Hi. Im getting crazy trying to solve a problem with zenphoto.

Many core.xxx files are auto-generated into the zp-core directory. The admin server says me that they come cause the script is broken.... do you know something about it?

The version I have is the last one.

The site si alejiga.com, so you can check everything looks works fine.

I am sorry, I don't understand what you are talking about. Could you be more specific what your issue is? There are no files named "core.xxx" part of the Zenphoto release package at all.

When the script crashes a core.xxx file is generated. xxx means a random number. They goes to the zp-core directory. The problem is that the script is crashing continiously. I installed the previous version to the last one, I thought upgrading problem would go away, painfully still remains.

First, Zenphoto NEVER makes files in the zp-core folder. So if these files are there something else is creating them. If they are indeed caused by script crashes the there must be entries of the crash in the CGI log. You will have to find these entries and report what the failure is.

I´ll ask again to the hosting admin. But, what is sure is the files are created automatically cause script crashes. I'll try to find more info in order to find out where the problem comes and solve it.

Well, as i guessed, is related with the c.php file. Using Chrome browser it says c.php doesn't exist, but I can say IT EXISTs, and also captcha images are not showed. The admin server is telling me: "There are several errors referring to the c.php file:
[Mon Feb 14 14:02:57 2011] [error] [client 90.165.50.240] Premature end of script headers: c.php". "That error message is repeated again and again for several images". So, I think is something about captcha...

c.php does indeed create the captcha. However, we still would need to know the error message that is created, so you will have to find it.

The CGI does not say anything else. However seems the core file has some relevant information about the crash. I zip one of them and put into the same server. The URL is http://alejiga.com/core.13179.zip Googling people say must be opened with a debugger. No idea about debugging. What I can confirm is everytime a image captcha should be showed in forms of the site a core.xxx file is generated.

Sorry, no idea how to make use of this file. Certainly not a normal script error. Also, so far as I know no one else has had this problem. Maybe a corrupt file, so you could try reloading the files.

c.php is really a pretty simple script. It takes the text of a captcha and, using the GD library, makes an image from it. So also maybe there is a problem with your GD library. I would assume such a crash file is due to a fault in server code--either apache or PHP.

The core file is useless to us without the symbols to go with it, but what I can tell you is that it looks like a PHP core dump. This is probably a misconfiguration of some sort on the server-end, perhaps even with regards to how `php` was compiled. You should get in touch with your host and keep pestering them until you can talk to someone who knows what they're talking about.

You might also be able to get some info if you use `gdb` to look at the core dump. You will need SSH access to do so. You can use `gdb <(which php) core.13179` and `gdb` should load the symbols and give you the contents of the dump.

Solved.

Thanks.

You going to share the solution for the next poor soul that encounters it?

Yes, I'll share it.

I found the solution at 2 a.m. and being bit tired of it, so I just let you know I got it.

It seems, not sure, is cause the server, the ZenPhoto script or both together. The fact is I had enabled the imageshack library to generate the images for captcha. Imageshack is working properly as I'm using in other account of my reseller hosted account (so no way to say is not workin, then I can confirm works nice). However, something happens when mix the library with this script and the Imageshack option in the admin panel is enabled. Surely this option works fine in other servers. Not in mine. Therefore I disabled it in order to use the GD library, and now works great.

So, for painfull souls as me getting crazy cause odds core.xxx files autogenerated by the hosting are eating the host space, just disable the imageshack option in the Admin Panel of the ZenPhoto (by the way, nice software). I think even is a good solution for people who don't see the Captcha image works as expected (in case it is enabled, of course).

I recommend to developers specify in the Admin Panel the use of imageshack or GD Library. I mean, a combo option or a help note where people see clearly what they are using or selecting. Solution was as easy as click a box.

You mean of course "Imagick" (Imageshack is something else..;-).

The note what graphics libary you are currently using is already there. Right on the left on the admin overview page (and also as a footer comment in the source code of your site).

That's right. I meant Imagick... sorry.

I just see the note. Thanks for your help.