zlib compression

[AndrewD]

Appreciate some help on this.

My Links and Files database hack ran into problems on a site using zlib.output_compression=on and php version 4.3.4. He got garbage on the screen, which was presumably compressed material not being uncompressed or vice versa.

The cryptic comment from his local expert was that

In php.ini I changed the line
zlib.output_compression = On
to
zlib.output_compression = Off

Earlier when I was in there I had changed it too on (it was off). In the past I have found better performance from php websites having it on. If the website does zlib compression as well it can cause problems. Most sites check to see if php has it on to avoid the problem, but it seems the link software doesn't.

I seem to be in the minority - I am not taking any precautions, as they say...

How does one write a script that is safe against zlib.output_compression being "on"?

[Dean C]

I believe you also have to enable the module in php.ini

I recently enabled the gd module and had to uncomment a line

[AndrewD]

Originally Posted by Dean C

I believe you also have to enable the module in php.ini

I recently enabled the gd module and had to uncomment a line

No, I don't think that's the point.

The question is how to write code that is safe to this setting? (Indeed, why should one have to bother?)

In the meantime, this is what I've tried, seemingly successfully, but I've no idea if this is adequate, failsafe, etc.

PHP Code:

// Guard against uncontrolled use of zlib library
$zlib = ini_get('zlib.output_compression');
ini_set('zlib.output_compression', 'Off');

headers...
download
            
// Restore setting of zlib library
ini_set('zlib.output_compression', $zlib);