:
>
> http://mydomain.com/index.htm


probably you need
DirectoryIndex index.htm index.php index.cgi



>
> That's nutty.
>
> PROBLEM 02:
>
> I cannot run any scripts from my /cgi-bin directory. I have tried
> permissions 755 and 777 and that doesn't seem to be it. Not a single script
> will run, although they run fine in my Shared hosting account. For the life
> of me, I can't seem to figure out why I cannot run scripts.
>
> http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi or
> http://216.xxx.xxx.xxx/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi both will not work. Yet I can
> use these to find my http and other files just fine, such as
> http://216.111.111.111/mywebpage.htm works fine. So I know my IP or domain
> name gets to the correct USER root directory.
>
> I noticed in the httpd.conf file that my ScriptAlias is
>
> ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "/var/www/cgi-bin"
>


probably you need
IndexOptions +ExecCGI _FollowSymLinks
try without followsymlinks first, read up on docs, + sign depends on
whether you have got more directives elsewhere which you want to
override.


> But putting my scripts in /var/www/cgi-bin and then trying to run them
> typing http://mydomain.com/cgi-bin/myscript.cgi won't work. I can't see how
> that URL would address /var/www/cgi-bin in the first place. I believe it
> directly addresses /mydomainID/public_html/cgi-bin directory. So I'm lost as
> to the connection here.
>

Its the other way round
ScriptAlias <folder_relative_to_web_doc_root> <actual location on
filesystem (or symlink>
therefors wnything is http://my.domain.com/sgi-bin/ is aliased to your
filesystem at the location you gave above, apache "maps" the users
request onto the filesystem
docs are good on this.


> Anyone here have an idea as to why I cannot run any of my scripts in my home
> directory/cgi-bin?
>
> I sure can use some help on this. I'm reading everything on the web and a
> couple books I bought trying to learn this quickly. Like to get my site
> online soon as the Shared is REALLY slow. I'm not afraid of editing
> configuration files such as httpd.conf or any others. I'm green but not
> totally inept. <g>

I guess they are understandably nervous to let you loose on your new
server without locking most stuff down, like cgis (alot of people use
php etc. these days)
so theyve turned this off, also they appear to be forcing users to
specify their own directory "index" file.
probably cos they cant guess all of em that users might need,
index.php4 index.phtml for instance, so they just open it up so you can
see em, not very secure but it does force you to deal with the conf.

I suggest you read through the docs on hardening apache too, in other
words dont just trust these guys to set up YOUR server the way YOU need
it, go through each and every line of the conf file comparing it to an
example of a secure default one, and learn what each bit does, only
then will you be sure youve got a server that wont be insecure although
it "does" what you need.


>
> Please help.
>
> Thanks.
> Rick