cgi script just shows code?

Why won't it run?

[Nick_W]

Hi all,

I'm trying to run a cgi script in the root of a virtual host on RH8/Apache 2

The script wont run though, I just get the code in text on the screen?

I'm not sure even where to begin with this -- any hints much appreciated ;-)

Nick

[andreasfriedrich]

You need to permit Apache to execute CGIs in that directory and you need to tell Apache what files constitute a CGI script.

The former is done using the

Options +ExecCGI

directive, the latter using the

AddHandler cgi-script your_cgi_extensions

directive.

There is a nice tutorial on Dynamic Content with CGI [httpd.apache.org] available at the Apache foundation website.

Andreas

[Birdman]

Have you tried just renaming the file to .pl?

[Nick_W]

Hmmm.. thanks andreas, I wrote a .htaccess with:

Options +ExecCGI

But the code still shows?

Nick

[andreasfriedrich]

Did you add the AddHandler directive as well?

AddHandler cgi-script pl

if your script has the extension .pl.

Is your script executable?

Do you have AllowOverride Options privileges? This is needed to change Options from within .htaccess files.

Andreas

[Nick_W]

AddHandler cgi-script .cgi

I had to uncomment it and restart the server. I have Overide set to 'All'

Now I'm getting a 500 error :(

THanks...

Nick

[andreasfriedrich]

There´s no reason to be :(. At least the server configuration is ok now and you can start debugging your script. That is :) not :(.

Andreas

[Nick_W]

hehe, not my script it's a blogger thing I'm trying out:

Error message:
Premature end of script headers: gm.cgi

Shouldn't be getting that right?

Nick

[andreasfriedrich]

Shouldn't be getting that right?

Not unless your script looks like this:

#!/usr/bin/perl 
print "Content-type: text/html\r\n\r\n"; 
print "Error message:  
Premature end of script headers: gm.cgi";

For some reason the script did not produce the necessary HTTP header.

Check for:
- file permissions,
- correct path to script interpreter,
- syntax error in the script.

Andreas