On user for process

[Anon]

Hi! 🙂
I'd like to start my PHP script as a certain user. This is why, I need to have the possibility to modify certain files in the filesystem; currently, my apache runs as "nobody", so the PHP script runs the same, and I'm able to modify the files (and launch bash scripts) only if they have user nobody. What I'd like to do is to maintain apache running as nobody, as well as the other php scripts, and make my script to run as, say, root. Or something lesser. Anyway, I could bear that all the PHP scripts run as root; but not the webserver itself.
The question is: may I? And if so, how?
Have a nice day,
Mano 🙂

[[deleted]]

First: NEVER EVER run ANY www script as root. NEVER EVER EVER.

Instead, look at utilities like 'sudo'
which let you run commands under other-peoples user id's (with their permission ofcourse)
You can create a secure login procedure and execute pre-defined scripts.
(don't make it execute dynamically generated scripts for security reasons)

[Anon]

First: NEVER EVER run ANY www script as >root. NEVER EVER EVER.
Yes, of course! 🙂 Just to make things clear...

Thanks for answering, anyway!
    Mano :)