What version of PHP are you currently running? Also, which version of WordPress?
Thread Starter
bobA1
(@boba1)
Hi James,
Thanks for your reply. The versions you requested are:
PHP 5.5
WP 4.4.1
The problem occurs across a multitude of themes.
Evidently, even with the fix I found, the errors are still happening and slowing down the sites – just hidden from view. That’s rather disappointing as the new server is an 8 core machine with 64Gb RAM, and two 2TB drives, so there should be plenty of resources to handle things.
The new server has been hardened to prevent outside attack, however, the previous server was also hardened without these errors, but using an earlier version of PHP.
I’ve tried seven different RSS feed plugins, and only one outdated one, at least 4 years old is working correctly, and another very simple RSS post listing plugin are functional.
Well, the good news is, that’s not the latest PHP. The latest is 7.0.2, though many are the next step down to be safe, 5.6.17, as PHP 7 is a big change (which WordPress 4.4.1 fully supports).
There’s no PHP 6 for … complicated reasons.
What’s the URL of the site with the problem? Is it http://www.epicurus.com/ ?
If so, http://www.epicurus.com/feed seems to be operating just fine, and valid too: http://validator.w3.org/feed/check.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.epicurus.com%2Ffeed
What are you saying about RSS plugins though? WordPress has had RSS support built-in for about 12 years: https://codex.ww.wp.xz.cn/WordPress_Feeds
Thread Starter
bobA1
(@boba1)
Glad to hear about PHP and will chastise my server management company for that.
I have already applied the fix to that site so the feed will show clearly, however without that fix, WP, right out of the box, showed those errors. If I restore the current version of rss.php, the errors happen again. My concern is the next WP build update. One shouldn’t have to apply that solution at all (it’s 4 years old). I should point out that the errors showed across multiple WP installations and domains where an RSS feed is called.
I have an old RSS plugin – RSS Import (an older version). Despite the error messages, it works. However, if I use the current version, it does not work, nor did others like Feedzy, which is current to WP 4.4.1. When used, they did not show images. They did unusual things and even ignored CSS, such as hiding the bullet point.
One shouldn’t have to apply that solution at all (it’s 4 years old).
I agree, but can assure you that in 12 years of doing this across multpile sites, I have never once needed to apply that hack. It’s actually the first time I’ve ever heard about it.
I’d like to suggest a different approach. Go ahead and restore the original /wp-includes/rss.php file from a fresh download: https://ww.wp.xz.cn/download/
Based on what you said, I’m assuming the errors will return.
Now, try deactivating all plugins. If that resolves the issue, reactivate each one individually until you find the cause.
If that does not resolve the issue, try switching to the Twenty Sixteen theme to rule-out a theme-specific issue (theme functions can interfere like plugins).
Another idea which just occurred to me, try switching off strict error reporting in PHP.
/wp-includes/rss.php does indeed include the following line:
list($ns, $el) = split( ':', $element, 2);
And, split has indeed been deprecated since PHP 5.3: http://php.net/manual/en/function.split.php
However, the code it’s under will only trigger if you’re on PHP 4. There’s different code in the file for PHP 5.
So, either a plugin or theme function is still trying to use split, or PHP strict error reporting is highlighting the existence of split in a core file even though it will only be used if you’re running PHP 4.
