[cobalt-users] permissions (again)

["Ray Yon" <ryon@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am still have problems with permissions and ownerships.  The real problem
here is my lack of knowledge about Apache/Linux.  If some one could
recommend a good resource for training, I'm all ears.  A 2 or 3 day class
somewhere would be great.   I am willing to travel.  Learning this server is
absolutely crucial to the survival of my business.

Here's my specific problem....

I am transferring domains from an old server to the new one.  After I
transfer everything, I must go through directory by directory and change
permissions to allow my perl scripts to run.   I am afraid I am creating
major security wholes by improperly setting permissions.  Here's
step-by-step what I do....

1.) I create a new user with admin priviledges on the domain.
2.) FTP to the server using that user / password (WS_FTP).
3.) Copy all files and subdirectories to the server using WS_FTP.
4.) CHMOD all CGI-BIN files to make them executable.
(of course, I change any "paths" that are specified in my perl files)

Here are some of the problems I encounter.

1.) Perl script is supposed to create a directory.  It can't without
fiddling with ownerships and permissions to find the right combination to
get it to work.
2.) Perl script is supposed to list files in a directory.  It can't
opendir() the directory without figuring out the right permissions.
3.) Perl scripts manipulate databases (text and MLDBM).  They can't read the
databases without changing permissions / ownership.


I would appreciate any help that anyone can give.  If you are an experienced
cobalt/linux guru, and have any sort of training curriculum, I am definitely
interested.

One little rant about the list service, if you are going to respond and
answer "It's in the knowledge base", please don't waste my time or yours.  I
don't know enough about Linux to even know what I am looking for in the
knowledge base.  Believe me, I try to find the information before sending a
msg to the list.

Why is there no IRC channel for cobalt support?  The list is so incredibly
busy that it seems perfectly suited for IRC.

Ray Yon