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Joomla 1.5 PHP fatal error allowed memory size exhausted in libraries/joomla/error/exception.php [SOLUTION]

After a site move (from one webhosting to another) the site reported error 500 internal server error. When checking the logfile the file libraries/joomla/error/exception.php reported that allowed memor size was exhausted. I tried increasing it by adjusting the php.ini settings all the way up to 2 GB without resolving the problem. This is way more than Joomla should need.

The problem was that I had forgot to update the temp and log paths in Global settings to the ones on the new server. The path the site is running under can be found by the menu Help -> System info. Then I adjusted temp path and log path in Global settings and the problem was resolved.

If your site gives you error 500 internal server error, access your Joomla database using for example phpMyAdmin and delete all rows in the jos_session table.

Another solution if the problem is a corrupted database is to repair the database tables using phpMyAdmin.

In configuration.php, also try setting cache_handler=”file” instead of “memcache”.

ASUS EeePC 900 2 GB memory upgrade

The ASUS EeePC 900 is a dear friend of mine and has served me truly for a number of years. It is not my primary work horse, but on trips it is excellent with it’s small size and low weight (even on a 14 day trip I always travel with hand luggage only). It is also a comfort when travelling to know that I am not carrying an expensive piece of equipement. This little fellow has been my travel companion to many different countries – near and far away. So I really don’t want to retire it and recently I decided to "pimp it" a little. When running a couple of applications it quickly consumes the 1 GB of RAM, so a little bit more wouldn’t hurt.

It ships with 1 GB of RAM installed and it is possible to upgrade it to 2 GB. It is actually a question of replacement rather than expansion due to the fact that there are no free memory slots. The upgrade is performed by replacing the 1 GB SODIMM with a 2 GB SODIMM.  

For specifications of the ASUS Eee PC 900, see this wikipedia page.

The memory module needed is a DDR2-400 SODIMM but 533 and 667 MHz will also work. I used a Crucial 2GB DDR2 PC-5300 667 MHz CL5 SODIMM. Note that memory modules are sensitive to static discharge. Preferrably you should at least have a grounding wrist wrap or even better if you have access to an ESD secure work place. In reality most of us will just rely on the kitchen table and being careful not to touch any connectors or metal parts of the memory module. That will also work in most cases 🙂 

  1. Unplug the power cord and remove the battery. 
  2. The memory module is hidden behind a hatch on the bottom of the PC. The hatch is secured with two screws, one hidden behind a EeePC label (possibly acting as a warranty void seal). Remove the two screws and the hatch. 
  3. Remove the preinstalled 1 GB SODIMM by pulling locking plates on the sides a bit apart until they release the module.
  4. Insert the new 2 GB SODIMM and make sure it locks by pushing it gently down until the locking plates clicks into position.

  5. Reinstall the latch and the two screws.
  6. Install battery and connect power cord.
  7. Say your prayers, press the power button and hopefully your EeePC boots up so you can enjoy your brand new 2 GB of RAM!

 

Horde Groupware Webmail alarms.php memory problem

To enable alarms in Horde Groupware Webmail you must add the following to your crontab:

# Horde Alarms
*/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php /var/www/horde/scripts/alarms.php

Depending on your system, the paths above might be different.

You may experience the following error message when the script is run by cron:

Allowed memory size of 8388608 bytes exhausted (tried to allocate 147 bytes)

To resolve this, edit the file /etc/php4/cli/php.ini. Depending on your system it might be located somewere else on your particular system. Change the memory limit to 128 MB by changing the memory_limit parameter:

memory_limit = 128M

The above problem has occured with Horde Groupware Webmail version 1.2.3 but might occur in other versions as well.