How to call a C-Program using PHP

vypergal

Hi.
I am trying to call a C-Program using PHP.

I currently have an Apache server set up on a Linux Red Hat. I have some PHP files in the document root of the Apache server.

On another separate machine, I have a C-program running.

I need to call and execute this C-Program using PHP.

Could someone please advice? Thanks in advanced.

mkarabulut

PHP can call programs and executables from the system by using exec family functions.
These functions are exec(),passthru(),system()... They commonly do same things with a little differences..
But the program and php file should be on the same machine. You can not call an executable on a seperate machine with exec function.
On the other hand, calling some programs and executables reminds rpc systems.. XML_RPC and SOAP - as I know - are both protocols used for remote procedure calls. I think you check them out.

Maybe if you don't wanna go in rpc systems,you can overcome the problem by writing some php scripts on the seperate machine and let php scripts communicate eacother. So it will be that easy job with exec family functions..

vypergal

Hi. Thanks for your reply. But I am still rather puzzled by the exec(), passthru() and system() command. I managed to call the C program using all three of the commands but there it does not seem to be running as it should be.

At the start of the program, my C program prints some statements before it does some exception checking to ensure that a board is connected to it. Somehow when I use exec, passthru or system, the statement saying that the board is NOT connected is displayed even when the board is connected. Any clue?

Another thing is the new line (\n) command. As I will be printing some of the statements in the C program on my php page, I would like to be able to make the statements go to a new line. Could someone please advice?

Thanks in advanced.