Perl hosting requires specific server configurations to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. Key considerations include:
Core Requirements
- Perl Interpreter Access: Servers must provide a recent, stable Perl interpreter (v5.24+ recommended). Users need SSH/SFTP access or custom builds via cPanel/Plesk.
- CGI or FastCGI Support: Essential for executing Perl scripts. FastCGI significantly improves performance for high-traffic sites compared to standard CGI.
- Module Installation Capability: Hosts should allow installation of Perl modules via CPAN, often requiring shell access. Pre-installed common modules (DBI, DBD::mysql, *) are advantageous.
Server Environment
Mod_perl Support: Critical for Apache-based hosting. Integrating the Perl interpreter directly into Apache drastically reduces script startup overhead, accelerating execution speed.
.htaccess Overrides: Ensure support for setting Perl handler directives (AddHandler cgi-script, Options +ExecCGI) via .htaccess for directory-level control.
Security & Management
- Taint Mode Compatibility: Hosts should not impede running scripts in taint mode (-T), a vital security feature validating external data.
- Cron Job Management: Robust scheduling tools are necessary for automated Perl script execution (e.g., log parsing, reports).
- Log File Accessibility: Provide easy access to error logs (Apache/Nginx logs, custom Perl script STDERR output) for debugging.
Deployment Options
Shared Hosting: Often viable for simple CGI scripts. Verify Perl version, CGI execution paths, and module restrictions. Shared environments may limit performance/control.
VPS/Dedicated Servers: Preferred for complex apps or high loads. Offers full control over Perl versions, modules, server tuning (worker processes, memory allocation), and security hardening.
Cloud Platforms: Offer scalability but require manual configuration of Perl runtime, dependencies, and gateway interfaces.
Key Selection Criteria
- Test CGI execution paths and module installation processes.
- Verify support for your required Perl version via command line.
- Confirm permissions for setting script executability (755).
- Assess the ease of deploying scripts to your designated cgi-bin directory.
