How to write a script that runs as long as the server is up?

Question

I am using a WAMP server.

Is it possible to run a script as long as WAMP server is on? If so, how? If it can't be done, can XAMPP do it or any other development server?

Edit: I want to run a PHP script then insert data in the database on specific dates and I am using Windows 7.

I want to run a PHP script then insert data in the database on specific dates. — JohnSmith, May 04 '12 at 12:30
If you need something permanent, don't use a request based scripting language but e.g. setup a Tomcat and use Java/JSP (or some other technology). — feeela, May 04 '12 at 12:36

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered May 04 '12 at 12:31

3

Based on comments:

You're looking at the problem wrong. Write a script and use a Cron job for it. If you're on a windows machine, scheduled tasks work too.

answered May 04 '12 at 12:31

Madara's Ghost

172,118
50
264
308

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered May 04 '12 at 12:32

2

I want to run a PHP script then insert data in the database on specific dates.

Use a cronjob. Most control panels offer them, else use crontab on linux or the task scheduler in Windows.

answered May 04 '12 at 12:32

Devator

3,686
4
33
52

score 1 · Answer 3 · answered May 04 '12 at 12:30

1

Try to write this kind of script:

<?php

while (true) {
    // Do something
}

And then launch it using the PHP CLI (command line) :

php your_script.php

answered May 04 '12 at 12:30

adrien

4,399
26
26

That would lock the PHP process and prevent all further requests. – Madara's Ghost May 04 '12 at 12:30
No it won't, it depends on what you put inside the `while` loop (think `sleep(1000);` for instance). A cron is not always enough, it depends on what JohnSmith wants to do. – adrien May 04 '12 at 12:33

score 1 · Answer 4 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

1

It seems you are describing a daemon. If your scrpit breaks you need the functionality so it can handle errors and resume itself. Run php script as daemon process

Creating a daemon in PHP seems like it is an en devour but provides the functionality you desire.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:27

Community

1
1

answered May 04 '12 at 12:35

dm03514

54,664
18
108
145

rightstuff · Answer 5 · 2012-05-04T17:56:56.590

Use Window's Task Scheduler / Manager (run taskschd.msc) to do this...

It's like cron but for Windows.

You can give it a URL to hit every so often (via executing cURL, wget, powershell, VBS, IE/Firefox/Chrome), or use it to directly execute a PHP script via php.exe.

For example, if I wanted to run a PHP file (via my Wamp-Developer), I would just add a task that executes this...

C:\WampDeveloper\Components\Php\php.exe -f "C:\my_php_file.php"

You can specifiy for it to also use / or not use the php.ini file (check php --help).

Or..

C:\WampDeveloper\Tools\curl\curl.exe http://localhost/my_php_file.php

You can HEAD, POST, login, etc with cURL... http://curl.haxx.se/docs/manual.html

Since you're using WampServer, you'd just update the Wamp-Developer paths above and it should work (I don't know where WampServer or Xampp places php or curl).

How to write a script that runs as long as the server is up?

5 Answers5