X-Cart system installs/runs on

Minimal system requirements

Below requirements are given for latest X-Cart v4.2.1. For older versions please refer to the README file in the distribution package.

1. PHP

Web server must support PHP 4.1.0 or better. PHP 5 is also supported.
Make sure the configuration file php.ini meets the following requirements:

• safe_mode must be disabled
• file_uploads must be enabled
• allow_url_fopen must be enabled
• magic_quotes_sybase must be disabled
• sql.safe_mode must be disabled
• PCRE extension must be enabled
• ini_set function must not be disabled
• memory_limit >= 16M

2. MySQL

The web server must have support for MySQL databases. X-Cart is compatible with MySQL versions from 3.23 to 5.x.

You will need to have access to a MySQL database, so make sure you have the following information: your MySQL server name, your database name, your username and password for MySQL access.

3. Hosting space

A fresh installation of X-Cart 4.2.1 uses 30 megabytes of disk space at least. In addition to that, some disk space will be needed for X-Cart's cache data, image files (if you choose to store them on the file system) and files that might be added in connection with X-Cart customizations. The database space used by X-Cart depends on the number of products, customers and orders stored in it. Accordingly, database space requirements may vary from as little as 5 megabyte for small shops to over 500 megabytes for large stores.

Advanced requirements and recommended settings

Certain parts of X-Cart's functionality rely on using external files. Accordingly, your web server must be allowed to run external executable files (like Perl) and to make outgoing connections to the Internet (that is required for online payments). Loopback connections must be allowed by server firewall (required for HTML catalog feature).

The following components may be required:

• An HTTPS module (like Net::SSLeay perl module, CURL executable, OpenSSL executable or libCURL PHP extension) for some of the online credit card processing modules and for shipping modules.
• xml/Expat extension for PHP for Intershipper, UPS or USPS shipping modules.
• GDLib 2.0 or higher for X-Magnifier addon, for automatic generation of product thumbnails from product images, for the 'Image Verification' module and for cache generation in the 'Detailed Product Images' module. GDLib must be compiled with libjpeg and libpng (ensure that PHP is configured with the options --with-jpeg-dir=<DIR_libjpeg> and --with-png-dir=<DIR_libpng>, where <DIR_libjpeg> is the directory where libjpeg is installed, <DIR_libpng> is the directory where libpng is installed).
• PHP function "mail()" for sending emails from your store (email notifications, news messages, etc).
• External mail program, such as qmail or postfix (available on Unix systems only) instead of PHP function "mail()".
• SMTP server for sending emails from your store using SMTP Authentication instead of PHP function "mail()".

Make sure the functions "exec", "popen", "pclose" and "ini_set" are not included in the disabled functions list in php.ini:

• PHP function "exec()" must be allowed for the correct functioning of most of the CC payment processing modules used with X-Cart (CyberCash, CyberPac (LaCaixa), PayFlow Pro, PayBox, CyberSource, PaySystems Client, VaultX), HTTPS modules (Net::SSLeay, CURL, OpenSSL, https_cli), GnuPG/PGP, X-Carts Patch/Upgrade functionality.
• PHP functions "popen()" & "pclose()" must be allowed for the correct functioning of some HTTPS modules (CURL, Net::SSLeay), payment modules(Saferpay, CyberSource, iDeb), shipping modules (DHL/Airborne, Canada Post, UPS Online Tools, Intershipper, AntiFraud module.
• PHP function "ini_set()" is used for the session mechanism and enhances security.

Restrictions and dependences:

• 'HSBC Secure E-Payment Service' payment gateway works with Windows and Linux operating systems only.

An SSL certificate is highly recommended to ensure security of online transactions at your store. You can obtain a certificate using our "Security products" section.