basic php<<>>shell script problem

[cleuch]

Hi:

I am having problems calling a shell script from a php page. Eventually it will call a macrodef, but for the moment I can't even get the most basic of scripts to be called, using exec() or system(), `` etc.

ie. a simple php script:

<?
$testvar = exec("sh testxml2.sh");
echo $testvar;
?>

and most basic of sh scripts:

mv test.xml test2.xml
echo "file renamed"

I can call it directly from the command line, and it works fine by using php executable on the cmd line too. It just refuses to execute via http.

In appreciation of your help .. a flummoxed newbie!

[[deleted]]

Does PHP know where to find sh?

[Anon]

that's almost assuredly yr problem. try

<?php
system ("echo $PATH > /tmp/foo");
?>

and look in foo to see what yr apache acct's path looks like... or better still just call sh with the full path ie /usr/bin/sh

[cleuch]

thnks for the response... doesn't seem to have fixed it though. :-/

Very strange in that if i run it through php from the cmd line it works ie. php test_shell.php

... but from the browser it doesn't. Here are the exact test scripts.

<?php

$testvar=system('/bin/sh pushxml.sh');
echo $testvar;

?>

Sh script:

#!/bin/sh
mv test.xml test2.xml
ls -al
mv test2.xml test.xml

Simple huh?

[rohitkaul_2000]

Have u checked whether the safe_mode is off or on. U can check it in the php.ini file (php4.x) and php3.ini (php3.x).
Having safe_mode=on may give u trouble in using exec() and system() functions.