Issue with PHP configured to SAFE MODE

I have now found out from the host that safe_mode is not on. Rather open_basedir is on so that users can not see other users files, which sounds wise and like a fairly typical arrangement.

So typical, in fact, that I am surprised the P Metrics plugin needs this setting OFF, because I doubt many hosting companies would have it turned off.

I'd greatly appreciate hearing if anyone knows of a work-around for this issue.

With thanks,

Jonathan

The first workaround which comes to my mind is to disable the PMetrics WP-plugin and the code it has (?) embedded to your site.

The second step for this workaround to work is to integrate the standard PMetrics code into your footer template.

Sorry, I am no developer and no WP user but both steps make sense if the WP-plugin causes problems because of server configuration.

I'm afraid the developer of the plugin, Dave Reid, has not been around for a while and his site is down so you might be better to do as Markus says and disable it until Dave resurfaces.

Okay... so it sounds like the only option is to disable the plugin entirely...meaning that there is no way to display PM data on my WP blog. Oh well... I shall turn it off.

Yes, I noticed Dave's site was closed for now (apparently being updated.

Thanks,

Jonathan

Okay... I have found the way to solve this.

Simply comment out the following line (at line 375 in my pmetrics.php file (the exact line number is referred to in the error, so easy to ascertain).

//curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, TRUE);

The same result can also be achieved by setting it to FALSE and leaving it without commenting it out.

Either way, this gets rid of the error and the plug still seems to work fine.
I have no idea what exactly this line of code is meant to do as I know nothing about PHP programming. If anyone can suggest what it does please advise.

The code segment is as follows:
-------------------
// Initiate cURL and set options
$ch = curl_init();
//curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_URL, $url);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_RETURNTRANSFER, TRUE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_CONNECTTIMEOUT, $timeout);
//curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_FOLLOWLOCATION, TRUE);
curl_setopt($ch, CURLOPT_HEADER, $header);
-------------------

Cheers,
Jonathan

As PMetrics is also counting comments the cURL might be he comment URL. It could also be the counter URL but as you say it still works fine then it is probably the comment URL.

Just a wild guess :-)

follow_location is required to make curl automatically follow location. Disabling it disables the functionality. Depending on your plugin and configuration, it may or may not be required. However it is not a general solution.

It's also possible to write a small loop to make Curl follow the location manually - kind of a pain to have to do it, but doable.