Uploading of big file on websites hosted in Plesk fail: client intended to send too large body

Symptoms

• Unable to upload a file using a web application or webmail, the following error is shown:

  An error occurred!
  File upload failed

• On uploading a big file via WordPress administrator interface, the following error is shown:

  Unexpected response from the server. The file may have been uploaded successfully. Check in the Media Library or reload the page.

• The following error can be seen in the browser's console:

  413 Request Entity Too Large

Cause

Webserver limits maximum filesize to be uploaded.

Resolution

Note: The following solution increases the limit server wide.

1. Log in to Plesk

2. Adjust the following settings of PHP handler assigned to the domain in Tools & Settings > PHP Settings > X.X.XX FPM application in php.ini tab:

   post_max_size 2000m
   upload_max_filesize 2000m

3. Perform the following steps depending on the webserver serving PHP in Domains > example.com > PHP Settings:

   For case PHP is served by nginx

   1. Connect to the server via SSH.

   2. Add the following directives to /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/panel.ini file using 'vi' utility to customize Plesk defaults:

      [webserver]
      nginxClientMaxBodySize = 2000m

      Note: If file /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/panel.ini does not exist, create it from the sample file with this command:

      # cp /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/panel.ini.sample /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/panel.ini

   3. Rebuild web server configuration files:

      # plesk repair web -domains-only

   4. Reload nginx:

      # service nginx reload

   For case PHP is served by Apache

   1. Connect to the server via SSH.

   2. Backup the main Apache configuration file:

      • On RedHat/CentOS/CloudLinux operating systems:

        # cp /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf{,.orig}

      • On Debian/Ubuntu operating systems:

        # cp /etc/apache2/apache2.conf{,.orig}

   3. Open the file from step 1. and add or modify the parameter LimitRequestBody to the required value in bytes, for example:

      LimitRequestBody 2147483647

      Note: The maximum value of the parameter LimitRequestBody is 2147483647 (2 gigabytes).

   4. Log in to Plesk.

   5. Go to Domains > example.com > Hosting & DNS > Apache & nginx Settings and set Maximum allowed HTTP request body size to desired value, e.g. 2GB.

   6. Click OK/Apply.