The Cacti Manual
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# Chapter 12. PHP Script Server

The PHP Script Server is a new feature in Cacti 0.8.6. This new feature allows for the rapid execution of PHP based Data Queries in Cacti. The Script Server process is launched by the poller during every polling cycle. It listens for commands from the poller, executes them, and then waits for an quit signal.

The reason that it is so fast is that PHP is started in memory only one time, and for every Data Query called, it's code is interpreted only once. The resulting Data Query binaries are therefore very efficient. Using the Script Server process over the traditional POPEN process nets a 20+ fold speed improvement in Cacti.

Since PHP scripts are so powerful, this new feature in Cacti, makes it an excellent choice for collecting non-SNMP and SNMP based data.

# Using the Script Server

Cacti 0.8.6 contains two sample script server routines. They are for the collection of HostMib CPU and Disk Partition information. These two examples are based off the traditional POPEN version of the HostMib functions found in earlier versions of Cacti.

For new installs, the HostMib functions are defaulted to using the PHP Script Server, therefore, you don't need to do anything to use it.

For upgrades, you must make several changes to start using the PHP Script Server for the HostMib CPU and HostMib Partitions Data Queries. To migrate you must follow the step below.

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Host Templates | Up | Upgrade Steps for the Example HostMib Data Queries