shell_exec with tar

[adaykin]

Hello, I am trying to create a backup of my site with tar, but when I try and execute the command

echo shell_exec("tar -cvzf foo.tgz *.php");

the output only echoes only three php files, and I have like 10 in the directory. I checked the error log and I couldn't find anything in there.

[NogDog]

You might want to check the permissions on all the files, remembering that if being run as a web application the command is likely being executed as the webserver user, not your personal user account.

[adaykin]

I changed the permissions to 777, and then the owner to root, but neither worked.