Many people are encountering issues updating Wordpress versions from let’s say 3.03 to 3.04 or automatically upgrading a plugin.  Recommendations include chmod 777 – which you should NEVER do – and often the solutions don’t work.  Here is the real answer.

When you see errors such as this;

Downloading install package from http://downloads.wordpress.org/plugin/kimili-flash-embed.2.0.3.zip.
Unpacking the package.
Installing the plugin.
Could not create directory. /wp-content/plugins/kimili-flash-embed/
Plugin Install Failed.

You have been bit.  Do not Google….do not chmod.  Many postings tell you to change permissions and chmod 775 and 777 directories but often all you are doing is creating security holes!  Do not do it.  Do not delete and recreate directories.  Do not then chmod them again.

What is actually happening is that the FTP program is not allowing your username to create files.  If you are using VSFTP go to /etc/ and nano vsftpd.conf.  There are two lines you need to change;

You need to set local_enable = YES and you need to set write_enable = YES.  Then restart the ftp service by typing sudo /etc/init.d/vsftpd restart and you will be good to go. Try installing your plugin again or upgrading your Wordpress version.

In ProFTP edit the /etc/proftp/proftpd.conf file and allow writing as well.