PHP4 and PHP5 Web Hosting

The PHP Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP.net) is a programming language that allows web developers to create dynamic website content that interacts with databases. PHP is primarily used for developing web based software applications.

Our web hosting servers are equipped with updated version of PHP4 and PHP5, which can be accessed from any of our web hosting accounts. All files ending in .php (or .php5), will be automatically run through PHP5, while files ending in .php4 are run through PHP4. This default behavior can be altered through the mime types configuration in your website control panel.

By default on the web hosting accounts, the .php file extension defaults to run on PHP5, however by setting the MIME type of "php" to "application/x-httpd-php4" from inside the control panel; it can be changed to PHP4.

Both PHP installations are installed with the mhash, mcrypt, curl, gd2, mysql, imap, ftp and zlib modules (among others) with sockets enabled. This should be sufficient for almost all applications, although other PHP extensions may be installed on request on your website hosting server. Please send an email to <span>support&nbsp;[at]</span><span style="display:none;" mce_style="display:none;">at</span>&nbsp;lusion &lt;dot&gt; co &lt;dot&gt; za if there is a specific PHP4 or PHP5 extension you need installed.

The full specifications of each PHP version can be seen at:

PHP5: http://blue.ltserv.net/info/phpinfo.php
PHP4: http://blue.ltserv.net/info/phpinfo.php4

Common PHP Settings

PHP Safe Mode: Off on our Web Hosting Servers

PHP Safe mode is set of security restrictions that PHP places on any scripts run inside a web hosting account. While each of the restrictions has its reason, the PHP engine is the wrong place for these fixes to be implemented (and as suchsafe mode will be removed in PHP6). Having PHP Safe Mode on causes problems with many scripts. Lusion Technologies Web Hostingopted to have PHP Safe Mode turned off, and instead implements a phpSuExec based security on our web hosting servers.

PHP Register Globals: Off on our Web Hosting Servers

The Register globals PHP setting is disabled in our web hosting setup due to security concerns. It is very common for PHP scripts to include bugs that turn the register_globals setting into a serious security risk, and as such it is disabled on all our web hosting servers. The same effect can be emulated inside your php website by adding <?php extract($_REQUEST); ?> to your code.

PHPSuExec: Enabled on our Web Hosting Servers

PHPSuExec runs all php files in your website as your user (rather than as "nobody" which the standard php web hosting service uses). By running PHP scripts as your user, it removes the security risk of other users being able to access your files (and the need for the safe mode php option) and a cost of a little bit of efficiency in executing your php scripts. To make up for the lost efficieny, we simply place less clients on each web hosting server, giving you the safety of a secure web hosting service at the fast speeds you find elsewhere.

PHP Web Hosting Support

While we do not directly provide PHP support to our clients, our web hosting technical support staff are trained in using PHP. This allows us to easily spot common errors causing problems in your php websites. We also offer direct PHP website coding support at R400 per hour for use in cases where there is not much more you can do, and need your PHP-based website up urgently.