Cache the datastore in the filesystem

Ok, the purpose of this hack is to move the huge parts of the datastore,that are called each time you access a page, into a file unserialized and passed through var_export in order to save the time used to load the data from the database and to unserialize it. If you're using a PHP optimizer, like eAccelerator for example, this may save even more time I think. The result is, that huge arrays, like the forumcache are now loaded simply by executing

PHP Code:

require_once(DATASTORE_FILE_DIR.'datastore_cache.php'); 


in your init.php.

Additionally this saves 4 calls to the function unserialize, which is broken in PHP 5.0.3 and 4.3.10, so this should be a good work around until PHP 5.0.4 and/or PHP 4.3.11 has been released.

It tries to finish, what has been started in the code and AFAICS you can even find the beginnings of that in the init.php of vB3.0.6,although I'm still running vB 3.0.3, so I can't tell, that this works without problems in newer versions.

Some Notes:

• I recommend to place rebuild_dscache.php into a protected directory and to alter the first chdir(...); in the script, so that no one can abuse this, by flooding your forum with calls to that script.
• Additionally you should remove the backup-files named datastore_cache_TIMESTAMP.php in your includes dir (or wherever the datastore-cache is stored) from time to from to save disc-space.
• Use this at your own risk and make sure to backup first before installing this hack.
• This hack is not designed for a multi-webserver setup. So unless the data on the filesystem is being updated on the fly its not recommended to install this.

Changelog:
0.8.1 Alpha:

• removed a relic of an old hack from dscache.txt
• Added config_dscache.php
• backups can be turned off now
• you can change the directory, where the datastore_cache.php is stored now
• Fixed a bug, that may cause unserialize-errors in the CP out of the blue
• rebuild_dscache.php is verbosive now

0.8.2 Alpha:

• Added CVS-Ids to some files
• Added a note to rebuild_dscache.php
• Added a note about PHP < 4.2.0 to dscache.txt

0.8.3 Alpha:

• Removed some relics of the old backup functionality
• some changes to make it possible to run it at the commandline (see below)
• Allow to specify a key in the config-file, so this script will only run if you specify the correct key (-k KEY on the commandline or ?key=KEY in the URL)
• You can make the script silent by adding -s respectively ?silent=1

1.0 (Final):

• No changes at all. All files are the same as in Version 0.8.3 Alpha.

[bogene2020]

Stadler,
Look at this https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=100486

Ok I was trying to figure out how many forums/sub forums I can have before I start running into performance problems. from what I have come to understand after I get to about 1500 Forums I will start to experience problems because of all the stuff that loads . Will it be safe to say that a hack like this datastore hack will help improve performance when one has so many forums . Thanks

[Stadler]

Originally Posted by bogene2020

Stadler,
Look at this https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthread.php?t=100486

Ok I was trying to figure out how many forums/sub forums I can have before I start running into performance problems. from what I have come to understand after I get to about 1500 Forums I will start to experience problems because of all the stuff that loads . Will it be safe to say that a hack like this datastore hack will help improve performance when one has so many forums . Thanks

If your webserver and your database are on the same server, that hack would slow down your forum because of the time needed to load, parse and compile the script in that file. Maybe it is faster in combination with a PHP-Accelerator, like eAccelerator (which is recommended on such a big forum as yours), but that should be marginally. In short: The hack is mostly useless, if webserver and database are on the same server.

If your webserver and your database are on different servers, this hack would reduce your network-traffic between both machines, thus speeding up your forum (in most cases).

However: I can't guarantee anything, because there are so many different setups. You have to see for yourself, if this hack helps you or not. Or you could possibly try vB 3.5, where this feature is built in and much more improved, than this hack (For example you can choose to store the data directly in the memory).

Regards,
Christian Stadler