Comp25: Reset Website Permissions (Forbidden Errors)

Understanding Permissions

Security is important, especially on the internet.  A web server can set files and folders to have very specific security settings so that only certain people or groups can access that data.  We call these settings permissions.

The Forbidden Error

Sometimes your website may provide a Forbidden (403) error when you try to view it.  The exact reason for this is unknown, but we know how to solve it. 

Changing Permissions

1. To access the permissions on your Pacific website, you need a special program.  Once such program is WinSCP.  You can download that program here.  (This is an open source application.)
2. After installing and running the program, you need to create a "session" to connect to the Pacific's FTP server that is storing your files.  You should see a dialog box similar to the following:



3. Enter the Hostname as "tiger.cc.uop.edu".  Type your Pacific username and password.  Leave all other settings as they are.  Click "Login".
4. After a few moments you will be logged into the Pacific FTP server.  On the right side of the screen is a listing of files and folders.  You might recognize many of the items you see here from your U: Drive.  Locate the folder called web-docs and right-click on it.  Choose Properties.
5. Make the settings match this screen shot exactly:

   

   Notice which boxes are checked, including the bottom checkbox "Set group, owner and permissions recursively."  Hit OK.

6. From Internet Explorer, try visiting your website again.  If you still get the Forbidden error, ask for assistance from your TA or Professor.  If you now have another kind of error, please review the Troubleshooting section of the Create Homepage assignment.

Setting Preferences in WinSCP

If you are continually having trouble with forbidden pages using WinSCP 4, change the preferences so that it will always force the proper preferences on the file when it's uploaded.

1. Before you login to WinSCP, click Preferences on the left side of the screen:
   
   
2. Click Preferences button in the middle of the screen:
   
   
3. Click Transfer option on the left and enable the checkbox set permissions and be sure it is is set to: rw-r--r-- (+x)
   
   
4. CLICK: OK and Save your WinSCP session as a name, such as Comp25.
5. This will ensure that the read permissions are saved for future FTP sessions.