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Resolving ‘Operation Not Permitted’ Errors when modifying files in Linux
Introduction
When attempting to delete a file via FTP, you may encounter the following error: 
This issue can arise due to incorrect file ownership, insufficient permissions, or immutable file attributes. Follow the steps below to diagnose and resolve the problem.
Step-by-Step Troubleshooting
Step 1: Access the Server via SSH
Access your server via SSH:
ssh username@your_server_ip
Navigate to the directory containing the file:
cd /home/domain/xxxx/xxx/xxx
Step 2: Check for Immutable File Attributes
Some files may have immutable attributes preventing deletion. To check for this, run:
lsattr /domains/ips1/image/xxx.php
Example output:
—-i——e– xxx.php
If the file has the i (immutable) attribute, you need to remove it before deleting the file.
Solution: Remove the Immutable Attribute
sudo chattr -i /domains/ips1/images/xxx.php
Once the attribute is removed, you should be able to delete the file via FTP.
Step 3: Verify File Ownership and Permissions
Check the file owner and permissions: Example output:
-rw-r–r– 1 root root 12345 Feb 12 12:34 xxx.php
Change ownership if necessary:
sudo chown yourftpuser:yourftpuser /domains/ips1/images/xxx.php
Conclusion
By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the Operation Not Permitted error when deleting a file via FTP. If the issue persists, verify that the directory permissions are correctly set and check for additional restrictions in the server configuration.
If you need more help, feel free to communicate with our support team at support@ipserverone.com.