If hyperthreading is available and on, turn it off and 
then try the same thing again. It's known to cause some 
problems with older linux kernels.

HT is available, but not enabled. The kernel is compiled as UNIprocessor (or what it's called)

Please try using this CVS snapshot:

  http://snaps.php.net/php4-STABLE-latest.tar.gz
 
For Windows:
 
  http://snaps.php.net/win32/php4-win32-STABLE-latest.zip

And use this configure line (and run the script with sapi/cli/php binary):

# ./configure --disable-all --disable-cgi --enable-debug

With the new source, and the following code, I cannot reproduce the error. 
My concern is now, that it is caused by apache2 - but the strange thing is, that on the slow machine, this error doesn't occur.

The apache2handler seems broken( or maybe I cannot compile it  - error 40 ;o)) so I cannot check it with the apache server...


The code:
<?
$i = 0;
while ($i < 10000) {

echo $i . ": ";
system ( "hostname" );
echo " | ";

$a = exec ( "uptime" );
$b = split(',', $a);
$c = split('up', $b[0]);
$d = split(':', $b[3]);

echo $c[1] . " | " . $d[1] . ", " . $b[4] . ", " . $b[5];
echo "\r\n";
$i++;
}
?>

Can you produce the problem with 4.3.4 CLI binary?
What apache2 error? Compile time? or what??

Sorry, the last posting was a little un-informative.

I tried compiling the cvs snapshot as cli, and set up a program loop with the contents stated in my previous posting. I let it run to around 5000, and no error appeared.

I compiled the cli executeable with "./configure --disable-all --disable-cgi --enable-debug".


I then tried to compile the source with --with-apxs2=path - which ended up with the following error:
/home/admin/debug/php4-STABLE-200402101230/sapi/apache2handler/sapi_apache2.c: In function `php_apache_request_ctor':
/debug/php4-STABLE-200402101230/sapi/apache2handler/sapi_apache2.c:432: `f' undeclared (first use in this function)
/debug/php4-STABLE-200402101230/sapi/apache2handler/sapi_apache2.c:432: (Each undeclared identifier is reported only once
/debug/php4-STABLE-200402101230/sapi/apache2handler/sapi_apache2.c:432: for each function it appears in.)

I'm currently considering to replace Apache2 with Apache 1.3.xx - to see, if it could help.

If you want it stable, use 1.3.29, setting it to feedback to see if it works with apache 1.3.

Derick

Now this appears in the apache error-log:

sh: /hostname: No such file or directory
sh: /uptime: No such file or directory

How can this be?

Please try using this CVS snapshot:

  http://snaps.php.net/php4-STABLE-latest.tar.gz
 
For Windows:
 
  http://snaps.php.net/win32/php4-win32-STABLE-latest.zip

The apache2 build bug has been fixed. 
 
As far as the exec() situations I've just tried to 
replicate the bug with the while() example and was unable 
to do so. 

Hi, I've just compiled the source, you supplied. I'm watching the errorlog closely today and will let you know if there's good or bad news :o)

Oh, btw, the openssl part of this source php4-STABLE-200402120630 throws an error on startup when I use --with-openssl in the config

I'm really grateful for all your help! :o)

Well, after having the 4.3.5RC3-dev running for the last 24h it seems that the error is no longer with us.

What did you fix?

This bug has been fixed in CVS.

Snapshots of the sources are packaged every three hours; this change
will be in the next snapshot. You can grab the snapshot at
http://snaps.php.net/.
 
Thank you for the report, and for helping us make PHP better.

User reports that the problem has been fixed.