Command not found: PHP exec()

Question

This is driving me crazy. I need to have php execute a command to restart a script running in node. I'm using a node app called forever to run said script. The code is as follows:

<?php 
  echo '<pre>';
  echo exec('sudo -u dalton forever restart botti.js 2>&1');
  echo '</pre>';
?>

However, when I run that, I get sudo: forever: command not found

Next, I try which forever and type forever, both which give me:
forever: /usr/local/bin/forever

I edit my code to:
echo exec('sudo -u dalton /usr/local/bin/forever restart botti.js 2>&1');

Edit: After a typo, the error is now:
/usr/bin/env: node: No such file or directory

I'm at my wit's end. Any ideas?

Yeah, I just fixed that. Now the error is /usr/bin/env: node: No such file or directory — Dalton Gore
– Dalton Gore, Commented Nov 14, 2012 at 11:28
The exec function is a dangerous function, should not be used and be disabled in your php.ini. Using exec to solve problems of your web application is not the right way. — markus
– markus, Commented Nov 14, 2012 at 11:41
If I could think of another way to restart a node script via the web, I'd do it. But nothing comes to mind. — Dalton Gore
– Dalton Gore, Commented Nov 14, 2012 at 11:44
I might need to add that what I'm saying applies for web applications, not for console apps of course. — markus
– markus, Commented May 9, 2013 at 9:13

crater2150 · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-14 11:49:08Z

7

As the forever command only runs, when you give the full path, I suspect, that /usr/local/bin is not in your PATH environment variable, which contains all directories, that are searched for executable commands by default, separated by : (I suspect you're on Linux, may differ for other OS)

I suspect forever calls /usr/bin/env node. The error from env is probably caused by node being outside your PATH too.

To set your PATH in php, use putenv('PATH=<your path here>'); e.g. to append /usr/local/bin:

putenv('PATH=' . getenv('PATH') . ':/usr/local/bin')

This may also be a sudo issue, try the -E (preserve environment) switch.

answered Nov 14, 2012 at 11:49

crater2150

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4 Comments

Dalton Gore Over a year ago

Added that line, and then removed the /usr/local/bin prefix to forever, and I reverted back to the forever not found error.

Dalton Gore Over a year ago

Same for echo exec('export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin; sudo -u dalton forever restart botti.js 2>&1');

crater2150 Over a year ago

have you tried sudo -E? sudo may be configured to reset the PATH, in that case you would have to change the PATH inside your forever script EDIT: ah, I see you figured it out. Anyway, still seems like PATH is wrong

Dalton Gore Over a year ago

I know, and I'm still trying to figure it out, but this sloppy bit of code works for now. Thanks for helping!

Dalton Gore · Accepted Answer · 2012-11-14 12:09:23Z

2

Figured it out, I needed to define node as well:

$asdf = system('sudo -E -u dalton /usr/local/bin/node /usr/local/bin/forever restart botti.js 2>&1');

answered Nov 14, 2012 at 12:09

Dalton Gore

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Comments

Techappri · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-22 14:09:18Z

0

Create a symbolic link for forever

ln -s /usr/local/bin/forever /usr/bin/env/forever

And also for nodejs if incase it's still called "nodejs". Make it call as "node"

ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node

I will solve the forever execution problem.

For php side, try with this

echo shell_exec("your command sh");

answered Mar 22, 2016 at 14:09

Techappri

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