how to create file outside public_html in php on shared host

Question

I am trying to create a file outside of the public_html in php:

fopen("/home/sites/foo.org/backup-ticketing/asu.sql";w)

However I am getting this error message. I am sure I should be able to do it somehow I just can't figure it out. Permission of the folder is 711.

[Wed Aug 01 14:33:54 2012] [error] [client 84.3.2.16] PHP Warning: fopen(/home/sites/foo.org/backup-ticketing/asu.sql) [function.fopen]: failed to open stream: Operation not permitted in /home/sites/foo.org/public_html/back/asu.php on line 4

Could you please advise me what is the right way to do please?

Thank you for the many advices now I have an additional info:

php.ini is the problem in public_html however I would like to keep it as it is but /back/ folder should be able to do so.

here is my settings:

 file_uploads = Off
 upload_tmp_dir = /var/php_tmp
 upload_max_filesize = 0M
 allow_url_fopen = Off
 allow_url_include = Off
 safe_mode = Off 
 display_errors = off
 magic_quotes_gpc = off
 magic_quotes_runtime =    off
 max_file_uploads=0 
 disable_functions=passthru,exec,phpinfo
 open_basedir  = /home/sites/foo.org/public_html/ 

Answer 1

It seems as PHP's Safe mode or open_basedir are enabled preventing you from what you want to do - so it's simply not allowed and therefore not possible.

You could check if you are allowed to write to some other directory outside of your public directory, often ../tmp or ../temp are there and writable.

You might be able to find out what paths are allowed by open_basedir with

echo ini_get('open_basedir');

Another way around your problem: Put your files in a subdirectory of your public directory and secure it with .htaccess (User/Password, deny all IPs but your ow etc.)

EDIT:

• Protect directory with username/password via htacces: Use a htaccess generator, or

• Allow access only from certain IPs: Create a file and name it .htaccess with the content below

  order deny,allow

  deny from all

  allow from 888.888.888.888