Questions to ask a host?

Posted: Tue Oct 22, 2002 9:21 am (21 years, 6 months ago)

Hi,

I am in the process of getting a new host and asked them a few of your questions from your site. A couple I asked but didn't understand though!

1) Is PHP running in safe mode? Is there an open_basedir restriction?
I was told to go to http://www.slabhost.com/phpinfo.php. What do those two actually do? I think open_basedir is restricted as there wasn't much about it.

2)Is a dedicated IP included?
This will cost me an extra $5 a month. What is it and do I need it?

Thanks

Bill

Team Member Joined: 06 Jan 2002 Posts: 2564

Hi Bill,

Glad you made use of my questions! Wink

1) I checked out the URL you gave, and PHP is not running in safe mode, and there is no open_basedir restriction.
Safe Mode: Safe Mode prevents you from running certain PHP commands, mainly ones which can be unsafe on a shared server.
Open_Basedir Restriction: This restriction stops you from using any file manipulation commands on files outside your document root (ie: not on your account.
However, in CPanel's case, AFAIK, even if the open_basedir restriction is off, you cannot view other people's files due to the permissions they have set on your files.

2) The most simple answer to this is that if you don't know what it is, you don't need it Wink

. A dedicated IP can be used for anonymous FTP, SSL, or simply to be able to point unlimited domains to the same site (ie: point site1.com and site2.com to the same account).

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2002 4:16 pm (21 years, 6 months ago)

So does that mean I should ask for PHP to be run in safe mode and to have open_basedir restricted? He'll probably want some sort of explanation so what should I say?!

Thanks

Team Member Joined: 06 Jan 2002 Posts: 2564

No, as I said, that host is running CPanel, so the open_basedir restriction doesn't need to be on. As to the safe mode being on or off, it's really up to the host. I wouldn't worry about it.

Posted: Wed Oct 23, 2002 5:01 pm (21 years, 6 months ago)

I generally prefer safemode off, as some good scripts out there need it off.