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cgi — Using CGI with http - Configuration and usage

CGI

script

- The script needs an interpreter (eg.: #!/bin/ksh).

- the first output line needs to be 'echo "Content-type: text/html"'.

- the second output line needs to be empty 'echo ""'.

- copy required binaries (including interpreter) to /var/www/bin/.

- copy dependencies to the corresponding structures in /var/www.

- binaries and libraries must be owned by www.

example

$ whereis grep
/usr/bin/grep
$ ldd /usr/bin/grep
Start End Type Open Ref GrpRef Name
0000030be12e4000 0000030be12ef000 exe 1 0 0 /usr/bin/grep
0000030e32295000 0000030e322b3000 rlib 0 1 0 /usr/lib/libz.so.6.0
0000030eb72e8000 0000030eb73dd000 rlib 0 1 0 /usr/lib/libc.so.96.1
0000030de67ed000 0000030de67ed000 ld.so 0 1 0 /usr/libexec/ld.so
$ doas install -o www /usr/lib/libz.so.6.0 /var/www/usr/lib/
$ doas install -o www /usr/libexec/ld.so /var/www/usr/libexec/

httpd.conf

The location with the cgi scripts needs to have the fastcgi socket defined.

server default {
	...
	location "/$CGI_PATH/*" {
		fastcgi socket "/run/slowcgi.sock"
	}
}

EXAMPLE

curl

This site has the location "/:*" defined and when accessing from curl it will display the ascii version of the files.

location /:* {
	fastcgi { param SCRIPT_FILENAME "$CGI_PATH_FROM_CHROOT/$SCRIPT"}
 }

httpd.conf

server default {
	listen on * port 80
	root "/htdocs/$DIR"
	location "/$CGI_PATH/*" {
		fastcgi socket "/run/slowcgi.sock"
	}
	#curl access
	location "/:*" {
		fastcgi { param SCRIPT_FILENAME "$CGI_PATH_FROM_CHROOT/$SCRIPT"}
	}
}

TESTING

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chroot /var/www to test the script and ensure all dependencies are available and have the correct permissions.

SERVICES

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Test:
doas slowcgi -dnvvv

Enable and start

doas rcctl enable slowcgi
doas rcctl restart slowcgi

Restart httpd.

UPGRADE

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When upgrading the system all binaries and dependencies need to be updated.

HISTORY

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2026-07-12	: Translated to Spanish.
	Added upgrade information.
2025-10-03	: Created.

AUTHORS

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