weird apache 403 error

[our1944]

Hi all

I just installed the fedora8 yesterday. I also installed the apache php mysql. I disabled SElinux also.

The default test page seems fine in browser.
I link a directory in my /home/sebastian/workspace/www to the default /var/www/html. And try to access it via browser. The error page 403 comes out.
I checked the httpd.conf

<Directory "/var/www/html">
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride None
Order allow,deny
Allow from all
</Directory>

And also the log

[Wed Feb 20 04:31:02 2008] [error] [client 127.0.0.1] Symbolic link not allowed or link target not accessible: /var/www/html/www

In fact if I link any dir under /var/www to /var/www/html, It will be correctly displayed.

The dir /home/sebastian/workspace/www readable, that is 755, owned by my account
I also try to make the dir 777, but that is helpless.

And I tried to copy the dir to /var/www/html, and it works...

So I'm totally confused...

[sideways]

How did you create the link, can you post the exact command you used and also 'ls -l /home/sebastian/workspace'

[our1944]

Thanks for replying.

I use chmod -R 755 dirname

I finally solved this problem.
The dir contains the document dir (in my case /home/sebastian/workspace/www) must be at least 755.
So I

chmod 755 /home/sebastian

this article may help somebody who comes across the same problem
http://www.unix.com/unix-advanced-ex...or-apache.html

[greg.harvey]

@our1944, this is gold dust! Finally, the solution I have been looking for! Been tearing my hair out. Thanks for posting. =)

[sideways]

rather than allowing everyone access to your home directory you could make apache a member of the group sebastian and chmod 750 instead (requires a reboot)

usermod -a -G sebastian apache

If selinux is enabled, it may generate errors, the audit report will tell you what to do (just run restorecon -R /home/user/www I think)

[greg.harvey]

Of course, great tip. Thanks! =)

Edit: added it to my blog post on the matter: http://www.drupaler.co.uk/blog/apach...ng-rid-403/418

[our1944]

@sideways
Thanks for your tips! They're very very useful.

@greg.harvey
You're welcome! I'm really happy that this thread is helpful to others.