WordPress is not executable code, it cannot “core dump”. It’s an interpreted script, a core dump would indicate a problem with the interpreter, not the script.
Now, PHP could core dump, but if it does so, then I’d say there’s a deeper server issue at work. PHP is fairly solid.
Complain to your host. If they say it’s your script, then they are clueless and you need to find a new host.
That sucks. I’ve been through this with them. Here is what they told me:
“We found the problem. Please upgrade your “Word Press” to the latest release.
And please disable any plugins if you have any plugins enabled to check that
they are not the cause of the problem.”
I was on the latest wordpress when I presented this problem to them, 2.4, and the plugins are not the issue. I don’t have this problem with any other blogging software but wordpress.
And do you have this problem after you disable plugins?
Yes. Plus, it’s happened on more than one install, and the only plugins they had in common were Spam Karma, and Subscribe me.
Anything interesting in the apache error logs?
A few broken php issues, but I fixed them days ago. I’ve also tried my best to validate the theme php, and everything looks OK. Could a problem with CSS cause a core dump? I’m not sure where they come from.
I am, of course, underqualified.
I’ve never seen it happen, but that sure doesn’t mean much….
To make sure I understand: If you change theme to default, the coredumps stop? If so, then you’re right in that we definitely need to be looking harder at that theme.
I can say this: I have two sites running WordPress. One uses the modified Classic theme, the other Wuhan. The Wuhan generates a dump, maybe, once a week, the Classic gives me 200+ per day. Like 30 or 40 every three hours. I can try to run a default theme and see if it stops, but I haven’t tried it for very long due to the disruption it would impose on the site. I can totaly try it though if you think it would help.
Thank you for helping me by the way. I have to go back to work soon, but I’ll chack back in a couple of hours.
Hmmph. Frankly, I’m rather stumped.
Does one site get a lot more traffic than the other?
Both are on the same server?
Apache or IIS?
*nix or Windows?
What version of PHP?
— I’m looking for things to search with 😉
I know it’s a pain, but it would be interesting to try setting the blog that’s Modified Classic to Default for a few hours…
I’ll give it a try till around 5 CST and let you know.
Answers to a few of your questions.
Does one site get a lot more traffic than the other?
Yes, the classic site gets more, but not in the amounts proportional to the dumps.
Both are on the same server?
Yes.
Apache or IIS?
Apache 1.3.34 (Unix)
*nix or Windows?
Lunix
What version of PHP?
4.1.1
Thank you so much.
Hrmm, the PHP version might be the issue. I notice the Requirements page says 4.2 or higher.
I’m not enough of a php wonk to know what changed from 4.1.x to 4.2x+ to know if that’s actually the problem or not, but is an upgrade of PHP an option for ya?
I didn’t even think of that. My server is run by a company, and I’m not convinced that they will be receptive to updating their PHP just for me. Do you think an older version of wordpress would comply?
I’d try asking. 🙂
If you can find 1.5.3 in SVN, that’s got some patches on it (equivalent to 2.0.1 or 2.0.2, forget which), but you’d still be missing a chunk of the security fixes that led up to 2.0.4. I’d hate to advocate that direction just from a security perspective.
PHP 4.1.1 is getting rather long in the tooth… surely they’d consider it? Or installing php5 cgi or something?
