configuration error i supose

Hello!

I tried to run gzip from php script with
exec(gzip /var/www/site/test.php)
system(gzip /var/www/site/test.php)
but it doesn't work

i have tried in many ways also with full paths
exec(/usr/bin/gzip /var/www/site/test.php)

it never returned me anything...no error...nothing
i have even tried

$out = system("ls -la 2>&1");
print($out);

and

$out = system("/usr/bin/ls -la 2>&1");
print($out);

if i tried backtick `
$out = `ls -la`;
then i got error:
Warning: Cannot execute using backquotes in safe mode in /var/www/site/test2.php on line 2


I have checked php.ini if there is some restriction for these functions but nothing....

I am desperate...is there anything wrong on my server..maybe in httpd.conf...I checked it but i am no linux expert so i rather don't tuch things i don't know...

please help!

Thank you

found the solution
in httpd.conf this was on:
php_admin_flag safe_mode ON

now i set it OFF and it is working!

yepee!!!