ioncube v Zend

[e1m2j +]

My Web host had this response when I querried about ioncube

Hello.
We are supporting Zend Optimizer only.
Most of PHP developers support both Zend and Ioncube.
Pls, check if you can get your software encoded with zend.

I would like to be able to use 68 Classifieds. Any thoughts?

[John Snyder +]

Can you let us know which host you have - save someone else the trouble of finding out their host doesn't support or are not willing to support their clients needs regarding ioncube.

Prices: Ioncube is an encryptor vs zend encoder (zend guard)

Zend = $995 - Annual Subscription
(http://www.zend.com/store/software/zend_guard)

Ioncube = $199
(https://www.ioncube.com/main.php?c=p...&group=encoder) You have to login to see price I think.

[John Snyder +]

If you already have an account with the host you may try and set it up. It may still work with out the host needing to make changes. (They may also not even know what you are talking about)

[e1m2j +]

I have a reseller account with Server Yard

[e1m2j +]

Do you mean setup 68Classifieds without ionCube, or setup the ionCube Loaders in my own server space?

[Lhotch +]

If your host allows the use of external php.ini files you can create your own php.ini in your script directories and just put the ioncube loader line in it..... ie

zend_extension = /home/username/ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_4.3.so

[Eric Barnes]

Plus most allow for ioncube loaders to be called at run time which means they are loaded on demand.

[e1m2j +]

O.k.

I uploaded the ioncube loaders and ran the helper file. I got this...

An ionCube Loader file is required by PHP to read files encoded with the ionCube Encoder. This page will determine how you can install Loaders on this particular server.

An ionCube encoded file has been loaded successfully.
Encoded files should now function correctly.

If you have permission to edit the php.ini configuration file for this server you can increase performance by following the php.ini installation instructions.

So it would seem like it's working, but I also created a php.ini file in my /www/scripts directory with the line
/home/[user]/ioncube_loader_lin_4.3.so.

The ioncube folder is at my site root.

The installation instructions say

Analysis of your system configuration shows:
PHP Version 4.3.11
Operating System Linux
Threaded PHP No
php.ini file /home/[user]/public_html/scripts/php.ini
Required Loader ioncube_loader_lin_4.3.so

Instructions
To install the Loader in your php.ini file, edit or create the file /home/bobsads/public_html/scripts/php.ini and add the following line before any other zend_extension lines:
zend_extension = /<path>/ioncube_loader_lin_4.3.so

where /<path>/ is where you've installed the loader, e.g. /usr/local/ioncube/

But I thought that's what I've already done. So is it working at run time or on the php.ini file and if not on the php.ini then why not?

And either way, would it appear that 68Classifieds will now work on my site?

Any thoughts?

[John Snyder +]

My guess would be its happening at runtime and you don't need the edit in the ini file. You might try running the script without adding the ini edit, if you really want to know which solution solved your problem. I'd just leave it and forget the headache.

[e1m2j +]

Would loading it at runtime be scalable if the classifieds site took off (i.e. thousands of users)? Also, if I've loaded my own php.ini file am I screwing with anything the hosting service is doing with PHP overall on that server (i.e. would I be harming my other PHP scripts in some way)?