When attempting to log into Plesk Control Panel the following error message is received:

DefPackageMng() constructor failed: defpackagemng failed: Access is denied.(Error code 5) at CreateProcess 'C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\cmd.exe /c ""C:\\Plesk\\admin\\bin\\defpackagemng.exe" --get"' at execUtil C:\\Plesk\\admin\\bin\\defpackagemng.exe --get on C:\\Plesk\\admin(PleskSrvClient::execUtil line 420)at execute console command --get(vconsoleapp::start line 128) at execute C:\\Plesk\\/admin/bin/defpackagemng --get(vconsoleapp::run line 138)

RESOLUTION
Such error occurs when Plesk Control Panel web server service cannot access the C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe ( C:\Windows\SysWOW64\cmd.exe on 64bit Windows version). This may happen when administrator has manually changes permissions to access the file. User SERVICE should have Read+Execute; Read on the file.

The following permissions should be set on cmd.exe :

- Administrators - Full Control
- System - Full Control
- Service - Read+Execute; Read
- Interactive - Read+Execute; Read

The file owner should also be administrator, otherwise it will not be possible to change these. File owner can be checked in file’s Properties, Security tab, Advanced button, Owner tab.

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Hot on the heels of the CNN Alerts: my custom alert email spam comes a new variant: msnbc.com: BREAKING NEWS spam.

The emails follow the same format as the CNN spam, with the link to the supposed featured story going to an unrelated third-party website which attempts to attack the users PC.

Read more on SecurityWatch.

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SYMPTOMS
It's impossible to access website - authorization prompt appears.
CAUSE
There may be several reasons of this issue. To determine them, the following conditions need to be checked:

1. There should be read + execute permissions for IUSR_ on the domain index page.

2. Root directory for the domains can be under Plesk protection.

3. Passwords for system user and IIS user can be out of synchronization.
RESOLUTION
1. Go to %plesk_vhosts%\domain.com\httpdocs directory and check permissions for IUSR_ account.

2. It can be checked using Plesk Control Panel. Go to Plesk, domains, domain.com, Protected URLs. If the root directory "/" is present there, it needs to be removed.

3. The password can be synchronized using the following command:


"%plesk_bin%\websrvmng.exe" --update-anon-password --domain-name=

http://kb.parallels.com/en/976

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Plesk 7.5.5-7.6.1versions support this version of PHP but they are not able to manage PHP4 and PHP5 at the same time only PHP4 or PHP5.
If your Plesk version is 7.5.5 or higher you can follow these steps to install PHP5 at your server:

1. Download PHP5 Windows Binaries:

- PHP 5.x.x zip package
- Collection of PECL modules for PHP 5.x.x

2. Remove current PHP4 extensions from Register Web Service Extensions in IIS:

Open command prompt:


cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /RmFile "%plesk_dir%\Additional\php\php.exe"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /RmFile "%plesk_dir%\Additional\php\sapi\php4isapi.dll"
3. Rename folder "%plesk_dir%Additional\Php" to "%plesk_dir%Additional\Php4"

4. Re-register web service extensions for PHP4.

Open command prompt:


cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /AddFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php4\php.exe" 0 PHP 1 "PHP Extensions"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /AddFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php4\sapi\php4isapi.dll" 0 PHP 1 "PHP Extensions"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /EnFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php4\php.exe"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /EnFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php4\sapi\php4isapi.dll"
5. Unzip PHP 5.x.x package into %plesk_dir%Additional\Php.

6. Unzip Collection of PECL modules into %plesk_dir%Additional\Php\Ext.

7. Register PHP5 extension in IIS manually:

Open command prompt:


cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /AddFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php\php-cgi.exe" 0 PHP 1 "PHP Extensions"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /AddFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php\php5isapi.dll" 0 PHP 1 "PHP Extensions"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /EnFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php\php-cgi.exe"
cscript c:\windows\system32\iisext.vbs /EnFile "%plesk_dir%Additional\php\php5isapi.dll"
8. Backup or rename C:\Windows\php.ini.

