Is This Correct? (Shebang Line)

[mark99]

I sent the following message to my host (1&1), which vB staff told me uses PHP compiled as CGI and requires a shebang line. The example shebang line given on the member downloads page is a little confusing because I've never seen one with /php on the end before:

I've just learnt that the reason for the 500 server error I had running certain aspects of vBulletin 3 is because PHP under 1&1 runs as CGI (compiled as a CGI Module). Now in order to get the proper revision of vB3 for this I need the CGI shebang line, the example given by the vB team (e.g: #!/usr/bin/php) is different to the usual PERL path at the top of .CGI scripts (e.g: #!/usr/bin/perl).

I can only assume that PHP compiled as CGI needs a special /php aspect, but could somebody confirm the exact path to use?

Their responce was this, which doesn't help me and is exactly as I expected - a typically generic reply without any certainty:

Both our Business and Professional packages have the rights to run cgi and perl files.

These files have to have an extension of either .pl or .cgi and then have there permissions set to execute (chmod 755 filename.pl).

You can run scripts from a directory called cgi-bin if you make this directory in your root folder. If you do this then .html files stored in or below the cgi-bin directory will not be accessable.

It is best to just create a folder not called cgi-bin in which you store your scripts or to just have the scripts in any folder.


Some common configuration options are :

Document Root (the absolute path to your web) ->
$ENV{'DOCUMENT_ROOT'} (Perl) or $DOCUMENT_ROOT (PHP)
File extension for Perl scripts : .pl
File extension for PHP scripts : .php3 / .php4
Perl location : /usr/bin/perl
Sendmail location : /usr/sbin/sendmail
Python location : /usr/bin/python
MySQL location : /usr/bin/mysql

Perl is version 5.00502
MySQL Version 3.23.51
PHP Version 4.2.3
Apache 1.3.3
Python version 2.2

And the following for more information on the php installation :
http://rtb.me.uk/check.php

Yes.. yes I know all that, but the vB example of the path has a /php on the end and that's not listed. Can somebody give me a little clarity, the vB team have only offered generic and unspecific replies.. I need something I can use.

[Stadler]

Did you try it without the shebang? It seems, that you didn't specify a shebang for the phpinfo-File. I've never added any shebang to my files and everything is running fine and I'm on 1&1, too.

Do you have Shell-Access, too? Then try find /usr/bin/ -name php\*
On my server the path should be #!/usr/bin/php3 (Not tested) But try it without the shebang first.

[Steve Machol]

You'll need to ask you host the correct path to PHP on this server.

[Stadler]

Found it: Its /usr/local/bin/php4 on my 1&1-webspace. Should be the same on yours

Anyway PHP works fine without the shebang. At least on my 1&1-webspace and its compiled as a CGI-Binary, too.

[mark99]

My own personal PHPInfo. is here:

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/talk/phpinfo.php

Basically I highlighted that following a 500 error on the Add/Modify forum section (added a forum, then later when to click 'Modify' and got the 500 error) and a member of vB's staff told me that was caused because my PHP had been compiled as CGI and that I needed the shebang.

I don't think you need it for EVERY PHP, since I have many other PHP systems and all have worked without such errors. Indeed vB3 worked without such errors until that one and it might just be that 'one' that needs it. Silly, but all I know is what the vB team tell me.

The find search reported:

/usr/bin/php-config
/usr/bin/php3
/usr/bin/phpextdist
/usr/bin/phpize
/usr/bin/phptar

Since the server uses PHP4, shouldn't there be a /php4 instead of /php3? Or is it fine to use /php3 with a system that needs PHP4?