Totally bizarre….
So I got this from the network guys….
******
If WordPress is attempting to use PHP’s ftp_connect() function, that won’t
work with our default build of PHP. The ftp_connect() function is not part
of our default build of PHP. You would need to compile your own custom
copy of PHP in order to use that function. You are free to do that if you
want, but we cannot directly help with compiling custom software.
You may prefer to instruct WordPress to write to your files directory
(without using FTP). Since you’ve already set world-writable permissions
Wordpress should already be able to write to your files directly through
the web server (instead of through FTP).
****
So…. I guest the first question is – what is this FTP stuff? How is it possible to tell wordpress to do things via FTP vs something else?
This not normal WP functionality…are you using a blogging tool like WLW, which where you have entered the FTP info…To upload files using FTP, you need an FTP client, the server login info, and of course the files.
Yeah… I figured something was up.
Check this screenshot out:
http://i.imgur.com/PEPhu.jpg
Why does it say “FTP” ? This is what WP says on all my various sites…. is this not normal?
Your host has installed a ‘custom version’ of WP.
This does not indicate a customised version of WordPress. When the user that apache runs as owns the wordpress directories, then the upload/upgrade process works without FTP. The FTP credentials are requested if the user the web server runs under is not the owner of the files.
see: http://codex.wordpress.org/Updating_WordPress#Automatic_Update – this applies to plugins & theme installs/updates as well
I have never had WP ask for FTP credentials…how does this get achieved?
Nope, not custom. I installed it myself. I get the same thing on my other host – but it works without issue.
I really don’t know enough about Apache to understand what a “user is…. all I know if that wordpress runs as “nobody” …but since I chmoded 777 most of the non-critical folders I don’t understand why this is skunking out.
Also, since I enter my own root username when it asks for FTP credentials… why would it still skunk?
I do not know what this means:
I get the same thing on my other host – but it works without issue.
755 should work on wp-contents applying to all subs too of course… (and maybe skunk host?) 755 means something which means that apps on host should have write access, some hosts do not allow file changes by WP (kinda what cube was relating I think), which means your only option is manual install/update or another host.
Sorry, what I mean is that I have many wordpress sites. All of them show the same “enter your FTP info” screen when doing updates.
This is the first one that has had weird problems with it.
I have asked the host and given that they offer hosted wordpress (pair.com) I can’t believe they don’t “allow” it. …. the guy emailed me that mumbo jumbo I copied above, but I don’t understand it well enough to know what’s up…
Anyone have a clue what kind of server settings could be screwing this up?
Some of the advice in this thread has been… bad.
Basically, your host is saying that the copy of the PHP software on your server is configured to disallow “ftp_connect.” This means that any PHP code containing “ftp_connect” will not function. Unfortunately, WordPress is a script that uses the function in question.
You have two options. If you have access to cPanel WHM on your server; you can use the “EasyApache” feature to compile your own installation of Apache which will let you use “ftp_connect.” Instructions for doing this can be found quite easily with a Google search.
Your other option is to find a web host that uses a more “typical” PHP setup, or ask your current webhost to compile PHP with the “recommended” settings on your behalf.
May I ask what company you’re hosted with, simply so I can avoid them in future?
Shane… thanks very much. It’s Pair.com, and I’m surprised because they’re pretty popular and offer hosted wordpress as an out of the box add-on (though I chose to install myself).
I’ll paraphrase this to them and see what they say….
Naturally they just reply “yadda yadda” you can compile your own PHP but we don’t support that. I’m pretty sure they don’t understand what I’m asking because this seems like such a normal thing for wordpress to do and I know 1000s of people are on Pair.com with wordpress … never heard this complaint before. Anyone else?
