PHP FastCGI SAPI: Reloading PHP Configuration

I am using PHP FastCGI SAPI on my web hosting environment to run PHP applications. To spawn FCGI processes I use spawn-fcgi helper program. My problem is whenever I make a change to php.ini file, I have to kill and respawn each FastCGI server for the new configuration to take effect.

Is there a way to reload PHP configuration(ie. php.ini directives) without respawning each FastCGI server? I try sending hangup signal (ie. kill -HUP PHPCGIPID) to the servers but this will result in termination of the servers.

From serverfault Emre

• As far as I know, PHP's FastCGI interpreter doesn't react to signals like HUP, USR1 or USR2 to reload its configuration.

  Maybe PHP-FPM could help you to achieve what you want. On the downside, it requires patching PHP.

  From joschi

• If the servers are spawned automatically, kill them. If they’re manually started, restart them. PHP doesn’t have the ability to reload its own configuration — and generally, killing/restarting is not a problem. Is there a reason why you can’t kill them in this instance?

  From Mo