The possible reason for the core files getting generated is when a php process is killed, apache creates core files under your account . On phpSuexec servers this may cause due to incorrect php.ini file placed in your account and if it is caused due to php/apache then you can get rid off those core files by editing the httpd startup file on the server end . root@server [~]# vi /etc/init.d/httpd Code (markup): Search for ulimit lines .For eg : you can see these lines ulimit -n 1024 ulimit -n 4096 ulimit -n 8192 ulimit -n 16384 Code (markup): You need to add ulimit -c 0 at the end .Which will look like : ulimit -n 1024 ulimit -n 4096 ulimit -n 8192 ulimit -n 16384 ulimit -c 0 Code (markup): Save root@server [~]# :wq Restart root@server [~]# service httpd stop Now your server will never create Core dump files on your Server accounts