This is possible, however for most production installations, it is not practical due to the limitations that result from a web-based installation.

It is important to note that Centova Cast is not "just another PHP script" -- it is a control panel system that is responsible for launching and managing external processes under separate user accounts, and as such requires special installation procedures.  Web-based installation prevents such procedures from taking place, and thus a number of limitations (described below) are associated with web-based installations that would be present with installations via SSH.


Limitations Involved in Web-Based Installations

There are a number of drawbacks to installing Centova Cast without SSH access.  These drawbacks are true of any control panel script that runs without a setuid helper binary installed via the console or SSH.

These drawbacks include:

• If your web server is stopped or restarted, all of your streaming servers will be stopped for a minute or two until Centova Cast's uptime monitor restarts them.  This is likely the most significant problem associated with web-based installation, and is a result of how process forking takes place under Apache/PHP.
• FTP integration is not possible since you will have no access to the FTP server configuration files.
• Streaming servers run under the same account as the web server, which may be a security issue.  Any compromise of the web server's security (or that of any script on your server) will result in your streaming servers being vulnerable to attack.
• Your ShoutCast configuration files will be stored under your web root, which may allow malicious users to view them.  (You should use whatever means are available to you, such as .htaccess restrictions, to prevent the public from accessing the "vhosts" directory, otherwise your passwords will be exposed to the public.)
• You must be able to set permissions on certain Centova Cast files and directories to make them writable by your web server.  This can often be done via FTP, or by contacting your web host for assistance.  Be sure to check that you can do so prior to purchasing Centova Cast.
  

When possible, we strongly recommend installing via SSH to avoid the above
issues.  If you must install Centova Cast without SSH access, please recognize
that the above limitations cannot be avoided and are not bugs.

Also note that safe mode or open_basedir restrictions, or any other limitation which prevents PHP from launching external applications, will prevent you from running Centova Cast at all, even with a web-based installation.  You should check with your web host prior to purchasing Centova Cast to ensure that no such restrictions will be enforced.


Performing a Web-Based Installation

If you have no choice but to perform a web-based installation and are willing to accept the above drawbacks, please contact us before purchasing Centova Cast.  We will provide further information and instructions for installation to help you decide if this is the right choice for you.