Another day another problem Just when I finally managed somehow to create a SFTP connection for another user it seams like that could be the source for my next problem.

I have a joomla site, which I transfered to Linode, made a SFTP account so user can upload files and can't see other stuff on server. Site is working fine, but I can't upload images (and I guess can't install modules) from joomla admin interface.

In joomla admin, when I go to Information - Directory Permissions I see that all folders have status Unwritable.

If I log in as a root (user can't change permisions) and change permisions to 777 it all fine, I can upload images.

But that is a security risk, right? What should I do now? How to set permissions to 755 and still be able to upload images and install modules?

Thanks for any suggestion!

To upload modules etc from the admin interface you need to have the components and extensions directories (both public and admin ones) set to be either world read/writable, or group read/write with the www-data group.

Also make sure the cache and tmp directories are world read/writable, many components will bug out if you try to install them without this done properly.

Yes, joomla is a bitch, welcome to hell.

"..or group read/write with the www-data group" well this could be solution, how do I do that?

My joomla directories are owned by the user I created earlier for SFTP conection. Now, If that user could stay the owner, and also www-data group to be able to read/write that would be solution.

Is this possible?

Use suPHP or run PHP as a cgi and use suExec:
http://alain.knaff.lu/howto/PhpSuexec/

Or you can use php fpm if you're using php 5.3

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