Installation Fails on Hosted Service

28 replies [Last post]
Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 6

While trying to install on a hosted account, I get a blank screen after providing database information. All the requirements (except memcache) check out find. Can you please help?

Thanks
Todd

Joined: 06/04/2009
Points: 2

Ditto this, I've only just installed KalturaCE on to a fresh copy of Debian Lenny I've setup in VMWare ESX and I pass all the pre-reqs.

But the screen after entering the database information is blank.

To be fair, it's late and I haven't really had time to troubleshoot this but if any good samaritan can throw me (and Todd) a bone that would be great.

Many thanks,

Steve

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

I have installed KalturaCE into the root of a subdomain install. I have confirmed that my host's servers meet the requirements for KalturaCE.

Can anyone confirm the same as we're experiencing or offer a solution?

Joined: 02/22/2009
Points: 97

hi guys,

Assuming you're running the latest release (1.01):

  • re-download and re-install the package - we had a problem with the bundling script and had to repack the kalturaCE.
  • open file 'install/general_info.php'
  • find (at the bottom of the file)

    @mysql_connect($server , $_POST['kdbuser'], $_POST['kdbpass']);
  • remove the @
  • try installation again and see what error message pops out
  • no error message, still blank screen ? do the same in the next line (remove @ from @mysql_select_db..)

post the error here, and we'll see what it's about.

If you're not running the latest release (you can verify by looking at the version written in the kalturaCE_readme.txt file) - download any try with the latest release.

Gonen

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Hi Gonen,

My host has been working with me to try and troubleshoot, and I wanted to share their reply. This was before you posted about trying a new version (which I am currently downloading and will try soon).

My host said:

Hi Adam,

I have been testing the software both on your website and on a development server and to me it would appear that the problem lies with the installation script not generating the HTML or at least not rendering it within the web browser.

For example, if you manually run prepare_install.php from the SSH command line it generates the HTML and this is the output:

http://openvideo.indielab.org/kalturaCE/install/output.html

Disregarding the ffmpeg error as it's irrelevant, the prepare_install.php script runs fine but for some reason when it's called within the web browser it silently fails - no error messages being recorded anywhere.

phpinfo() output:
http://openvideo.indielab.org/kalturaCE/install/phpinfo.php

I would suggest contacting the developers and providing a copy of the phpinfo() output along with explaining that the installation script runs under the command line just not under the web browser. It would also be worth mentioning that we utilize "suPHP" as our PHP security wrapper, although that shouldn't prevent the software from running.

I don't know if that's helpful at this stage, but I figure all info is good to share. I will post back with the results of the new version install.

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

The latest release has been tried again with the same result. Again, a message from my host regarding this:

I have removed our test version of KalturaCE and reinstalled the latest version to no avail. Even after modifying the MySQL section of general_info.php it still fails to load when called through the browser.

The software is designed for Linux whereas we run FreeBSD which is a UNIX variant, but since we have the Linux compatibility modules installed it should work. Unless the developers are doing something non-standard there is absolutely no reason for it to fail under our operating system, but since it works fine from the CLI it still sounds like an installation script problem.

Please continue to keep us updated and we will try the necessary changes on our end...

I hope this helps narrow it down...

Joined: 01/05/2009
Points: 1697

Hi Adam,

KalturaCE indeed was designed to be Linux based. It might be that the installation script fails to process under FreeBSD, but it needs a more thoroughly check.

It is not possible to access the urls in the first host message you provided (first takes to WordPress installation, Second leads to 500). - Maybe it does hold some reference to the problem..

Lastly, It may very well be that suPHP causes the script not to run. I would try to disable it and see if there's an effect.

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Thanks for the reply Kalturian,

Sorry about the URLs, we deleted the kalturaCE installation.

I will see if my host can disable the suPHP and try again. I will report back the details here.

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

My host has tried while having suPHP disabled.

