[SOLVED] Setting a max execution time for a script.

[Niccaman]

I've seen 'set_time_limit()' and 'max_execution_time' references in php manual. But they say that it doesnt include mysql queries. Being that this script is sql-query intensive, i would imagine i need an alternate solution to ensuring a script closes 'x' seconds from the moment the first line is executed/file is opened.

 

Any ideas?

 

(if you want to know why, i have a cron which will run a file (with infinite loop checking and altering Mysql) every 15 minutes, however i wish to ensure one cron never clashes with the next.)

[Philip]

That sounds like its pretty server intensive. May I ask why you want to do that?

[Mark Baker]

(if you want to know why, i have a cron which will run a file (with infinite loop checking and altering Mysql) every 15 minutes, however i wish to ensure one cron never clashes with the next.)

When the cron runs, it tests for the existence of a lock file. If that lock file exists, it simply terminates (previous cron still running). If the file doesn't exist, it creates it. When it finishes running, it deletes the lock file.

 

[Niccaman]

I built a world map based on coordinates system. the crons updates everyones new co-ordinates.

 

that lock file is not true because i have 7 of these processes running right now (Just checked).

had it run every 15 minutes with a set_time_limit(900) at start script. i Know from experience that it wont ever allow more than 7 of the same process. or perhaps of any cron file.

 

 

[Mark Baker]

I built a world map based on coordinates system. the crons updates everyones new co-ordinates.

No wonder it takes so long to run. GPS tracking for everyone in the world.... have you claimed the reward for Osama Bin Laden yet?

 

that lock file is not true because i have 7 of these processes running right now (Just checked).

The lock file method will work. If it's not working for your code, then your code isn't doing the checks correctly.

 

 

$processLockFileName = 'lockFile.lck';
if (file_exists($processLockFileName)) {
exit('Already running');
}
$processLockFile = fopen($processLockFileName,'w+');
flock($processLockFile,LOCK_EX);
...
...
...
flock($processLockFile,LOCK_UN);
fclose($processLockFile);
unlink($processLockFileName);

[Yacoby]

The alternative is to ensure your script exits after 14 minutes by doing comparisons based on the output of time() when the script started, and currently

 

$otime = time()

while ( true ){
    $scriptRunningTime = time() - $otime;
    if ( $scriptRunningTime > 60 * 14 ) break; //14 mins
}

 

It depends if what you are doing ever has an end. If it has an end, it would be better to use the lock method I would assume. More logical at least.

[Niccaman]

Ty. The setting a time() + 60*14 idea was brilliant. Works as i need. Ty everyone for posting.