Distributor: External Connection

@j0HnC0untry assuming you're set up on a multisite, you do not need to create External Connections. Distributor will automatically detect sites within a network setup.

Jeff. it is not a multi site so that is why I setup the external connection

@j0HnC0untry can you provide more details on your WordPress and Distributor setup, perhaps via your Site Health Info export so I can better triage?

This is on the site that I am pushing content from
`
wp-core
version: 5.6
site_language: en
user_language: en
timezone: +00:00
permalink: /%postname%/
https_status: true
multisite: false
user_registration: 0
blog_public: 1
default_comment_status: open
environment_type: production
user_count: 8
dotorg_communication: true
wp-paths-sizes
wordpress_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com
wordpress_size: 509.45 MB (534202281 bytes)
uploads_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content/uploads
uploads_size: 19.90 MB (20861496 bytes)
themes_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content/themes
themes_size: 5.20 MB (5455187 bytes)
plugins_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content/plugins
plugins_size: 84.59 MB (88702158 bytes)
database_size: 28.29 MB (29662004 bytes)
total_size: 647.43 MB (678883126 bytes)
wp-active-theme
name: Astra Child (astra-child)
version: 1.0.0
author: Brainstorm Force
author_website: http://wpastra.com/about/
parent_theme: Astra (astra)
theme_features: core-block-patterns, astra_hooks, align-wide, automatic-feed-links, title-tag, post-thumbnails, html5, post-formats, custom-logo, customize-selective-refresh-widgets, editor-style, woocommerce, amp, lifterlms, lifterlms-quizzes, lifterlms-sidebars, widgets, menus
theme_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child
wp-parent-theme
name: Astra (astra)
version: 2.6.2
author: Brainstorm Force
author_website: https://wpastra.com/about/
theme_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content/themes/astra
wp-mu-plugins (1)
installatron_hide_status_test.php: author: (undefined), version: (undefined)
wp-plugins-active (15)
Advanced TinyMCE Configuration: version: 1.6, author: Andrew Ozz
Astra Hooks: version: 1.0.2, author: Brainstorm Force
Astra Pro: version: 2.7.3, author: Brainstorm Force
Classic Editor: version: 1.6, author: WordPress Contributors
Distributor: version: 1.6.1, author: 10up Inc.
Elementor: version: 3.0.16, author: Elementor.com
Elementor Pro: version: 3.0.9, author: Elementor.com
LifterLMS: version: 4.10.2, author: LifterLMS
LifterLMS Labs: version: 1.5.3, author: LifterLMS
Limit Login Attempts Reloaded: version: 2.18.0, author: Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
Login Logo: version: 0.10.0, author: Mark Jaquith
Password Protected: version: 2.4, author: Ben Huson
Premium Addons for Elementor: version: 4.1.6, author: Leap13
UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore: version: 2.16.46.0, author: UpdraftPlus.Com, DavidAnderson
Yoast SEO: version: 15.5, author: Team Yoast
wp-plugins-inactive (2)
Print-O-Matic: version: 1.7.13, author: twinpictures
Search Analytics: version: 1.3.5, author: Cornel Raiu
wp-media
image_editor: WP_Image_Editor_Imagick
imagick_module_version: 1802
imagemagick_version: ImageMagick 7.0.10-10 Q16 x86_64 2020-07-22 https://imagemagick.org
file_uploads: File uploads is turned off
post_max_size: 32M
upload_max_filesize: 32M
max_effective_size: 32 MB
max_file_uploads: 20
imagick_limits:
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_AREA: 8 GB
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_DISK: 9.2233720368548E+18
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_FILE: 12288
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_MAP: 8 GB
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_MEMORY: 4 GB
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_THREAD: 1
gd_version: bundled (2.1.0 compatible)
ghostscript_version: 8.70
wp-server
server_architecture: Linux 2.6.32-954.3.5.lve1.4.64.el6.x86_64 x86_64
httpd_software: Apache
php_version: 7.2.34 64bit
php_sapi: litespeed
max_input_variables: 1000
time_limit: 30
memory_limit: 256M
max_input_time: -1
upload_max_filesize: 32M
php_post_max_size: 32M
curl_version: 7.71.0 OpenSSL/1.1.1d
suhosin: false
imagick_availability: true
pretty_permalinks: true
htaccess_extra_rules: false
wp-database
extension: mysqli
server_version: 5.6.49-cll-lve
client_version: 5.6.49
wp-constants
WP_HOME: undefined
WP_SITEURL: undefined
WP_CONTENT_DIR: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content
WP_PLUGIN_DIR: /home/oeg64cbos841/test.com/wp-content/plugins
WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT: 256M
WP_DEBUG: false
WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY: true
WP_DEBUG_LOG: false
SCRIPT_DEBUG: false
WP_CACHE: false
CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS: undefined
COMPRESS_SCRIPTS: undefined
COMPRESS_CSS: undefined
WP_LOCAL_DEV: undefined
DB_CHARSET: utf8
DB_COLLATE: undefined
wp-filesystem
wordpress: writable
wp-content: writable
uploads: writable
plugins: writable
themes: writable
mu-plugins: writable
distributor
0: 1.6.1
1: Yes
2: [email protected]
3:
Override Author Byline: Yes
Media Handling: Featured image only
4: N/A
5:
DEV – Learning Center:
URL: http://test.com/wp-json
Version: 1.6.1
Status: warning
Auth method: Username / Password
Username: iLindaSmith
Roles Allowed to Push: administrator
Additional data: {"errors":[], "can_post":[], "can_get":["post", "page", "attachment", "wp_block"], "endpoint_suggestion":false, "is_authenticated":"no"}

