Question About Picking A Hosting Company

We would like to make a new store using zen cart, but our current host using Cpanel and they said that Cpanel will not work with zen cart. Is this true? If it is what control panel does the host have to have to be able to use zen cart?

Thanks

Mike

Hi Mike--

I can tell you that my server uses Ensim software and there are no problems with ZenCart.

Another thing to check with your host is if you can have SafeMode disabled-- that will save alot of headaches.

Hope that helps!
JF

Also make sure that php support is complete. I will be changing hosts soon due to their "switching off" several php functions for security reasons. The missing functions a going to keep some Zen Cart functions from working. The biggest issues will be with the exec and set_time_limit functions.

Connie

harborsales1:

We would like to make a new store using zen cart, but our current host using Cpanel and they said that Cpanel will not work with zen cart. Is this true? If it is what control panel does the host have to have to be able to use zen cart?

Thanks

Mike
I use cPanel on my server and have no problems with Zen-Cart. The host you are talking about does not know what they are saying.

To start with ...

When talking to a host there are several questions to ask:

1- What type of server will I be hosted on?

2- What version of php is installed?

3- What version of mysql is installed?

4- Is there SSL available? What if I have my own certificate?

5- Do you use a single HTTP directory or a double HTTP and HTTPS system?

6- Is SAFE_MODE enabled?

7- Do you have any php functions disabled?

JMHO- If the person you are talking to can not answer any of those questions ... RUN!

Minimum/suggested server requirements for Zen Cart v1.2.x or v1.3.x: PHP 4.1.x or higher (PHP 4.3.3+ for optimal performance), Apache 1.3.x and MySQL 3.2x.x or higher.

For Zen Cart v2.0 and newer, Minimum PHP 5.2 and MySQL 4.1 or higher. CURL is also HIGHLY recommended.
Additionally, SSL support is very important when running an eCommerce site.

I have provided hosting and use cPanel as the user interface and have no problems with ANY carts - Zen, OsC, or otherwise.

As Wayne stated, your current host is blowing smoke likely because they don't know how or have have chosen not to "allow" the needed features required by Zen.

In addition to all the good advice above, I recommend that you ensure that **cURL ** support is **enabled ** in PHP. Several (many? most?) of the contributed payment modules require cURL. Of course, if the payment module you plan on using doesn't need cURL, then the point is moot.

Good point Tony!

Here.... Just tell your host to configure PHP with this command and recompile it.

**
./configure --with-apxs=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs --with-xml --enable-bcmath --enable-calendar --with-curl --enable-ftp --with-gd --with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local --with-png-dir=/usr --with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6 --with-gettext --with-imap --with-imap-ssl --with-kerberos --with-mcrypt --with-mhash --enable-magic-quotes --with-mysql --with-openssl --enable-discard-path --with-pear --enable-sockets --enable-track-vars --with-ttf --with-freetype-dir=/usr --enable-gd-native-ttf --enable-versioning --with-zlib
**

or they can simply check those boxes in the EasyApache script within WHM.

I just wanted to say thanks to everyone, your comments were very helpfull.

Mike

A few questions about comments here as I'm just getting started...

Are there recommended exec and set_time_limit functions to have?

On my web host, I have most of the requirements as far as versions and modules, except cURL. In the web server description, it lists mod_ssl, and OpenSSL. It seems I only need cURL.

I noticed in the comment to configure PHP with the following command and recompile it that the path:

./configure --with-apxs=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs --with-xml --enable-bcmath --enable-calendar --with-curl --enable-ftp --with-gd --with-jpeg-dir=/usr/local --with-png-dir=/usr --with-xpm-dir=/usr/X11R6 --with-gettext --with-imap --with-imap-ssl --with-kerberos --with-mcrypt --with-mhash --enable-magic-quotes --with-mysql --with-openssl --enable-discard-path --with-pear --enable-sockets --enable-track-vars --with-ttf --with-freetype-dir=/usr --enable-gd-native-ttf --enable-versioning --with-zlib

My current PHP configuration is similar, but lists the following:
'./configure' '--with-apxs=/usr/local/sbin/apxs' '--enable-track-vars' '--disable-debug' '--with-gd' '--with-mysql=/usr' '--with-zlib' '--enable-bcmath' '--enable-sockets'

My other question is --with-apxs=/usr/local/apache/bin/apxs

it that the default path used by Zencart that needs to be in place, or can I use the same path as I have now? I have other sites on the same machine and don't want to mess with them.

** In the web server description, it lists mod_ssl, and OpenSSL. It seems I only need cURL. **
mod_ssl and OpenSSL are for running SSL / HTTPS on your server so your visitors can have secure protection of sensitive data. If you have another form of SSL support for your server, you don't need to add these.

cURL is used for some payment and shipping gateways to communicate with the provider's server and complete transactions or get real-time shipping quotes. CURL is increasingly being embraced more and more by many hosting companies as a more secure method of communicating between servers. We recommend you DO have it installed and available.

**>> it that the default path used by Zencart that needs to be in place, or can I use the same path as I have now? I have other sites on the same machine and don't want to mess with them. **I'm not sure I fully follow your opening to this statement. However, Zen Cart can be installed in any folder under "public_html" or "htdocs", etc on your webserver. No need to create anything special other than extracting our distribution files/folders to your webspace, retaining our folder structure.

southpointbooks:

Are there recommended exec and set_time_limit functions to have?
*set_time_limit *defaults to 30 for most servers. That's fine for Zen Cart.

*exec *is a required function for several administrative modules.

Ensure your PHP is set to SAFE_MODE=OFF.

Thanks for the quick return!

As for the reconfiguring PHP, I was just comparing what I have now to what was noted in an earlier post here as suggested for a server to get it ready for Zencart. If I don't need --with-imap-ssl for example in there I'll just leave out. I'm just looking for the optimal configuration, given how my server is compiled now, so I can save time later.

--with-imap-ssl would be for supporting secure SSL connections over IMAP activity, usually used for web-based email access from your webserver. If your webserver is not running a webmail service, you don't need imap_ssl support.

Kim:

When talking to a host there are several questions to ask:

.
.
.

5- Do you use a single HTTP directory or a double HTTP and HTTPS system?
I have a double http and https system. What are the pros and cons of each type of system. I'm assuming that I can just run zencart out of the httpsdocs directory (assuming I have the proper certificate installed) and it will work just fine.

Am I wrong about that?

Several posts in these forums indicate that Curl for PHP is required to run zencart yet the specs page doesn't mention this.

** I'm assuming that I can just run zencart out of the httpsdocs directory (assuming I have the proper certificate installed) and it will work just fine. **

Well... I suppose you could do that, but generally rinning all https is much slower than only running it where absolutely neccessary.

** Several posts in these forums indicate that Curl for PHP is required to run zencart yet the specs page doesn't mention this.**

CURL is required for some of the shipping and/or payment modules. It is not required to run Zen Cart v1.2.x itself.
*
ADDENDUM: As of v1.3.7, to use the PayPal Express or Pro modules, you DO need CURL support*

I was only planning to run zencart in httpsdocs to shorten my time to market. Eventually I would like to speed things up by separating what has to be ssl from what does not. I'm not sure how to go about that. Anyone know?

Another thing I'm finding is that I may not, in fact, be able to just run zencart out ot the htttpsdocs directory. The config files specify https and http. Does anyone have experience configuring this with a dual directiory system?

Has anyone used links to manage the dual directory system? Can this compromise security?

Thanks

Running Zen Cart in dual directories can be done, the problem is that you have to maintain the full program in both directories.