Among the many things you can set in php, you can also set session expire time. This is done using the session_cache_expire and session_save_path functions.
Setting the cookie_lifetime
Having the correct cookie_lifetime setting in PHP can make all the difference. It’s a time-sensitive function that tells the client browser when to delete the session cookie. It’s a good idea to set a relatively high value.
A session is a cookie-type entity that contains user information. It’s used to identify remote users. In some cases, the sessions are stored in a database. If the session data is not stored in the database, it is stored on the server. When the user leaves the site, the session is destroyed.
A cookie is a small token that is issued by the server to the browser. It is an identifier that is carried by every request to the website. This token is typically associated with the domain name of the website. The server leaves the token on the user’s machine.
A cookie’s lifetime is a number of seconds. The number is relative to the server’s time. If the session is active for a long time, the session file will be left on the server, which can be a problem. For sites with a small number of visitors, this can be an issue.
The session timeout can be configured in many ways. One option is to have the server automatically destroy the data when the session expires. This can be useful for security reasons. Another option is to explicitly close the session. The first option is the easiest and most obvious.
It’s possible to use the session_start() and session_destroy() functions to initiate and terminate a session. The session_start() function checks to see if the client has a session already, and the session_destroy() function removes the server-side session data. The session_start() function also creates a new session for the user.
The session_get_cookie_params function returns the most important cookie parameters. The gc_maxlifetime directive specifies the maximum lifespan of the session file. The ini_set function is another way to set the session. The ini_set method is not as cryptic as the gc_maxlifetime. It uses the same mechanism as the gc_maxlifetime directive.
It’s important to note that there are some operating systems that do not run a garbage collection process, and you may not be able to make the most of the session.
Setting the session_cache_expire() function
Using session handling in PHP makes it easier to access data from one page to the next. Various types of sites use sessions to keep track of user information. The key is to maintain the data in a persistent form. For this purpose, the session module offers several methods.
The session-handling functions allow for storing user data and performing tasks such as logging users out. In addition, the session module doesn’t define undefined variables. By default, the session module uses a shared memory allocation. When the page is loaded, the last access time is checked against the session’s stored value. If the value is greater than the specified number of seconds, the session will be destroyed. If the value is less than the elapsed time, then the session will not be destroyed.
The simplest way to handle session expiration is by implementing a garbage collection mechanism. This allows for a session to expire without requiring the client to manually logout. The expiration is computed from the last time the session was modified. If the value is not modified, the session is reverted to the global expiry policy.
For instance, the GC may be started sporadically while the session is in use. The page can also set a gc_maxlifetime in an INI file. If the value is set, it should be read in minutes instead of seconds. The maxlifetime is not the right thing to do; it will destroy all sessions, regardless of activity.
The session-handling functions in PHP are the best way to store user information and perform tasks such as logging users out. To avoid wasting session resources, a cron job can check for expired sessions.
The simplest and most efficient way to perform the session-handling functions is by implementing a garbage collection mechanism. The cache expire is reset to a default value of 180 at request startup. This value can be increased in a number of ways.
Lastly, the session-handling functions in PHP have several other useful functions. The session_cache_expire function, for example, is a useful tool when the session cache is enabled. The session-handling functions in PHP also enable users to set their own cookie’s lifetime.
Setting the session.gc_divisor and session.gc_probability to a different directory
Generally speaking, PHP uses a probability-based garbage collection, but if your application does not support this method, you can set the session.gc_divisor and session.gc_probability to a different directory. This allows you to test your garbage collection and make sure it is working correctly.
When a user requests a page, the PHP garbage collector is invoked. The garbage collection handler deletes old sessions that have been deemed unusable. This is done based on the time a file was last modified. Using the gc_maxlifetime directive, you can specify a number of seconds after which a session is considered to be unusable.
If you have a lot of traffic, your GC will run frequently. But this can create unnecessary delays. If your site is in a low-traffic stage, you might not have to run your GC so often. However, this also means that your session files might remain on the server for a long period of time. It is not recommended to force PHP to run too often. You might want to consider using a Memcached session. This can help your site to be more responsive and reduce its memory usage.
Alternatively, you can configure an alternative session garbage collector to run every 30 minutes. This can discourage DoS attacks. This can be useful if your application uses a database table as its session storage. It can also be used on single server configurations. Since PHP 5.3.3, it has been supported on Windows.
If your application is on a Unix system, you can use /dev/urandom. This is a resource available on many Unix systems. You can also use Redis for session storage. You can set the gc_maxlifetime to translate to Redis TTL. You can also configure NativeSessionStorage with an array of gc_values.
Finally, you can use safe_mode_allowed_env_vars to allow you to configure protected environment variables. This is not affected by whether Safe Mode is on or off. But if you are using Safe Mode, you should not use the gc_probability and gc_divisor directives. You should also ensure that your web server process runs under the same user as your web application.
Setting the session.save_path to a different directory
Depending on the server configuration and PHP FPM pool settings, you may need to set the session.save_path to a different directory in PHP. This is necessary for garbage collection purposes. The PHP session save path can be set or retrieved using the session_save_path() function.
The default PHP garbage collector is used to remove stale sessions. This is important if you are running scripts that will last for more than the GC’s maximum lifetime. However, if you are running a script that is not going to last more than the session’s maximum lifetime, then you should not delete the stale session files. This will cause unnecessary delays and can affect performance. Alternatively, you can use an alternative session garbage collector. You will need to disable the default session garbage collector to use this. You can configure the alternative collector as a cron job or as a plugin. This will allow you to disable the default SGC, but still allow you to collect and store data in your session.
If you are running on a server with Apache, you will need to have a separate directory for your sessions. This is because the HTTP stateless protocol cannot remember every user. By creating a directory in a different location, you will avoid issues with accessing your files. You can create a special directory in Plesk or through SSH. You can also modify the server’s PHP FPM settings to configure the session.save_path to your preferred location.
If you are running your website on a single server setup, you can use Memcached for session storage. You can also configure your sessions to be stored in Redis, but you will need to translate your session.gc_maxlifetime into a Redis TTL. The default session garbage collector is not portable across PHP versions, so you can run an alternative session GC in Debian and Ubuntu. This will enable you to run the same PHP session on your Debian and Ubuntu servers.
If you are running a Cloudways server, you can also configure the session.save_path and other PHP settings. The Cloudways Platform provides you with a powerful tool to customize your PHP and FPM settings. You can also adjust the maximum time your session files are modified to help maximize performance.