`

wp-core

version: 5.6
site_language: en_US
user_language: en_US
timezone: +00:00
permalink: /%postname%/
https_status: false
multisite: false
user_registration: 0
blog_public: 1
default_comment_status: open
environment_type: production
user_count: 8
dotorg_communication: true

wp-paths-sizes

wordpress_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com
wordpress_size: 116.27 MB (121914273 bytes)
uploads_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content/uploads
uploads_size: 19.91 MB (20879641 bytes)
themes_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content/themes
themes_size: 5.20 MB (5455187 bytes)
plugins_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content/plugins
plugins_size: 84.59 MB (88702158 bytes)
database_size: 28.22 MB (29595213 bytes)
total_size: 254.20 MB (266546472 bytes)

wp-active-theme

name: Astra Child (astra-child)
version: 1.0.0
author: Brainstorm Force
author_website: http://wpastra.com/about/
parent_theme: Astra (astra)
theme_features: core-block-patterns, astra_hooks, align-wide, automatic-feed-links, title-tag, post-thumbnails, html5, post-formats, custom-logo, customize-selective-refresh-widgets, editor-style, woocommerce, amp, lifterlms, lifterlms-quizzes, lifterlms-sidebars, widgets, menus
theme_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content/themes/astra-child

wp-parent-theme

name: Astra (astra)
version: 2.6.2
author: Brainstorm Force
author_website: https://wpastra.com/about/
theme_path: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content/themes/astra

wp-mu-plugins (1)

installatron_hide_status_test.php: author: (undefined), version: (undefined)

wp-plugins-active (15)

Advanced TinyMCE Configuration: version: 1.6, author: Andrew Ozz
Astra Hooks: version: 1.0.2, author: Brainstorm Force
Astra Pro: version: 2.7.3, author: Brainstorm Force
Classic Editor: version: 1.6, author: WordPress Contributors
Distributor: version: 1.6.1, author: 10up Inc.
Elementor: version: 3.0.16, author: Elementor.com
Elementor Pro: version: 3.0.9, author: Elementor.com
LifterLMS: version: 4.10.2, author: LifterLMS
LifterLMS Labs: version: 1.5.3, author: LifterLMS
Limit Login Attempts Reloaded: version: 2.18.0, author: Limit Login Attempts Reloaded
Login Logo: version: 0.10.0, author: Mark Jaquith
Password Protected: version: 2.4, author: Ben Huson
Premium Addons for Elementor: version: 4.1.6, author: Leap13
UpdraftPlus - Backup/Restore: version: 2.16.46.0, author: UpdraftPlus.Com, DavidAnderson
Yoast SEO: version: 15.5, author: Team Yoast

wp-plugins-inactive (2)

Print-O-Matic: version: 1.7.13, author: twinpictures
Search Analytics: version: 1.3.5, author: Cornel Raiu

wp-media

image_editor: WP_Image_Editor_Imagick
imagick_module_version: 1802
imagemagick_version: ImageMagick 7.0.10-10 Q16 x86_64 2020-07-22 https://imagemagick.org
file_uploads: File uploads is turned off
post_max_size: 32M
upload_max_filesize: 32M
max_effective_size: 32 MB
max_file_uploads: 20
imagick_limits:
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_AREA: 8 GB
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_DISK: 9.2233720368548E+18
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_FILE: 12288
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_MAP: 8 GB
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_MEMORY: 4 GB
imagick::RESOURCETYPE_THREAD: 1
gd_version: bundled (2.1.0 compatible)
ghostscript_version: 8.70

