PHP Header

[iadmirevb]

i have already posted this post on the programming forum but i believe it fits better on this forum. Sorry. I can't delete or move it...
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Hello,
I've read all about including a php file but i'm having issues. More precisely, speed issues.

I've utilized the plugin system and hook at global_start to include a php file in my header like this:

ob_start();
include('http://www.mysite.com/header/header.php');
$fanclubheader = ob_get_contents();
ob_end_clean();

And I'm calling this code in the header template using the following:

$fanclubheader


<!-- content table -->
$spacer_open

$_phpinclude_output
$ad_location[ad_header_end]

For testing purposes, i've made the header.php very simple. I'm planning to add a menu with links and some stuff:

PHP Code:

<?php
<img src="http://www.mysite.com/header/images/bg.jpg" alt="Header" />
?>

For some reason, it takes between 10 to 15 seconds for my forum to load. When i disable the plugin, it takes 1-3 seconds (normal time).

Sometimes (not all the time), i'm getting this in the header:

Warning: include(http://www.mysite.com/header/header.php) [function.include]: failed to open stream: Connection timed out in [path]/global.php(400) : eval()'d code on line 2

Warning: include() [function.include]: Failed opening 'http://www.mysite.com/header/header.php' for inclusion (include_path='.:/usr/lib/php:/usr/local/lib/php') in [path]/global.php(400) : eval()'d code on line 2

Any idea what the problem could be? I can't figure out this one.

Thanks in advance for all your help
Marco