Refresh Software Documentation » Helios Calendar » Server Requirements
Helios Calendar is written in PHP, uses a MySQL database and will run on any OS that both PHP and MySQL are available for. Helios Calendar is developed and tested with Windows(IIS), Linux(Apache) and Mac(Apache) Operating Systems.
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Minimum Versions
PHP
PHP 4
The PHP Group terminated development of PHP4 on 31 December 2007 Because The PHP Group no longer maintains or supports PHP4 support for Helios Calendar on this platform is no longer available.
Development of Helios Calendar up to version 1.3.1 was done with the goal of maintaining identical functionality for both PHP version 4 and version 5. This practice has ended effective 1 January 2009 and all future releases of Helios Calendar, beginning with version 1.4 will not be tested with PHP4.
PHP 6
Refresh is proactively preparing Helios Calendar for the release of PHP 6. PHP features & functions deprecated in 5.3 have been removed from the Helios as of version 1.5.2.
- Note: This notice applies to the Helios core only and does not include some third party libraries used by Helios Calendar.
Additional Resources
- PHP 4 End of Life Announcement
- PHP 5.3 Deprecated Features - Listed features/functions to be removed in PHP 6.
MySQL
MySQL 4.0
Starting with Version 1.4 Helios Calendar uses specific technologies not supported by MySQL versions previous to 4.1, as a result Helios Calendar will not work with and support is not available for any version of MySQL less than 4.1.x.
MySQL 4.1
Effective 31 December 2010 Refresh will be discontinuing support for Helios Calendar on all versions of MySQL less than 5.0.x
Effective 31 December 2009 Oracle/Sun/MySQL AB discontinued extended support for version 4.1 of the MySQL platform. While Helios Calendar does not currently employ features unavailable in MySQL 4.1, and does successfully run on the platform, because the author is no longer supporting this version long-term support for Helios Calendar on MySQL 4.1 is being phased out. Refresh strongly recommends all Helios Calendar users upgrade their server to MySQL 5.x+ as soon as is reasonably convenient.
Additional Resources
PHP & Hosting Settings/Requirements
Required
- fsockopen & Internet Connection - If fsockopen is disabled, or your server is not connected to the internet (or it's outgoing connection is restricted by a firewall), Helios will not install or upgrade successfully.
- Directory Permissions - Helios Calendar requires write access to a limited number of directories for caching, image upload and OpenID login. Without the ability to write these files Helios Calendar will not function. Contact your web host support or system administrator to confirm PHP write privileges in your environment.
Recommended
- GD Graphics Library - Helios' native CAPTCHA image creation requires support for the GD Graphics Library. If the library is not available you will still have the option to use the reCAPTCHA API for CAPTCHA functionality.
Unnecessary
- register_globals - Helios Calendar has no dependence on register_globals. It may remain in it's default "off" setting.
- short_open_tag = on - Helios Calendar offers full support for the default PHP5 setting of short_open_tag = off.
Sending Email
Helios uses the PHP mail() function to send emails. This requires that either the mail service for the localhost is active or PHP has been configured to use a remote SMTP server. Helios does not naively support authenticated SMTP connections. While this is planned for a future release (through use of PHPMailer) it is not currently available.
Session Save Path Configuration
Some hosts require you to configure your PHP applications to write session data to a temporary directory assigned to your hosting account. This process requires you to:
- Identify your temporary directory path
- Copy & paste the following code into three Helios Calendar files
To make this change to Helios Calendar, insert the following code into Helios' include.php file. Open /events/includes/include.php and insert:
session_save_path("YOUR_HOME_DIRECTORY_PATH/cgi-bin/tmp");
at line 9. Be sure that the existing line 9
session_start();
moves to line 10 and that no code is inserted above the close comment characters on line 8.
Rinse and Repeat
This change will also need to be made in the admin console to file /admin/includes/include.php (Line 9) as well as the setup wizard to file /events/setup/index.php (Line 14) the steps for editing them are the same.
IMPORTANT For older versions of Helios Calendar the line number of the sessions_start(); code may vary.
Finding YOUR_HOME_DIRECTORY_PATH
If you are unsure what your "home directory path" is please contact your hosting support or system administrator and they will be able to assist you.
Confirmed Hosts That Require Session Save Path Configuration
BizLand
FatCow
iPower
StartLogic
Hosting Company Specific Notes & Warnings
Fasthosts Hosting Customers
It has been brought to Refresh's attention that under the Windows hosting service offered by Fasthosts they do not permit users to allow write access to directories for hosted apps. As a result Helios Calendar will not work with Fasthosts Windows hosting service.
Please reference this knowledge base article for more information.
GoDaddy Hosting Customers
Helios Calendar users have experienced anomalies with GoDaddy's PHP & MySQL configuration on their Windows Hosting Packages. GoDaddy hosting customers should use their Linux Hosting Package to host Helios, all reported issues related to GoDaddy hosting have been resolved by switching.
Yahoo Hosting Customers
Yahoo does not support PHP5 and only offers PHP4 for it's hosting customers. As a result Refresh will not be able to provide support for any Yahoo hosting customers and recommends anyone using Yahoo hosting upgrade their hosting service to a professional hosting service provider.
Please read the notice above regarding PHP4 for reasons why.
BizLand, FatCow, iPower and StartLogic Customers
Please see the note above about Session Save Path Configuration
Website Building Services
Helios Calendar is not compatible with most "build a website" services. Because these services only allow users to manipulate simple HTML content within a predefined template framework and not actually upload custom files or site components (specifically: PHP applications of the user's choice) Helios Calendar will not work with these services.
Confirmed Incompatible Services
- Moonfruit
- Squarespace
- Viviti
- Webs (Formerly Freewebs)
