Unable to execute Python script on web server

Question

I have the following HTML file located in the /test folder of my website:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<body>
    <h1>Enter the texts to be compared</h1>
    <form action="/cgi-bin/test_python.cgi" method="POST">
    <input type="text" name="text1">
    <input type="text" name="text2">
    <input type="submit" name="my-form" value="Check !">
    </form>
</body>
</html>

I have this Python script located in the /cgi-bin folder of my website:

#!/usr/bin/python   
print('Content-type: text/html\r\n\r')

I am able to access the HTML file using a web browser, but pressing the "Check!" button results in a 404 message. The CGI file has 755 execute permissions assigned to it.

This is shared hosting, so I don't know for sure what features are installed or not. But CGI should at least work. I am new to Python. Is there a way to get this setup to work? Thanks.

If it matters, I am unable to navigate to /usr/bin/python using FTP. It says there is no such file or directory. There appears to be a shortcut or something to a folder /usr/bin/python2, but when I try to go there the FTP program instead downloads a 8KB binary file named python2. — posfan12
– posfan12, Commented Jun 9, 2018 at 0:32
Its a shared hosting, so you don't have access to httpd.conf, but you might have a .htaccess file (or you can create one). But you are getting 404 error, which happens when some file is not where it is supposed to be. Try going to www.yoursite.com/cgi-bin/test-python.cgi directly, and see if you still get the 404 error. — Ahmad Bilal
– Ahmad Bilal, Commented Jun 9, 2018 at 2:13
You only need a single .htaccess file, and that in your index folder (/somepath/public_html/ .. or something similar). And as you figured, your cgi files will only execute in cgi-bin folder. — Ahmad Bilal
– Ahmad Bilal, Commented Jun 10, 2018 at 2:11

Ahmad Bilal · Accepted Answer · 2018-06-10 02:18:18Z

1

Check that the cgi-folder itself (not talking about python cgi file) has 755 permissions as well. I think that is the problem here.

Also, try running a sample perl cgi Hello World file: https://practicalperl5.blogspot.com/2014/02/hello-world.html

edited Jun 10, 2018 at 2:18

answered Jun 10, 2018 at 2:11

Ahmad Bilal

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3 Comments

posfan12 Over a year ago

The folder is 755 as well. There are a few files already in it, but I don't know what they are for.

posfan12 Over a year ago

The files are: cgiecho, cgiemail, entropybanner.cgi, randhtml.cgi. They appear to be compiled.

Ahmad Bilal Over a year ago

It seems, it is better to contact your Host, via email or phone. Sometimes some Admins, disable CGI until explicitly requested, or change the config away from default values.

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