I have a Bukkit server, and I just installed Permissions. I tried to follow the guide to set up the permissions, but when I started up my server I got this:

========== UNABLE TO LOAD PERMISSIONS BACKEND =========
Your configuration must be fixed before PEX will enable
Details: Error loading permissions file!

Caused by: org.bukkit.configuration.InvalidConfigurationException: while scanning an anchor
in 'string', line 22, column 16:
prefix: '&0[&4M&cO&4D&0]&r '
^
expected alphabetic or numeric character, but found [(91)
in 'string', line 22, column 18:
prefix: '&0[&4M&cO&4D&0]&r '
^

[12:19:11 INFO]: [PermissionsEx] Disabling PermissionsEx v1.23.4

] Edit by Stormbow: Removed most of the error log, unnecessary stuff. [

This is my permissions file:

] Edit by Stormbow: Moved permissons.yml file contents to Pastebin. [

EDIT: Just realized that when I copied and pasted my permissions file it doesn't show the spacing. I'm not sure how to fix that though.

Your permissions.yml file does not follow this example. (For example, all of your permission nodes are incorrect, and I don't know where you got the idea that group: goes in the file... groups: plural, on line 1, yes. group: singular and anywhere else, no.)

Once your file follows that example, test the server again and post here if you're experiencing continuing PEX problems.

I have tried to model my file after that example now (I have never really done this before, so sorry about the confusion), and I still have an error loading the permission file. This is it now:

] Edit by Stormbow: Removed permissions.yml file contents; still not corrected. [

Some things I thought might be causing the problem:
-Do I have options and then name section under users? I have a nickname plugin installed and was not sure if that would mess up the nicknames

Your permission nodes are still wrong.

It is not

-permission.node

It is

- permission.node

Once you get these basics right, we'll work on other issues.

The plugin now loads up correctly. Do I have to have a different plugin installed to allow chat prefixes/suffixes to show up in chat?

Should I switch to a Spigot server, or would I be able to run those same plugins on my Bukkit server?

Yep. You need a chat management plugin.

Since almost everyone runs Spigot servers, they use EssentialsX for the basic server commands, and EssentialsXChat handles their chat management features (prefixes, suffixes, chat coloring).

Technically, "Bukkit" (and "CraftBukkit") was discontinued at Minecraft 1.8 because one of the contributors was a total dickhead and claimed copyright infringement against everyone else on the project for using the code he contributed. Some people are updating "Bukkit" and "Craftbukkit", but I can't testify to those updates being any good since I don't use them, so I can't technically recommend using either "Bukkit" or "Craftbukkit".

Spigot, on the other hand, is created by a group that has taken precautions against the copyright bullshit that the other author pulled on Bukkit, so I expect it will be around and updated properly for a very long time. I'm also running Spigot on my 1.11.2 server, so I can say it works properly.

The choice of server wrapper (which is what "Bukkit", "Craftbukkit", "Spigot", and others are called) is entirely up to you...

Could I use the same Permissions jar file and permissions file that I already have if I switch to Spigot? Or would I have to rewrite them?

You will want to make sure any plugins you're using are compatible with Spigot. (The EssentialsX I linked to you is too, of course.)

You're welcome. Have fun!

You can keep those if you use Spigot.

Ok thanks! Gonna go ahead and close the thread now (and switch to Spigot)

You can find all the Spigot-specific plugins right here.