exec() and maximum execution time

How to set maximum execition time of exec()

[wieza]

Hi. Is it possible to set maximim execution time of exec($shellCommand) funcntion? Sometimes execution of my $shellCommand lasts too long and e.g. after 1min i would like to stop execution and do next lines of my php file.

[eelixduppy]

Maybe

set_time_limit(int seconds);?

eelix

[IanKelley]

After you run the shell application run a loop to test it's return status and elapsed time. If it doesn't return what you're looking for in X seconds, kill the process.

To be considerate of server resources do a short sleep at the beginning of every loop.

Also look at passthru()