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Akeeba Backup for Joomla!

#16830 PHP is running in safe mode

Posted in ‘Akeeba Backup for Joomla! 4 & 5’
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Environment Information

Joomla! version
n/a
PHP version
n/a
Akeeba Backup version
n/a

Latest post by nicholas on Monday, 22 July 2013 14:22 CDT

Monday, 22 July 2013 11:27 CDT

user55161
Mandatory information about my setup:

Have I read the related troubleshooter articles above before posting (which pages?)? Yes
Have I searched the tickets before posting? Yes
Have I read the documentation before posting (which pages?)? Yes
Joomla! version: 2.5.11
PHP version: 5.3.25
MySQL version: 5.1.70-cll
Host: unlimitedwebhosting
Akeeba Backup version: Akeeba Backup Professional 3.7.10 (2013-06-29)

EXTREMELY IMPORTANT: Please attach a ZIP file containing your Akeeba Backup log file in order for us to help you with any backup or restoration issue. If the file is over 2Mb, please upload it on your server and post a link to it.

Description of my issue:
The output from CRON, once mailed, reports "You are using PHP's Safe Mode; you may get a timeout error". Other posts on this forum indicate this message may also be due to openbase being enabled. Tech support confirm that PHP SAFE mode is definitely off but that obenbase is enabled.

Can i safely ignore the warning or should I switch from /usr/bin/php to something like WGET or cURL?

Thanks,
Ric

Monday, 22 July 2013 11:39 CDT

nicholas
This message means that either the PHP function ini_get is blocked OR your server is running with PHP Safe Mode. I suspect that your host has blocked ini_get, which doesn't make any sense. It's long known (read: for at least the last 7 years) that ini_get doesn't pose any security threat. I would agree with them that ini_set might be risky. You can safely ignore that warning, especially if you have a backup that takes 2 or more minutes and runs fine.

Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos

Lead Developer and Director

🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!

Monday, 22 July 2013 14:13 CDT

user55161
Hi Nicholas,

I had an interesting reply from tech support which I will share. The hosting co. uses Plesk and it's posssible to set some PHP environment variables by domain. Tech support suggested changing the current styatus of open_basedir from {DOCROOT}/:/tmp/ to just /.

Apparently it takes 30 mins to take effect. I'll let you know if there is any change; if not then it is more likely your other suggestions are taking precedence.

Ric

Monday, 22 July 2013 14:22 CDT

nicholas
Please tell your tech that it is not necessary –in fact it is A VERY BAD IDEA– to take this VERY INSECURE course of action which will not solve any problem. It will only open a big security hole.

Nicholas K. Dionysopoulos

Lead Developer and Director

🇬🇷Greek: native 🇬🇧English: excellent 🇫🇷French: basic • 🕐 My time zone is Europe / Athens
Please keep in mind my timezone and cultural differences when reading my replies. Thank you!

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