This depends on if your server is a unix server or a Windows server, and also on how cooperative your web host is and how the server itself is configured. So, the answer is "it depends."

On a unix server, you will probably not get Discus to work properly if you're not able to change permissions remotely. Your recourse is to mail your web host and have them set the desired permissions for you. Note that changing permissions is a system requirement of Discus and if you are unable to have permissions set as we instruct, you won't be able to use Discus (or Discus Professional) on your server.

On a Windows server, permissions can never be set by FTP. This has to do with how Windows is set up. On most Windows servers, the files will just work the way you want them to. If the permissions are not set up properly, this generally manifests itself as a "File Locking Error" when you access the board or try to log in to administration. If this is the case, please read our document on How to set Windows NT permissions.

As always, to determine if Discus will run on your system, you should download and install the freeware version of Discus prior to purchasing Discus Professional.