chmod

[Informatics]

wHAT is CHMOD?

[Creator]

CHMOD settings allows you to control read /write properties of folders.
Some web templates / sites require certain folders to be set read only etc.

[iecep]

in addition CHMODing can be done with your FTP client (i.e. WS_FTP). For me, I right click on the file I want to CHMOD and dean look for the CHMOD command (usually under FTP commands.

[wildfire]

I find it easiest to se cpanel for chmod changes. Basically, there is a user, group, and world rights area. It is a 3x3 table with Read, Write, and Execute priveleges. You often need to change these settings for certain folders if you wish to allow other people or databases or something to write to them.

[your-fabian]

With FlashFXP you can set it quick and easy *gg*

[mahangee]

In most FTP clients it is.

[megaman_c]

When using a Linux/Unix server, you will no doubt find a time when you are curious enough to install a PHP program, such as a bulletin board or Customer Support service. Some of these will come via the online control panel provided by your host, but these programs do not always suit your needs, and therefore you have to go and find another program to upload and install.

The majority of installation manuals etc will mention CHMOD modifications; to the majority of users, this means nothing, allow me to explain what this is…

First of all, I must emphasise that this is Linux/Unix Servers only; users on Windows Servers can use the standard way of setting Directory/File Permissions

CHMOD is the Unix command for Directory and File permissions. These are split into three areas, Admin (You) Permissions, Group(User Groups as defined by You) Permissions, Other’s (Website Visitors) Permissions. Each set of permissions has three levels – Read, Write, Execute. The two most common settings are 755 and 777.

I have highlighted the R, W and X from the above words, as they are the important characters for this. When viewing the web site files via FTP you will see something like so:

index.html rwx-r-x-r-x 3Kb 01/01/2001 10:42AM

The Grey text is the file name, and the bold, red text is the CHMOD settings for the file. Currently, the web administrator has full access permission, Group users can read and execute and Other’s can read and execute. – A typical 755 setting.

The letters show you what permissions are assigned to the group; hyphens indicate that the user group does not have that access permission. The order in which the permissions are defined are – Admin, Group, Other

Setting all users to rwx will define the 777 CHMOD.

How do you set the CHMOD?
Setting CHMOD can be done via your online control panel, or via your FTP Program.

Via FTP
Using your favorite FTP browser, connect to your host, and browse to the file or folder you wish to set CHMOD on. Right click on that file, and select Properties/Permissions – And then you can alter the permissions that way.

Via Online Control Panel
Dependant on your Control Panel software this will differ, but the process is technically the same.

Log into your Online Control Panel, browse to your File Manager, and then browse to the desired Directory or File. Find your edit properties icon/link and click it. You should now be able to set the CHMOD in a similar way to the FTP process.