I have tried the software under a test server not running suPHP and the installation still fails. We are actively troubleshooting this problem in hopes of being able to provide more assistance to the developer and will update you if we find anything further.

Are there any other options for me (or my super helpful host) to try?
Can anyone else confirm the same behavior on the same server setup?

Keeping fingers crossed for a solution...

Joined: 06/04/2009
Points: 2

Although I was never with a hosted service I was getting the exact same issue with the blank screen after entering in the database credentials.

The resolution was down to one or both of the following items:

1. Installed a fresh guest server machine (under ESX 3i) with the new KalturaCE download
2. The above alerted me that I didn`t have the PHP5-MYSQL package installed, which I hadn`t installed previously, when checking pre-reqs so I promptly installed it

Once the above was done I got past the blank screen issue.

I now have some new ones, namely the `Local Registration failed` and `Redirect Loop` issues but I know these are addressed elsewhere.

Thanks to everyone contributing here.

Steven

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

More troubleshooting results from my host:

Just to follow up, we tried the software under PHP operating as a CGI and as an Apache module and the pages still timeout with nothing happening. (Even if the problem was isolated to suPHP we wouldn't be able to disable it since it's an extremely vital component to the security of the server - it's also the standard for cPanel based web hosting.)

I briefly read the Kaltura forums and a few other users mentioned that once they reach the database section of the installation script, nothing happens after they submit the database details. I can also confirm the same behavior happens on our development server.

It's worth nothing that you can bypass the prepare_install.php script since it's only checking the server requirements and skip straight to database_info.php followed by entering in your database credentials. Once you hit the Save and Continue button the page starts to load then times out after about 15 seconds.

Actually, the database page will first spit out some errors about not being able to connect to the MySQL server since it's trying to use the root user by default (really, really bad idea!) but after those errors in the PHP file are corrected the blank page still returns. Even after I hard code a valid MySQL user and database into the database_info.php file, the same blank page and timeout behavior returns...

There is some server activity in the background before the timeout, it might be useful to the developers:

95941 ?? I 0:00.07 /usr/bin/php /home/syndev/public_html/test/kalturaCE/install/general_info.php
95942 ?? I 0:00.00 sh -c php -v
95943 ?? I 0:00.06 php -v

Please let me know if the developers have any further suggestions, we will try our best to accommodate them and hopefully get this software working for you.

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Does the Kaltura team have any further thoughts on the issues above? Is there any hope that I will be able to finish the installation?

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 42

Thanks for the comments,
In addition to helping you complete the installation successfully (probably Gonen / Kalturian will get to it soon)
I have added a feature request for better support of shared hosting environments so we can build this into our next release.
feature requests help us improve the product and define the scope for next releases.
you can keep track this feature request here http://kaltura.org/better-support-shared-hosting (and you are welcomed to add additional feature requests)

Thanks
Ariel.

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Thanks for adding the feature request Ariel, I will be tracking the progress and helping to test whatever I can. I also do hope to hear from Gonen and Kalturian for a possible workaround to get it installed.

Joined: 02/22/2009
Points: 97

Adam,

The code for trying the database connection is:

  @mysql_connect($server , $_POST['kdbuser'], $_POST['kdbpass']);

  $res = @mysql_select_db($_POST['kdbname']);

The code exists in general_info.php, and is called when this file is being loaded.
The POST parameters are passed from the previous page (database_info.php).

so,
1. I don't understand what 'hard code values' where saved in database_info.php - as it is not required...
2. assuming mysql_connect and mysql_select_db both available at the server's php, and the database name passed was actually created - this code should work.

Can you create the following PHP file on your server and try to run it ? I'd like to see the output.

<?php

error_reporting(E_ALL);

$mysql_connect_func = (int)function_exists('mysql_connect').PHP_EOL;

echo nl2br($mysql_connect_func);

$mysql_selectdb_func = (int)function_exists('mysql_select_db').PHP_EOL;

echo nl2br($mysql_selectdb_func);

$mysql_server = 'REPLACE_SERVER_HOST_HERE';

$mysql_user = 'REPLACE_SERVER_USER_HERE';

$mysql_pass = 'REPLACE_SERVER_PASS_HERE';

$mysql_connection = mysql_connect($mysql_server, $mysql_user, $mysql_pass);

var_dump($mysql_connection);

Gonen

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Thank Gonen, I will give this attention soon and post back results.