wp-server

server_architecture: Linux 2.6.32-954.3.5.lve1.4.64.el6.x86_64 x86_64
httpd_software: Apache
php_version: 7.2.34 64bit
php_sapi: litespeed
max_input_variables: 1000
time_limit: 30
memory_limit: 256M
max_input_time: -1
upload_max_filesize: 32M
php_post_max_size: 32M
curl_version: 7.71.0 OpenSSL/1.1.1d
suhosin: false
imagick_availability: true
pretty_permalinks: true
htaccess_extra_rules: false

wp-database

extension: mysqli
server_version: 5.6.49-cll-lve
client_version: 5.6.49

wp-constants

WP_HOME: undefined
WP_SITEURL: undefined
WP_CONTENT_DIR: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content
WP_PLUGIN_DIR: /home/oeg64cbos841/test2.com/wp-content/plugins
WP_MAX_MEMORY_LIMIT: 256M
WP_DEBUG: false
WP_DEBUG_DISPLAY: true
WP_DEBUG_LOG: false
SCRIPT_DEBUG: false
WP_CACHE: false
CONCATENATE_SCRIPTS: undefined
COMPRESS_SCRIPTS: undefined
COMPRESS_CSS: undefined
WP_LOCAL_DEV: undefined
DB_CHARSET: utf8
DB_COLLATE: undefined

wp-filesystem

wordpress: writable
wp-content: writable
uploads: writable
plugins: writable
themes: writable
mu-plugins: writable

distributor

0: 1.6.1
1: Yes
2: [email protected]
3:
Override Author Byline: Yes
Media Handling: Featured image only
4: N/A
5:
DEV – Employee Learning:

• URL: https://test2.com/wp-json
• Version: 1.6.1
• Status: warning
• Auth method: Username / Password
• Username: iLindaSmith
• Roles Allowed to Push: administrator
• Additional data: {"errors":[], "can_post":[], "can_get":["post", "page", "attachment", "wp_block"], "endpoint_suggestion":false, "is_authenticated":"no"}

`

@j0HnC0untry when setting up the External Connection, did you follow the auth wizard or manually create the connections?

I set it up manually following the sites directions

@j0HnC0untry are the instructions you followed these from the plugin readme.md file? https://github.com/10up/distributor/#setup-external-connections-using-application-passwords If so, did you run into errors at any point in those steps? Also, you might give the auth wizard a shot as it should automate much of those manual steps and hopefully setup the External Connections properly for you.

Yes those are the instructions. Where in the app is the Auth Wizard. I didn't see it

@j0HnC0untry from the Distributor > External Connections WP Admin menu, clicking the Add New button should show you a screen like the one below that after you enter the External Site URL and click Authorize Connection should take you through the approval flow to set up an External Connection successfully.

Sorry. Yes I did use this to set it up

@j0HnC0untry and you're saying you completed that approval flow and are not seeing a valid, complete External Connection? Or was there an error somewhere in the final auth wizard approval steps?

I tried it again and it locks on the Authorize Application screen after I click on the "Yes, I approve of this connection". The button is grayed out and nothing happens after that

@j0HnC0untry can you please check and see if there are any console errors in your browser on that page?

I get this message in the console

JQMIGRATE: Migrate is installed, version 3.3.2
jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.3.2:2

I tried the wizard and got this error

Unable to connect to site.
cURL error 28: Operation timed out after 5004 milliseconds with 0 bytes received (http_request_failed)

The error is NOT showing up anymore and I think godaddy tech support fixed the issue.

On the Authorize Application page where there is a button that says "Yes, I approve of this connection" the button is grayed out when I click it but nothing happens afterwards. The web address also redirects to the page that I am trying to connect. Below is the address string and there is a failure message on it

https://employeetrainingdev.vcp.vet/wp-admin/admin.php?page=auth_app&app_name=Distributor+on+VCP+-+Learning+Center+%28https%3A%2F%2Flearningcenterdev.vcp.vet%29&success_url=https%3A%2F%2Flearningcenterdev.vcp.vet%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php%3Fpost_type%3Ddt_ext_connection%26setupStatus%3Dsuccess%26titleField%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Femployeetrainingdev.vcp.vet%25252F%26externalSiteUrlField%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Femployeetrainingdev.vcp.vet%25252F%26restRoot%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Femployeetrainingdev.vcp.vet%25252Fwp-json%25252F&reject_url=https%3A%2F%2Flearningcenterdev.vcp.vet%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php%3Fpost_type%3Ddt_ext_connection%26setupStatus%3Dfailure

I am running php 7.2 and I have upped all the memory, processing time etc

@j0HnC0untry was there something GoDaddy changed on the server side of things? Have they shared any details that can help us identify if there's an issue with a specific environment setup or something we can share with others in the community that have similar problems?

Godaddy increase all the server limits is all they did. I ran the setup wizard with them on the phone and they did not see any server errors. Beyond that because it is a third party plugin they said there was nothing else they could do.

