PHP and accessing network drives

vstocktr

Hey there,

I want to access a networkdrive in PHP->
I can access C:\ , because it's local, on my webserver:
define("DOWNLOAD_PATH", "c:\");

This will not work:
define("DOWNLOAD_PATH", "G:\");

I use G: as a fileserver.
I think it's an easy solution, but I don't find it.
Thx
Greetz,

Ruben

herve

Hi,

what's the error message ?

Hervé.

vstocktr

I didn't receive any errors...

herve

So, what's happening then ?
Why do you say "This will not work" ?

Are you using your constant in a fopen() call
or something else ?

vstocktr

Sorry for this late reply.
No, I don't call the constant in a fopen()-function,
I use it in file_exists("\servername\directory\")

I believe it has something to do with permissions, is this correct?

Thanx in advance!

basscheffers

I assume you are running on NT/2000? If your server is running a "local system", you can never access any network drives.

If it is running as a user, that user will have to have access to the share. You may need to make it run as a domain user in this case, not just a local user.

Hope that helps,
Bas.

herve

Hi,

yes as basscheffers says, check the permission/right carefully.

Also, some syntax tricks :

Using Windows shares: On windows, use //computername/share/filename or
\\computername\share\filename to check files on network shares.

(extract from the PHP manual :

http://www.php.net/manual/en/function.file-exists.php

)

Regards,
Hervé.

vstocktr

Hey,
Thanx for all these replies.
OK, this is what I've done:
- I logged in as administrator
- gave permission to "everyone" to the folder I'd like to access.
- permission is default to everyone on the file I'd like to access.

when I test this configuration, the error is:
Warning: fopen("g:\test\test.txt", "r") - Permission denied in D:\www\test.php on line 2.
It seems that the script finds the file, but can not open it, because permission is denied.

I run PHP 4.2.3 on Apache 2.0 webserver on a Win2000 Advanced Server.

Thanx in advance! I'd really like tohave this issue sorted out!
Ruben

basscheffers

What user is the webserver running as? To find out, go into "services" and for the apache service, see the properties. I'll bet it is running as "local system account"!

vstocktr

Hey,

you're right, it logs on as local System account.
I can change it to another account. Do I have to set this account to administrator?
Thanks a lot, your replies are very usefull!

Ruben

basscheffers

You can set it to any otherm, "real" user account. But you will have to be carefull.

1) Apache still needs to run properly. (duh!)

2) Beware of security implications; making the user a domain admin will make sure it always works, but if someone does hijack your server, they have access to your entire server farm.

I have never used Apache on Windows, or done much with windows security, so you will probably need to consult the manuals.

As a test, change it to be a highly privilidged user, just as a proof of concept, but you'll want the user to have the minimum amount of access but still able to run.

Good luck!

vstocktr

Ok, got this sorted out: I've set the account to a new account I've made. Still, everyone has got access to that particular map.

One more question though:
can I "call" a networkdrive by its stationnumber(e.g. G:) or do I have to call it by the servername(e.g. SERVERNAME:)

Thanx very much...

Ruben

basscheffers

Calling it like //server/share/etc... is more reliable, so that's what I would do.

vstocktr

Yes, it works!!!!
Thanx very much!!!

basscheffers

Kewl.

My pleasure.