msknr
asked on
Run Script in Background
I have an mailing list script that emails a list of emails when I pass it a subject and a body via POST.
The script takes quite a while to complete. I am wondering if there is a way I can execute the script and then allow it to run alone on the server so I don't have to keep my browser window open.
If I wanted to do this in shell, I would just type <command> &
then I could forget about it.
Is there an easy way to do this in php? Or will I have to execute a shell command from my php script? If so, how should I go about doing that?
The script takes quite a while to complete. I am wondering if there is a way I can execute the script and then allow it to run alone on the server so I don't have to keep my browser window open.
If I wanted to do this in shell, I would just type <command> &
then I could forget about it.
Is there an easy way to do this in php? Or will I have to execute a shell command from my php script? If so, how should I go about doing that?
ASKER
My plan is to allow a few people access to this script, but I dont want to give them shell access. That is why I was hoping to perform all executions via the web browser. As far as output goes, I am having results emailed to the admin after the script completes the process.
ASKER
to get an idea of how slow the execution is, check out the url:
http://www.troysbucket.com/sendmail
feel free to test it out, the tests will only be emailed to me.
Mike
http://www.troysbucket.com/sendmail
feel free to test it out, the tests will only be emailed to me.
Mike
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ASKER
shmert,
I am using the mail() function. How can I make use of the queue mechanism?
I am using the mail() function. How can I make use of the queue mechanism?
Use a cron job.
"lynx --dump http://www.ohashi.us/script.php"
And just setup the time to whatever you want. This will execute the file at a certain time every (whatever you specify). Then you can just have your script load that info into a database and have the script the cron job runs load from that database.
user a--> adds two emails.
user b--> adds 3 emails
cron job runs--> loads a database of 5 emails and sends them and finishes.
Would that work?
hope that helps,
-kohashi
"lynx --dump http://www.ohashi.us/script.php"
And just setup the time to whatever you want. This will execute the file at a certain time every (whatever you specify). Then you can just have your script load that info into a database and have the script the cron job runs load from that database.
user a--> adds two emails.
user b--> adds 3 emails
cron job runs--> loads a database of 5 emails and sends them and finishes.
Would that work?
hope that helps,
-kohashi
I've made a comment here: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/20784451/php-code-architecture-thoughts-and-suggestions.html#9659961 , that might be of use.
It would mainly involve writing a fork() function, or a fork-wrapper for PHP.
It would mainly involve writing a fork() function, or a fork-wrapper for PHP.
ASKER
I ended up using the system() command.
my sendmail scrip adds the email to a database that looks like this
id subject body sent
1 hello test 0
then I call
system(php send.php);
send.php then looks in the db for any row that has sent=0
Next it sends out all the emails to members that exist in the members table.
when it is finished, it emails me any output. (ie. #of emails sent, errors, execution time)
as long as send.php does not print ANY output, when you use system() it'll run on the server by it self and you can close your browser or navigate to a new page.
thanks for all your help!
my sendmail scrip adds the email to a database that looks like this
id subject body sent
1 hello test 0
then I call
system(php send.php);
send.php then looks in the db for any row that has sent=0
Next it sends out all the emails to members that exist in the members table.
when it is finished, it emails me any output. (ie. #of emails sent, errors, execution time)
as long as send.php does not print ANY output, when you use system() it'll run on the server by it self and you can close your browser or navigate to a new page.
thanks for all your help!
also take a look at shell_exec and/or backtick operators (`'s)
hello, msknr.
It sounds like the process still isn't quite running in the background. Try this syntax to get the php call to system() to return _immediately_
system('/usr/local/bin/lon
This redirect output to the /tmp/php_out file, and the ampersand tells it to run in the background. Both of these steps are essential.
It sounds like the process still isn't quite running in the background. Try this syntax to get the php call to system() to return _immediately_
system('/usr/local/bin/lon
This redirect output to the /tmp/php_out file, and the ampersand tells it to run in the background. Both of these steps are essential.
Just posted this in the other thread, too...
Try this syntax to get the php call to system() to return _immediately_
system('/usr/local/bin/lon
This redirect output to the /tmp/php_out file, and the ampersand tells it to run in the background. Both of these steps are essential.
Try this syntax to get the php call to system() to return _immediately_
system('/usr/local/bin/lon
This redirect output to the /tmp/php_out file, and the ampersand tells it to run in the background. Both of these steps are essential.
ASKER
cool,
it seems to be working, thanks for the help.
Mike
it seems to be working, thanks for the help.
Mike
Do "whereis php" to find out where your php executable is on your system.
Then, you should be able to do
/path/to/php scriptname.php > output.txt
if you want to save any output generated by your script...it would be in output.txt