I am having major problems getting a custom session handler (oci8 based) to work in php-4.0.2 and php-4.0.3. I have set session.save_handler=user in the php.ini file and it registers in phpinfo(). I have also set the module_name specifically using : 

session_module_name('user'); 

The problem is that the write function does not work. I have seen many posts showing the same problem (admittedly some of them are a result of not setting save_handler) and as yet have found no 'official' response. 

This seems to have been around since 4.0.1pl2. 

I have tried printing from the write function and also writing to a file whilst presuming that the session write is not called till after the page has finished processing. 

This is a major blow to a project we are working on. We can find ways around this but it has knocked our confidence in PHP somewhat. 

A prompt reply would be greatly appreciated. 

dev environment

Sun Sparce Ultra 5

Solaris 8

APACHE-1.3.12
./configure --with-layout=Apache --prefix=/usr/local/apache --enable-module=so --enable-module=rewrite --enable-module=log_referer --enable-module=info --enable-module=status --add-module=src/modules/standard/mod_rewrite.c --add-module=src/modules/standard/mod_log_referer.c --add-module=src/modules/standard/mod_info.c --add-module=src/modules/standard/mod_status.c --enable-shared=max --server-uid=oracle --server-gid=dba

PHP-4.0.2
./configure  --with-apxs=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs --enable-track-vars=yes --enable-bcmatch=yes --enable-memory-limit=yes --enable-magic-quotes=yes --enable-trans-sid=yes --enable-nodebug=yes --with-oci8=$ORACLE_HOME/lib--with-oracle=$ORACLE_HOME/lib --without-mysql --enable-libgcc


Tim Parkin 
Web Development Manager 
Didio Communications 

oci_session_handler is avaialable on request although the normal test handler fails to write also ie..

<?php 
function open ($save_path, $session_name) { 
echo "open ($save_path, $session_name)\n"; 
return true; 
} 
function close () { 
echo "close\n"; 
return true; 
} 
function read ($key) { 
echo "read ($key)\n"; 
return "foo|i:1;"; 
} 
function write ($key, $val) { 
echo "write ($key, $val)\n"; 
// Test to see if output to page is failing due to write being executed after user output is finished
$fp = fopen("temp",w);
fwrite($fp,"write ($key, $val)",4096);
fclose($fp);
return true; 
} 
function destroy ($key) { 
return true; 
} 
function gc ($maxlifetime) { 
return true; 
} 

session_set_save_handler ("open", "close", "read", "write", "destroy", "gc"); 
?>

Thanks

php.ini

;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
; Data Handling ;
;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;;
variables_order = "EGPCS" 
register_globals = On
register_argc_argv = On
track_vars = On
gpc_order = "GPC"
; Magic quotes
magic_quotes_gpc =  On
magic_quotes_runtime = On
magic_quotes_sybase  = Off

; automatically add files before or after any PHP document
auto_prepend_file =
auto_append_file =