Weird issue with plugins

  • Resolved elrid

    (@elrid)


    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hi there,

    I’m hoping somebody will be able to help me,
    I’m not exactly a newcomer to WordPress, so I’ve seen a lot of strange issues cropping up on client sites, but this one takes the cake.

    When I try to upload a plugin, I get an error saying “Unable to create directory uploads/2016/11. Is its parent directory writable by the server?” (though the CHMOD for my uploads is 777) and cannot upload the plugin.
    Simultaneously, if I upload the plugin via FTP, it simply doesn’t show up in my plugins page.

    However, if I try to install a plugin by searching for one in the ‘add new’ section of my admin panel, that all works perfectly and I can use the free plugins available, so the issue is primarily with a paid plugin we’re using

    I think it’s going to be a bit of a long shot, but has anyone here encountered a similar issue? If so, do you have any pointers for dealing with it?

    Thanks,
    El

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)
  • Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Simultaneously, if I upload the plugin via FTP, it simply doesn’t show up in my plugins page.

    OK, you’re going to not like me for this, but are the directories you’re accessing via FTP the ones actually used for your site? Check the names and IP addresses.

    Thread Starter elrid

    (@elrid)

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hi Steve,

    Haha, I appreciate any response, don’t worry 🙂
    I’m assuming (I know, that’s a bad move) they are the correct directories – I’m using the site’s IP when connecting through FTP

    Additionally, if I install a plugin from the plugin search available in WordPress, I can see this directory appear in the FTP

    Does that sound right?

    Thanks,
    El

    • This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by elrid.
    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Additionally, if I install a plugin from the plugin search available in WordPress, I can see this directory appear in the FTP

    OK, that’s good!

    When you login via FTP are you logging in as the same user under which PHP is running? If you look at the user owning wp-content and the successfully installed plugins, is it the same user as you’re using for ftp?

    Thread Starter elrid

    (@elrid)

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hi Steve,

    Now that I’m not sure about – how would I check that?

    If it helps, I’m definitely on an administrator account,

    Also, a bit of extra information I think I should have added earlier, we recently moved this site over to a new server at a different hosting company,

    Do you think it could be related to that?

    Thanks,
    El

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Do you have shell access? If so, ls -l and look at the owners. If not, filezilla will show you ownership of files and directories.

    Thread Starter elrid

    (@elrid)

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hi Steve,

    Unfortunately not, but I can see the owner in Filezilla – not sure how I missed it at first,
    It looks to me as if I’m on the correct account,

    If I upload a file, it’s the same user number as every other file I can see in Filezilla

    Thanks,
    El

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    9 years, 6 months ago

    who owns wp-content/uploads/2016 ? Is it the same owner as wp-content, wp-content/uploads, etc?

    Thread Starter elrid

    (@elrid)

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hi Steve,

    It is indeed – everything I can see through FTP belongs to the same user.

    Quick semi-related question, though, why is it that uploading a plugin uses the uploads folder rather than the plugins folder? (please feel free to skip over this – the plugin issue is far more important than my curiosity)

    Thanks,
    El

    Moderator Steven Stern (sterndata)

    (@sterndata)

    Volunteer Forum Moderator

    9 years, 6 months ago

    plugins should be uploaded to wp-content/plugins, not uploads. And, if you’re uploading them via FTP, you must unzip them locally, not upload zips.

    You may need to contact your host to resolve the permissions issue.

    Thread Starter elrid

    (@elrid)

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hi Steve,

    Don’t worry, I’ve been uploading them to the plugins directory 🙂
    I just found it strange that the error I get mentions permissions with the uploads folder and not the plugins one

    I’ve contacted our client now to try and get their hosting details – hopefully we’ll be able to get a resolution from their hosting company

    Is it possible to leave this thread open so that when I get a response I can come back and update it? (I hate finding threads that end with no resolution – I’d like to try and ensure that anyone stumpling across this post in the same boat at least gets some sort of direction out of it)

    Thanks,
    El

    Thread Starter elrid

    (@elrid)

    9 years, 6 months ago

    Hello to anyone visiting this thread from the future,
    My apologies for the issue you’re experiencing,

    I’m afraid I’ve no further insight into this issue – I done as Mr. Stern above suggested and got my client to contact their host in order to resolve the issue.
    I haven’t heard from them, but they managed to get it all fixed on their end.

    If anyone stumbling across this has a similar issue, I’m afraid you’ll have to contact your hosts to get it all sorted out.

    Best of luck, and thanks again for the help, Steve!

    Thanks,
    El

Viewing 11 replies - 1 through 11 (of 11 total)

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