Background php scripts

[Anon]

Hi,

It may not be a php issue but I want to activate a small php script in the backround at regular time intervals (say every 5 mins). Its in order to check something like share movements at a stock market. Im using Apache on Unix. Can anyone help?

Thanks

Mike

[Anon]

Ok, make your script, but use the cgi version of php (compile php with no options, just ./configure, make, and then make install) ... then add the following line to the top of your script:

#!/usr/local/bin/php -q

This will tell it to use the php parser to parse the script. Last, but not least, we need the to address the timing issue. On almost all flavors of *nix, you will find that cron is installed by default. Take a look at /etc/crontab and add a line in this file that looks similar to:

/12 * /path/to/your/phpscript

the */12 tells it to run every five minutes (given that there are 12 5 minute intervals in an hour) and this should take care of your problems. Hope that helps!

Chris

[Anon]

Another trick is to use the shell command:

wget http://127.0.0.1/someplace/somescript.php

...at regular intervals. This is only if you need to run somescript.php and you don't care if other people run it as well (ie- "Update these headlines" or something).

You would use the same cron rules as described by Chris.

HTH!

--Robert

[Anon]

I will be running this script on an ISP and will have no control over their php compile method. Is there any other way around it?