When installing squid as cache server you have to create cache folder with “squid -z” command without quotes. But when you are trying this you will see

/usr/local/squid/sbin# ./squid -z
2010/04/29 22:39:16
Creating Swap Directories

FATAL : Failed to make swap directory /usr/local/squid/var/cache: (13) Permission denied

Squid Cache (Version 2.5.STABLE5) : Terminated abnormally.

CPU Usage : 0.000 seconds = 0.000 user + 0.000 sys

This is due to that /usr/local/squid/var/cache folder is not owned by effective user. To resolve this issue follow below steps

Step1 : Create squid user(A normal user) if the squid user is not there

#useradd squid

Step2 : Specify the effective user entry in squid.conf file with squid as username by editing it.

#vi /usr/local/squid/etc/squid.conf

change the entry from

# cache_effective_user nouser

to

cache_effective_user squid

Save the file now

Step3 : Now change the ownership of the cache folder to squid user

#chown -R squid.squid /usr/local/squid/var/cache

Step4 : Now create cache directory with squid -z command

#squid -z

Now you will be out of issue.