On Tue, 9 Jun 2015 at 22:00 helices <mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > I execute a system call via proc_open() that usually completes in less than > one minute > > Sometimes, it hangs for many hours > > I want to exit this parent script after thirty (30) minutes with the error > description on STDERR and I also want that system call process killed at > this point > > Although, a test script using ticks and pcntl_alarm(1800) works using a > while() loop, this does NOT work with my production system call > > What am I missing? > > Please, advise. Thank you > If it's a CLI script, and it sounds like it is, I would fork before calling proc_open in the child, and have the parent watch the PID. It can then terminate the child. I'm not certain that will kill the process that was opened by proc_open, but that would be where I'd start. -Stuart -- Stuart Dallas 3ft9 Ltd http://3ft9.com/