Custom php.ini on shared hosting

• Find the default php.ini path. Mine is /usr/local/lib/php.ini

<?php phpinfo() ?>

• Copy the default php.ini to the user's home folder and customise it.

<?php copy("/usr/local/lib/php.ini", "/home/username/php.ini") ?>

• Create a .htaccess file in the user's home folder with the following content.

SetEnv PHPRC /home/username/php.ini
# The following lines are important if the php.ini file is put in the document root.
<Files php.ini>
order allow,deny
deny from all
</Files>

Refs

http://php.net/manual/en/function.copy.php

http://jesin.tk/using-custom-php-ini-files-on-shared-hosting/

https://drupal.org/node/290592