How can I set the maximum execution time for a PHP script?

Question

I would like to change the maximum execution time for a PHP script. In the script I have tried

ini_set("max_execution_time", "1000");

and

set_time_limit(1000);

together and separately.

I also added this line to .htaccess:

php_value max_execution_time 1000

php.ini has safemode off and the Apache server has the flag AllowOverride All. What must I do to get the server to allow a longer execution time?

Solution 1

Setting the variable in the ini file works for me:

max_execution_time = 1000;

set_time_limit() should work as well, as long as it's not in safe mode.

Solution 2

If you're looking for an Apache2-directive to use in .htaccess or the configuration of one VirtualHost, you probably need php_admin_value:

php_admin_value max_execution_time 1000

AFAIK this only works with mod_php

Comments

[Marc B]

Apache's AllowOverride has nothing to do with PHP settings.

[Frank Farmer]

Are you sending requests directly to apache? Proxies may time out even if apache doesn't. What do you get if you run var_dump(ini_get('max_execution_time'), ini_get('safe_mode')); after your call to set_time_limit(1000); ?

[Nick Q.]

I forgot to mention that I put a php_value max_execution_time 1000 in .htaccess, which is why I mentioned AllowOverride.

[Jeff Busby]

have you tried setting it right in the php.ini file?

[mlwacosmos]

is there a security issue modifying this directive in the Virtual Host ?

[Lukas]

I wouldn't think so. Basically there is a difference between php_admin_value and php_value, the latter permits ini_set() to change the value, the former doesn't. see ma.ttias.be/…. You might want to be careful about allowing long runtimes in a whole VirtualHost though. Maybe use it inside a <Location> tag to be more granular.

[mlwacosmos]

Can you tell me what to write using the location tag ?

[Lukas]

Have a look at httpd.apache.org/docs/current/mod/core.html#location