XF 2.2 File Attachment Problem in Posts

[Matthew Hutchinson]

This has been randomly plaguing my site for several months now, and happens infrequently enough that I've yet to find a reliable way to track it. It's not even showing up in XF's server error logs when it happens. Has anyone seen anything like this?

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

BTW - The last thing my host had me try was to disable the modsecurity feature on my domain. It's been disabled since March. Apparently, it wasn't the problem.

 

[Kirby]

This message is shown when XenForo receives error code 7 from PHP upload processing

PHP: Error Messages Explained - Manual

www.php.net

UPLOAD_ERR_CANT_WRITE
Value: 7; Failed to write file to disk.

One typical cause for such an error would be upload-tmp-dir running out of disk space.

If this was / is the problem: Get a better host!
This should not happen and if it does happen the host should at least know the cause ...

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

I use Dreamhost and found this article: https://help.dreamhost.com/hc/en-us/articles/216735938--tmp-directory-overview

Doesn't XF use its own upload directory?

 

[Kirby]

Doesn't XF use its own upload directory?

By default (this can be changed via config.php) XenForo does write temporary files created by XenForo to internal_data/temp.

PHP writes temporary upload files to the directory configured via https://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.core.php#ini.upload-tmp-dir - this is done before any XenForo code is executed.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

Welp, I've updated the ticket I started with my host last month. Meanwhile, no one can upload anything and we're a digital art forum. I've tried six times in the last 20 minutes and it's returned the same error.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

Finally found the error log for my domain. If I'm reading it right, the server is, in fact, out of disk space. I hope to know more once Dreamhost replies to my ticket up date.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

Dreamhost's Control Panel says I'm only using 6 GB.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

The problem resolved itself at around 7:30pm last night, but I've no idea how. Meanwhile, Dreamhost told me the server's tmp folder was empty, and confirmed XF's internet temp folder is also empty (I could've told them that :: roll eyes :: ).

They've asked me for time stamps from previous instances when the error happened. Since it happens so infrequently and randomly, all I could send them was the post date from the thread I started last month alerting my users to the problem. Meanwhile, I've taken the day off work to either solve the problem, or set up shop with a new host.

 

[Kirby]

While it is possible to use the same directory for XenForo temp folder and for upload_tmp_dir this is not normally the case.

What is the value of upload_tmp_dir?
Do you have Shell/SSH access?

If so, what is the output of df -h <path> (with <path> being the path configured for upload_tmp_dir)?

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

What is the value of upload_tmp_dir?
Do you have Shell/SSH access?

Both questions are beyond my knowledge to answer.

Dreamhost has asked me to reach out to the Live Chat team the next time the error resurfaces so they can examine the server as it's happening.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

Just finished a live chat session with my host after the file attachment error returned this morning.

All they were able to learn is that the forum is storing temp files somewhere other than its default file path or their server, and they're unable to figure out where. Meanwhile, the only solution they could suggest is to find a developer who can point the board to a custom temp folder and set up a cron job will periodically clean it out.

I told them I know nothing about server maintenance and suggested finding a new host instead, so they're going to conduct a more extensive review and follow up with me via email. Until then, we're SOL until the server resets again and clears the current cache, and I have no idea when or how often that happens.

 

[Kirby]

All they were able to learn is that the forum is storing temp files somewhere other than its default file path or their server, and they're unable to figure out where.

Jesus, you really need to get a host who knows their stuff ...

It isn't rocket science to find out where disk space is allocated

XenForo (with default confiuguration and without Add-ons) doesn't store temp files anywhere except

• internal_data/temp via XenForo code
• The directory returned by sys_get_tmpdir() via vendor code
  This is usually /tmp but could be anywhere as configured by sys_temp_dir

Additionally to that, PHP itself stores temporarily stores uploaded file in the directory configued by upload_temp_dir

The webserver (Apache, nginx, LiteSpeed, etc.) might also store temporary data on disk, if and where it does that depends on the webserver configuration.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

Jesus, you really need to get a host who knows their stuff ...

I've already found one. If Dreamhost's review doesn't turn up anything, I'm going to move to a Bulgarian company called ICDSoft. One of my mods has been using them for her sites for 10 years. Their shared Business plan offers 100 GB storage and 5 TB/month bandwidth for $150/yr.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

My file attachment error resurfaced tonight. I also discovered I'm using an outdated version of PHP: 8.1.27. Could that be why my board isn't using XF's default temp folder?

 

[Paul B]

I also discovered I'm using an outdated version of PHP: 8.1.27. Could that be why my board isn't using XF's default temp folder?

No.

@Kirby explained where files are stored and what controls it.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

Welp, it's looking more and more like a complete wipe may be necessary. Hopefully, whatever's causing the problem won't get caught in a site backup and then restored along with it.

 

[Kirby]

Welp, it's looking more and more like a complete wipe may be necessary.

A complete wipe is IMHO never necessary - what is necessary are server admins who know their stuff.

 

[Matthew Hutchinson]

I learned how to access the server via SSH a few minutes ago. It's already showing 100% of 4G space used since Dreamhost last cleared the directory last night. I've notified them and will have to wait for them to clear it again.

In light of my discovery, I think it may be time for me to seriously consider other options, like dedicated hosting or moving to a new host.

Thank you all for your time and effort in helping me find solutions. There will be no further updates to this thread.