session.gc_maxlifetime in PHP.ini

[keat63]

Can this setting be configured per user account, or is this server wide ?

Plesk V11+ apparently has the ability to change on a domain basis, can WHM do this ?

 

[kodeslogic]

If you customize the session.gc_maxlifetime value, but do not customize the session.save_path value, the script does not use the session.gc_maxlifetime variable value.


So try a custom php.ini file with below two lines in a specific cPanel account might do a trick.

session.gc_maxlifetime = {your value}
session.save_path = "/home/{USER}/tmp"

Reference:

The clean_user_php_sessions Script | cPanel & WHM Documentation

This script purges expired PHP sessions from a secure temporary directory.

docs.cpanel.net

 

[keat63]

I'm also a member of an OS Commerce forum, where it was determined (about a year ago), that session.gc_maxlifetime was causing customers baskets to empty.
As I run my own server, I could change this setting globally, so easily fixed for me.
However, the question has arisen again, and I thought it prudent that I check if this could be done as per user account etc.
Could a Cpanel user change this setting himself, without the need to involve his host.

 

[kodeslogic]

Yes, cPanel user may change it himself in custom php.ini under his account by modifying session.gc_maxlifetime and session.save_path as mentioned earlier.

Modifying just session.gc_maxlifetime alone might not work, both directive needs to be updated. Give a try, as I have not tried this myself I'm just following the documentation.

 

[keat63]

It states on the link that you sent, that root access is required.
A standard website owner won't have root access.

 

[kodeslogic]

With custom php.ini at user-level it might work without root-level permission, You will have to check it with one of your cPanel account.

 

[cPanelLauren]

As far as I am aware as long as the value is lower than the global it will be preferred. So if the .ini file in the user dir says 720 and the global .ini for the PHP version they're using is set to 1440 it will prefer 720

It's also modifiable in cPanel>>Software>>MultiPHP INI editor for cPanel users.