Use PHP with the Synchronet Web Server

Dynamic PHP content may be served by the Synchronet Web Server using PHP-CGI.

PHP applications will not magically have access to your Synchronet content (e.g. users, messages, files).

Make sure you get PHP-CGI support. On *nix platforms, this is achieved by excluding the –with-apxs2 option from the configure command-line during the installation process.

Install your PHP application(s) into your [Web] Root directory, as specified in your sbbs.ini file.

Note: many PHP web applications require 3rd party database support (e.g. MySQL), which may need to be installed as well.

Edit your ctrl/sbbs.ini file, ensuring:

1. The Web Server is enabled (AutoStart=true)
2. If your application has an index.php file, that that file is included in the IndexFileNames value (comma separated list)
3. The MaxCgiInactivity value is set to something sane (default: 120 seconds)
4. The CGIExtensions key value includes .php (comma separated list)
5. The Options key value does not include the NO_CGI option (bit 5)

Example:

[Web]
AutoStart=true
IndexFileNames=index.html,index.ssjs,index.php
MaxCgiInactivity=120
CGIExtensions=.cgi,.pl,.php
Options=NO_HOST_LOOKUP

Edit your ctrl/web_handler.ini file.

If you're using Synchronet for Windows, edit the [CGI.Win32] section, otherwise, edit the [CGI] section:

Ensure the php key value points to the correct path (location) of your php-cgi (or php-cgi.exe) file.

Example (*nix):

[CGI]
php = /usr/local/bin/php-cgi

Example (Windows):

[CGI.Win32]
php = /php/php-cgi.exe

Edit your ctrl/cgi_env.ini file, ensuring it contains the following lines:

[REDIRECT_STATUS]
value=200

If you see the PHP error This PHP CGI binary was compiled with force-redirect enabled., that indicates that your ctrl/cgi_env.ini file is missing this key.

• http://php.net/
• Synchronet Web Server
• How-To Pages