When you are running a PHP file from the command line (on VPS Hosting or otherwise), there may be times when you need to make changes to the PHP settings. In this guide, we will show you how to specify the php.ini file, and change a PHP setting in the command line. If you are not working in the command line, you can change your PHP settings in cPanel.
Specify the php.ini File in Command Line
- Connect to your server using SSH.
- You can specify the php.ini file in the command line by using the following syntax:
php -c [Path to php.ini file] [Path to .php file]
For example:
php -c /home/userna5/public_html/php.ini /home/userna5/public_html/example.php
Now the example.php file will run, with the limitations set in the php.ini file located here: /home/userna5/public_html
Change PHP settings
- Connect to your server using SSH.
- You can specify php.ini settings in the command line with this syntax:
php -c [Path to php.ini file] [Path to .php file] -d [PHP setting]
For example:
php -c /home/userna5/public_html/php.ini /home/userna5/public_html/example.php -d memory_limit=256M
In this example, you can see I am setting the memory limit to 256 Megabytes. Here are some other PHP settings that are often modified:
| max_execution_time |
| max_input_time |
| upload_max_filesize |
Important: The PHP max_execution_time is capped at 90 seconds on Shared Hosting Plans to prevent extremely long processes from impacting other users sharing the server resources. If you need a longer max_execution_time, consider one of our VPS Hosting Plans.
Congratulations, now you know how to set the php.ini file, and change your PHP settings from the command line!
