Determine Operating System

[Tarh]

Hi,

I'm trying to determine the operating system that my script is running on (for portability concerns). phpinfo() shows the correct information under Environment > OS. The php documentation suggests that this information can be found in $_ENV['OS']. However, var_dump() displays this as NULL. var_dump($_SERVER['OS']) also returns NULL. In fact, var_dump($_ENV) is NULL as well.

How can I determine the operating system that my script is running on?

Thanks!

[Mittineague]

Try

<?php
echo php_uname('s');/* Operating system name */
echo "<br />";
echo php_uname('n');/* Host name */
echo "<br />";
echo php_uname('r');/* Release name */
echo "<br />";
echo php_uname('v');/* Version information */
echo "<br />";
echo php_uname('m');/* Machine type */
echo "<br />";
echo PHP_OS;/* constant will contain the operating system PHP was built on */
?>

[Tarh]

Thanks, it works great!

[logic_earth]

Umm did you try print PHP_OS;
http://www.php.net/php_uname

[Tarh]

The page you linked says that PHP_OS refers to the operating system that PHP was built on. I need the OS it is running on. For that, it appears that php_uname('s') is correct.

[logic_earth]

No that is wrong PHP_OS = The OS PHP is running on. I don't know why to documentation says that when it isn't. In either case it will match the OS PHP is running on and built on.

[Mittineague]

On my shared server both php_uname('s') and PHP_OS give Linux
But on my localhost php_uname('s') gives Windows 9x (yes, I still have Windows 98 ) and PHP_OS gives WIN32

[logic_earth]

Perhapes a better name for it should have been PHP_PLATFORM as it mainly returns that.

Pre NT windows will return WIN32 and Windows NT (2000, XP, Vista) will return WINNT.

Easy enough to know the OS that PHP is running on from it.

[MadMike]

On my shared server both php_uname('s') and PHP_OS give Linux
But on my localhost php_uname('s') gives Windows 9x (yes, I still have Windows 98 ) and PHP_OS gives WIN32

Windows 98.. jeezz lol.

[stereofrog]

No that is wrong PHP_OS = The OS PHP is running on. I don't know why to documentation says that when it isn't. In either case it will match the OS PHP is running on and built on.

You are correct about that windows version is detected at run time, however on other platforms PHP_OS is a compile time constant and can be different from run-time uname(). Just because you've never seen cross-compiled php doesn't mean there is no such thing.

[logic_earth]

But as I see it Windows is really the only OS that you have to look at for as it has the most differences like path separators and uses .dll for extensions instead of .so.

So far mostly everything I see works in everything or everything but windows so never needed anything else but PHP_OS.

Mmmm well its understandable.

[stereofrog]

Sure it is, on the other side, I don't think the lack of personal experience with cross-platform issues is a valid reason to make highly debatable statements like the one I quoted.