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Gonen,

This is the outcome when running that test file:

1
1
resource(1) of type (mysql link)
Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Is there anything else I may try or any further information I can provide Gonen?

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

Gonen,

Has this issue been addressed in the latest Beta?

Joined: 08/20/2009
Points: 1

exact same issue with this page "general_info.php" as it comes out blank following database entry page
installation is on my server running opensuse 10.3 and the previous page (prepare_install.php) says everything is fine (memcache not present but can be ignored)...
kaltura v1.5 latest version, and it seems the same bug is still there....

Joined: 04/05/2009
Points: 13

@ treecko,

I can only hope that the core development team will re-read this thread and offer some more options for those of us still "dead in the water" on this issue.

Ariel and Gonen, is there anything else we can try?

Joined: 09/15/2009
Points: 7

Not sure if this will work for you but it got me to the next step and I had similar error.

I moved

function validate_mysql_connection()
{
$server = $_POST['kdbhost'];
if (isset($_POST['kdbport']) && $_POST['kdbport'] != '')
$server .= ':'.$_POST['kdbport'];
@mysql_connect($server , $_POST['kdbuser'], $_POST['kdbpass']);
$res = @mysql_select_db($_POST['kdbname']);
if (!$res)
header('Location: database_info.php?error=true');

return true;
}

from the bottom of the general_info.php page to the top above the line
validate_mysql_connection();

This got rid of a PHP background error that was essentially saying that function could not be found.

(probably a symptom of another issue but I will cross that bridge when I get there :P )

Joined: 10/02/2009
Points: 1

Hi, I also get a blank screen after providing database information. Can you please help?

And moving that piece of code, I get the following error:

"
An Error Occured: could not connect to the database

* Please review the form and make sure all the details are correct.
* If you added a user through MySql commad-line, make sure you flush priveleges, and that you are able to connect with that user.

"

What is the right way to introduce the database information?

Thank you!!

Joined: 02/26/2010
Points: 4

Newest Kaltura Version from svn
PHP 5.3
Debian 5 lenny

Kaltura hangs itself up after you continue from the database Page during installation Process.

Any suggestions how we could get kutura continuing till th e end.

Thanks
Andi

Joined: 11/05/2009
Points: 338

I'm in the process of setting up a dedicated ubuntu server with shared hosting capabilities for the sole purpose of allowing users to sign up and install KalturaCE in a shared environment.

My question for the readers of this is, what kind of capabilities would you be looking for as far as space/bandwith and how much do you think is a fair price for that?

Running the numbers right now, it looks like I could offer about 50gigs with 2000gb bandwidth/month for roughly $30 a month. Sound reasonable? Feel free to email me at webmaster [at] exseven [dot] com with any input. Thanks.

Joined: 03/25/2010
Points: 1

Todd ! no need to be worried now anymore. Just check out the new hardware for dedicated server of your choice. Todd I think your problem will be no more. Comments for the new host are welcomed.

Joined: 06/01/2010
Points: 2

I have tried this install on three different OS (Linux, Mac OSX and Windows Server 2003) - and still can't past the db credentials page. I am using fresh downloads of all stacks and KalturaCE. Is this still an outstanding bug after all these months? I have tried all the solutions offered here and get (on Windows) - a return to the db credentials screen. On Linux (SUSE11) - I just get a blank screen.

What was the final resolution of this issue? It seems to have just trailed off....

Thanks....

Joined: 06/01/2010
Points: 2

I should mention that these installs are on localhost or dedicated servers...not in a shared hosting environment.

Thanks.

Joined: 11/05/2009
Points: 338

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