9. Put attached to this article file php.ini to C:\Windows\php.ini.

10. Configure default C:\Windows\php.ini according to Plesk configuration.

Set parameters:

extension_dir = "%plesk_dir%Additional\Php\ext"

Example:

extension_dir ="C:\Program Files\SWsoft\Plesk\Additional\Php\ext"

11. Re-configure webmail in IIS to use PHP4 because HORDE webmail does not work on PHP5.

IIS Management, Web Sites, webmail(default), Properties, Home Directory tab, Configuration button, Application Extensions, edit value for `.php` extension, set to "%plesk_dir%additional\php4\php.exe"

Edit "%plesk_vhosts%webmail\horde\php.ini"

Change parameter:

extension_dir = "%plesk_dir%Additional\Php4\extensions"

Example:

extension_dir ="C:\Program Files\SWsoft\Plesk\Additional\Php4\extensions"

12. Make sure that PHP5 has been detected by Plesk. You can check in Plesk, Server, Components Management, Web Scripting section PHP should be listed there. If not, you need to check whether all the steps were done properly.

13. Reconfigure domains web-sites in IIS to use PHP5.


"%plesk_bin%\websrvmng.exe" --reconfigure-all
Additional information
Please see also Simultaneous PHP 4 and PHP 5 usage

http://kb.parallels.com/en/1048

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Microsoft Windows Server 2003 does not install Collaboration Data Objects (CDO) for NTS (CDONTS). Therefore, applications that use CDONTS do not function on a Windows Server 2003-based computer. Windows Server 2003 provides improved alternatives to CDONTS.

To make CDONTS functioning on a Windows Server 2003-based computer, use one of the following solutions:

1. Download an attached CDONTS.ZIP file. Once you have downloaded it unzip the CDONTS.DLL and put it into %systemroot%\system32 folder (C:\Windows\system32 by default). You can also get CDONTS.DLL from your Windows 2000 CD.

2. Register the CDONTS.DLL component on your server using the following command:


regsvr32 "%systemroot%\system32\cdonts.dll"
For example:


C:\WINDOWS\system32>regsvr32.exe cdonts.dll
3. After you have registered your CDONTS.DLL component you need to check whether your SMTP service is running.

Go to Administrative tools, IIS and expand your local machine. If SMTP service is listed then it is installed, else it's necessary to install this service.

To install SMTP perform the following operation:

Go to Control Panel, Add/Remove Programs, Add/Remove Windows Components, Application Server, IIS, Check on SMTP service, Click OK.

4. Change the port number for SMTP service. Default port is 25. Use 25 only if you don't have another SMTP service running. If another SMTP service is already running on your server you should switch IIS SMTP port to another, for example to 8025.

You can do through IIS management console: Control Panel, IIS, expand `local computer`, SMTP, Properties, General tab, click on Advanced button, Edit.

5. Configure SMTP service. The main things are to set a valid full-qualified domain name for SMTP service: Control Panel, IIS, expand `local computer`, SMTP, Properties, Delivery tab, click on Advanced button and configure Security for SMTP service.

It's necessary to grant permissions to IIS_WPG standard IIS Worker Process Group. Control Panel, IIS , expand `local computer`, SMTP, Properties, Security tab , click on Add button, cick Object types... button, check on Groups item, click OK, type IIS_WPG as object name to add , click OK.

Additional setting: Choose Authentication and tick Anonymous Access and Integrated Windows Authentication. Click OK, and then click CONNECTION. Configure RELAY settings as you wish. Click the DELIVERY tab then click ADVANCED. Set the MAX hop count to whatever you like but we recommend at least 20

Now IIS SMTP service is configured and ready to work.

Additional Notes can be found on Microsoft's website:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;324649

http://kb.parallels.com/en/560

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