Any help on setting this up would be appreciated. I have spend about 8 hours researching and testing this and almost ready to give up and try to find another plugin

@j0HnC0untry you noted that there was a failure message on the page you get redirected to from the "Yes, I approve of this connection". Can you share what that message was?

The error message was before the Yes I approve this connection page was fixed by godaddy But the message is below

Unable to connect to site.
cURL error 28: Operation timed out after 5004 milliseconds with 0 bytes received (http_request_failed)

@j0HnC0untry ok if that error message isn't occurring for you any more, then where in the set up flow are you running into errors/issues?

When I click on the "Yes, I approve of this connection" the site is redirected to site 2 that I am connecting with and stalls. The above button is grayed out but nothing happens. In the address browser this is what shows up

https://employeetrainingdev.vcp.vet/wp-admin/admin.php?page=auth_app&app_name=Distributor+on+VCP+-+Learning+Center+%28https%3A%2F%2Flearningcenterdev.vcp.vet%29&success_url=https%3A%2F%2Flearningcenterdev.vcp.vet%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php%3Fpost_type%3Ddt_ext_connection%26setupStatus%3Dsuccess%26titleField%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Femployeetrainingdev.vcp.vet%25252F%26externalSiteUrlField%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Femployeetrainingdev.vcp.vet%25252F%26restRoot%3Dhttps%25253A%25252F%25252Femployeetrainingdev.vcp.vet%25252Fwp-json%25252F&reject_url=https%3A%2F%2Flearningcenterdev.vcp.vet%2Fwp-admin%2Fpost-new.php%3Fpost_type%3Ddt_ext_connection%26setupStatus%3Dfailure

Is there a solution or should I look for another plugin?

I also faced the same issue with two of my external sites due to that "grayed out- Yes, I approve of this connection) button. and found that this issue is due to WordPress 5.6, when i downgraded/rollbacked my WordPress to 5.5.3 it make connection working to two external sites.
(After downgrading I use authorize connection wizard along with application password and now working fine) give it a try for downgrading WordPress use WP-Downgrade plugin ,

regards
Anil

@anilpainuly121 Thank you! Does this mean you are not able to upgrade your version of Wordpress?

@jeffpaul Is there going to be a fix for this?

@j0HnC0untry Yep, for a while until there is no solutions, it is working upto wordpress 5.5.3 last stable release
looking forward to hearing from developer community for update..

@jeffpaul is this correct? There is no fix for this for the current version of WP? Are you guys working on a update?

@j0HnC0untry @anilpainuly121 Thanks both for the feedback here. I was able to reproduce this issue using Distributor v1.6.1 and WordPress v5.6, though no issue exists in WordPress v5.5.3. The issue I'm seeing is when using the connection wizard, I'm properly taken to the remote site but when clicking the approve button, that button becomes grayed out and nothing happens after (this is due to a JS error).

For some background, Distributor has always recommended the use of the Application Passwords plugin to handle authentication. Since v1.6.0, that plugin has been bundled with Distributor in an attempt to simplify external connection setup. But in WordPress v5.6, they brought that plugin into core, which can cause conflicts with the version Distributor loads.

We've been working on a fix for this (see #676, #681 and #682). Those first two have been merged into the develop branch and the last one is still being finished up. I upgraded Distributor in my test environment to use these fixes and I was able to successfully setup external connections again. If either of you have the time to test out those fixes and see if it solves your problem, that would be great. You'll want to test with #682, as that already has the fixes from the first two PRs.

We'll work on getting these fixes into a release but in the mean time, you should still be able to set up external connections using the manual setup process. If you go to the Add New External Connection screen (URL should be something like /wp-admin/post-new.php?post_type=dt_ext_connection) and then within the Remote Connection Wizard box, you can click on the Manually Set Up Connection link:

This will then give you all the fields you can manually fill out to get the connection going. You'll need to go to your external site, go to your profile and then add a new Application Password. Then take that password and enter it into the manual connection screen, along with your username and the URL of that external site.

@dkotter I will test this later on today and update here on status. Thank you for your reply to this thread. I appreciate it!

@j0HnC0untry @anilpainuly121 we pushed our version 1.6.2 yesterday, please see if that helps resolve your issues... thanks!

@jeffpaul OMG this is so exciting! It worked and I tested a pull and everything seems to be working perfectly on first glance. I will run some more tests next week. Thank you for such timely response!

@jeffpaul Thanks for the update! It is now working again as before. :-)

Marking this as closed, but feel free to re-open add comments if you run into related issues and we'll triage as best we can... thanks!

This is working now with Wordpress 5.6, updated my sites to WP 5.6..
Feel Good.
Thanks to Development Team.