Linux, CGI, Perl, and PHP FAQ

Please note: This support article is a guide for our Linux users only.

Question:

What Linux operating system do HostMySite's shared Linux web servers use?

Answer:

HostMySite's shared Linux web servers currently run RedHat Enterprise 5.0.

Question:

What are the required filename extensions for CGI programs (e.g., .cgi, .pl, .bin)?

Answer:

Currently, the .pl and .cgi extensions will work.

Question:

Are my CGI scripts required to reside in a special directory? Are there any directory names I cannot use?

Answer:

Any CGI script that you would like to run on HostMySite's Linux web servers should reside in your cgi-bin directory. If you place a CGI script in any other location, you will receive an error when you attempt to run it from a web browser.

Question:

What version(s) of Perl does HostMySite run?

Answer:

HostMySite runs Perl 5.6.1 on the web servers.

Question:

What is the script comment line to make a Perl script executable?

Answer:

This line is called a shebang, and its format is #!/path/to/perl. On HostMySite's systems, the Perl interpreter is located in the directory /usr/bin, so the shebang line should look like the following:
#!/usr/bin/perl

Question:

Do my PHP files need a special extension (e.g., .php)?

Answer:

Yes, any PHP file that you would like to run should end in the following extensions: .php or .phtml

Question:

Does HostMySite run PHP in Safe Mode?

Answer:

Yes, we run PHP in safe mode on all of our shared hosting servers, for security reasons. Please read the PHP Documentation for more information about safe mode and the functions it affects.

Question:

Can I use the SSI #exec command on HostMySite's web servers?

Answer:

No, the #exec directive is disabled for security reasons.

Question:

Do I need to change anything to activate the SSI feature (e.g., modify a .htaccess file etc.)?

Answer:

There is nothing you have to change to activate the feature.

Question:

Do my HTML files need a special extension to use SSI (e.g., .shtml)?

Answer:

Yes, you should use the .shtml extension for SSI.

Do you have additional questions? Please contact support@hostmysite.com.