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PHP Script Server

The PHP Script Server is a memory resident PHP interpreter that is launched by each Cacti Data Collector or poller each polling cycle. If using cmd.php, there will be at most one PHP Script Server launched per poller process. If using spine poller, then up to 10 PHP Script Servers will be launched in a pool for the various spine threads to consume.

If you have a number of devices that must gather their data via a script, it's very important to utilize the PHP Script Server. This feature allows for the rapid execution of PHP based Scripts and Data Queries in Cacti thus reducing Data Collector polling times.

The reason that the PHP Script Server is so fast is that the PHP interpreter is started in memory one time, and for every Data Source polled, it's controlling function is interpreted only once. The resulting much faster script execution and reduced load average during the Data Collectors life cycle. Using the PHP Script Server process over the traditional exec() process nets roughly a 20+ fold speed improvement in Cacti's Data Collection process.

Since PHP is such a powerful language, this Cacti feature enables rapid collection of virtually any Data Source metric. It's an excellent choice for both SNMP and non-SNMP based data.

Using the Script Server

Cacti contains two sample PHP Script Server scripts for reference. 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. Upgrading from these very old Data Input Methods to the PHP Script Server is not longer supported.

Migration of Existing Scripts and Data Queries to PHP Script Server

If you have Scripts or Data Queries that you wish to migrate, you must follow the steps below to migrate those scripts to the PHP Script Server format.

Script File Changes

First, if your script is written in another languages, say Perl, or Python, you need to convert it to PHP. Then, each PHP Script file must be changed to the new Script Server format. The changes are not dramatic, but required for the proper operation of the PHP Script Server. Note that you should use PHP internal functions for calling services rather than forking binaries within the PHP script as this will defeat the purpose of the PHP Script Server. Follow the steps below to complete the migration.

  1. Copy your existing script to a new name. The name must begin ss_ followed by your script name. The ss_ identifies the script as being a script server variety of the a PHP script and is named that way to easily identify them in your install. For example, if you previously had a script called get_mysql_stats.php, it's new name would be ss_get_mysql_stats.php.

  2. Edit the new PHP script and add the following required lines to the file, where ss_myfunction is the same as your filename.

    <?php
$no_http_headers = true;

/* display No errors */
error_reporting(E_ERROR);

if (!isset($called_by_script_server)) {
    array_shift($_SERVER["argv"]);
    print call_user_func_array("ss_myfunction", $_SERVER["argv"]);
}
?>

  3. What was originally just mainline code, must be replaced with a function name. For example, if your program previously contained the following three lines of code:

    <?php
$a = 100;
$b = $a / 10;
print $b;
?>

    Would become:

    function ss_myfunction() {
    $a = 100;
    $b = $a / 10;
    print $b;
}

  4. If you have any additional functions declared within your script file, you must prefix them to make them unique among all functions. Our recommendation would be to prefix all functions with the name of the main function. For example if you have a function called "meme" you would rename it to ss_myfunction_meme. This guarantee's correct PHP Script Server functionality.

  5. The last step is to change the function call that could have traditionally returned the value to the Cacti poller using the print function. You must change that line or lines in your code to utilize the return function instead. However, this does not apply to print statements that are not called from the Poller. For a simple script, this results in

    function ss_myfunction() {
    $a = 100;
    $b = $a / 10;
    return $b;
}

    Be careful, when writing Script Server Data Queries. Use the return function for returning results of the GET operation. But use print for index and query operations, e.g.

    if (($cmd == "index")) {
    ...
    print $some_index_data . PHP_EOL;
} elseif ($cmd == "query") {
    ...
    print $some_query_data . PHP_EOL;
} elseif ($cmd == "get") {
    ...
    return $some_get_data;
}

XML File Changes

If your Data Sources are based upon a Data Query, then you must also change your XML file contents and location. Please reference the XML files in the <path_cacti>/resource/script_server directory for the specifics related to your required modifications. However, you may also follow the instructions below:

  1. Modify the <script_path> tag. Change it from:

    <script_path>|path_php_binary| -q |path_cacti|/scripts/myfucntion.php</script_path>

    to simply the following:

    <script_path>|path_cacti|/scripts/ss_myfunction.php</script_path>

  2. Add the following two XML tags below the <script_path> tag. Replace ss_myfunction with your function name:

    <script_function>ss_myfunction</script_function>
<script_server>php</script_server>

  3. Save the XML file.

Data Query & Data Template Changes

Your Data Queries and Data Templates must be also modified. Although somewhat self explanatory by now, you must make the following changes:

  1. If the Data Template is based upon a Script and not a Data Query, change it's Data Input Method to Script Server.

  2. If the Data Template is based upon a Data Query, edit the Data Query and change it's Data Input Method to Get Script Server Data (Indexed) and change the XML file path to point to the new XML file in the <path_cacti>/resources/script_server/ directory.

  3. Your final step is to go to the Console > System Utilities > Rebuild Poller Cache to apply the new settings.

If your PHP Script Server script is operating correctly, you should now be migrated to the PHP Script Server.

Testing Your Script in the Script Server

To test your script in the script server, simply follow the instructions below. When you have finished you testing, simply type "quit" + <CR> at the PHP Script Server command line to exit the script server.

  1. Start the script server - You can do this by typing the following command:

    shell> php <path_cacti>/script_server.php

    NOTE: Due to a bug in Windows implementation of PHP, you must type the full path name to the script_server.php file.

  2. Type in your command - Using the example from above, you would type in the following:

    script server> /path_cacti/scripts/ss_myserver_file.php my_function argument1 argument2 ...

    In the Windows environment, your example could be the following:

    script server> c:\www\root\cacti\script\ss_myserver_file.php ss_myfunction argument1 argument2 ...

  3. If your script and function is operating properly, you should get a result.

    script server> c:\www\root\cacti\script\ss_myserver_file.php ss_myfunction argument1 argument2 ...
nameA:valueA nameB:valueB ...

  4. To quit the script server, simply type quit <CR> at the command line.

    Note: If there are errors in your script, you must restart the script server before your retest your code.

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