--- file_not_specified_in_diff	
+++ file_not_specified_in_diff	
@@ -, +, @@ 
--- a/WebappConfig/config.py
+++ b/WebappConfig/config.py
@@ -694,6 +694,18 @@ 
                     ' variable "' + user + "'")
         return result
 
+    def maybe_get_user(self, user):
+        result = None
+        input_user = self.maybe_get(user)
+        if not input_user:
+            return result
+        try:
+            result = Perm.get_user(input_user)
+        except KeyError:
+            OUT.die('You specified an invalid user value for the'
+                    ' variable "' + user + "'")
+        return result
+
     def get_group(self, group):
         result = None
         try:
@@ -703,6 +715,18 @@ 
                     ' variable "' + group + "'")
         return result
 
+    def maybe_get_group(self, group):
+        result = None
+        input_group = self.maybe_get(group)
+        if not input_group:
+            return result
+        try:
+            result = Perm.get_group(input_group)
+        except KeyError:
+            OUT.die('You specified an invalid group value for the'
+                    ' variable "' + group + "'")
+        return result
+
     def installdir(self):
         return self.maybe_get('g_installdir')
 
@@ -1478,27 +1502,27 @@ 
                                             self.get_group('vhost_default_gid'),
                                             self.get_perm('vhost_perms_virtualowned_file')],
                           # These will be re-set by the servers
-                          'server-owned' : [None,
-                                            None,
+                          'server-owned' : [self.maybe_get_user('vhost_server_uid'),
+                                            self.maybe_get_group('vhost_server_gid'),
                                             self.get_perm('vhost_perms_serverowned_file')],
                           'config-owned' : [self.get_user('vhost_config_uid'),
                                             self.get_group('vhost_config_gid'),
                                             self.get_perm('vhost_perms_configowned_file')],
                           'config-server-owned' : [self.get_user('vhost_config_uid'),
-                                                   None,
+                                                   self.maybe_get_group('vhost_server_gid'),
                                                    self.get_perm('vhost_perms_serverowned_file')],},
                 'dir' :  {'default-owned' :[self.get_user('vhost_default_uid'),
                                             self.get_group('vhost_default_gid'),
                                             self.get_perm('vhost_perms_defaultowned_dir')],
                           # These will be re-set by the servers
-                          'server-owned' : [None,
-                                            None,
+                          'server-owned' : [self.maybe_get_user('vhost_server_uid'),
+                                            self.maybe_get_group('vhost_server_gid'),
                                             self.get_perm('vhost_perms_serverowned_dir')],
                           'config-owned' : [self.get_user('vhost_config_uid'),
                                             self.get_group('vhost_config_gid'),
                                             self.get_perm('vhost_perms_configowned_dir')],
                           'config-server-owned' : [self.get_user('vhost_config_uid'),
-                                                  None,
+                                                  self.maybe_get_group('vhost_server_gid'),
                                                   self.get_perm('vhost_perms_serverowned_dir')],
                           'install-owned': [self.get_user('vhost_default_uid'),
                                             self.get_group('vhost_default_gid'),
--- a/WebappConfig/server.py
+++ b/WebappConfig/server.py
@@ -67,15 +67,17 @@ 
         self.__vhostroot = directories['vhostroot']
 
         # + server owned
-        permissions['file']['server-owned'][0] = self.vhost_server_uid
-        permissions['file']['server-owned'][1] = self.vhost_server_gid
-        permissions['dir']['server-owned'][0]  = self.vhost_server_uid
-        permissions['dir']['server-owned'][1]  = self.vhost_server_gid
-        # and config owned directories have server gid
-        permissions['dir']['config-owned'][1]  = self.vhost_server_gid
-        # allows server and config owned
-        permissions['file']['config-server-owned'][1] = self.vhost_server_gid
-        permissions['dir']['config-server-owned'][1]  = self.vhost_server_gid
+        if permissions['file']['server-owned'][0] == 0:
+            permissions['file']['server-owned'][0] = self.vhost_server_uid
+            permissions['dir']['server-owned'][0]  = self.vhost_server_uid
+        if permissions['file']['server-owned'][1] == 0:
+            permissions['file']['server-owned'][1] = self.vhost_server_gid
+            permissions['dir']['server-owned'][1]  = self.vhost_server_gid
+            # and config owned directories have server gid
+            permissions['dir']['config-owned'][1]  = self.vhost_server_gid
+            # allows server and config owned
+            permissions['file']['config-server-owned'][1] = self.vhost_server_gid
+            permissions['dir']['config-server-owned'][1]  = self.vhost_server_gid
 
         self.__perm      = permissions
         self.__handler   = handler
--- a/doc/webapp-config.5.xml
+++ b/doc/webapp-config.5.xml
@@ -118,6 +118,26 @@ 
 	  </varlistentry>
 
 	  <varlistentry>
+	    <term>vhost_server_uid</term>
+	    <listitem>
+	      <para>Overiding parameter for the server-dependant hardcoded uid which specifies the user to own all files and directories that are server-owned.</para>
+	      <para>Warning: <command>webapp-config</command>'s <option>-s</option> switch does not overide this parameter.</para>
+	      <para>By default, this is disabled.</para>
+	      <para>This can be <emphasis>either</emphasis> the name of a user or their numerical user id.</para>
+	    </listitem>
+	  </varlistentry>
+
+	  <varlistentry>
+	    <term>vhost_server_gid</term>
+	    <listitem>
+	      <para>Overiding parameter for the server-dependant hardcoded gid which specifies the group to own all files and directories that are server-owned.</para>
+	      <para>Warning: <command>webapp-config</command>'s <option>-s</option> switch does not overide this parameter.</para>
+	      <para>By default, this is disabled.</para>
+	      <para>This can be <emphasis>either</emphasis> the name of a group or their numerical group id.</para>
+	    </listitem>
+	  </varlistentry>
+
+	  <varlistentry>
 	    <term>vhost_config_uid</term>
 	    <listitem>
 	      <para>Default value when <command>webapp-config</command>'s <option>-u</option> switch hasn't been used.</para>