Bug #14997 Updated: Multiple system calls cause inifinite process forking

ID: 14997 Comment by: marcus@names.co.uk Reported By: marcus@names.co.uk Status: Open Bug Type: Program Execution Operating System: Linux PHP Version: 4.1.1 New Comment: There are zombie processes, but there are also many valid processes. Do you know a fix? Previous Comments: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2002-01-11 10:48:15] hholzgra@php.net are you talking about 'defunct' (aka zombie) processes? ------------------------------------------------------------------------ [2002-01-11 10:42:50] marcus@names.co.uk If PHP is running via a web server, and mutiple system calls are made within the script to another script, hundreds of processes are created. Here is an example: Script 1: <?php for ($i=1; $i<=5; $i++) { system("php script2.php"); } ?> Script 2: <?php exit; ?> The effect is the same (and more difficult to stop) when the system calls are made in the background. e.g. system("php script2.php >>/dev/null 2>>/dev/null &"); I have even tried calling a shell script, which in turn calls the second PHP script (both in the background), but it still causes lots of processes. The "exec" command is also affected. At first, I thought this was a problem with either Zeus web server of Fast CGI, but I have since tried it with Apache and normal CGI with the same effect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Edit this bug report at http://bugs.php.net/?id=14997&edit=1