=== modified file 'src/HelperChildConfig.cc'
--- src/HelperChildConfig.cc	2010-02-13 09:16:30 +0000
+++ src/HelperChildConfig.cc	2010-02-20 01:33:07 +0000
@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@
 
 #include <string.h>
 
-HelperChildConfig::HelperChildConfig(const unsigned int m, const unsigned int s, const unsigned int i, const unsigned int cc) :
+HelperChildConfig::HelperChildConfig(const unsigned int m, const unsigned int s, const unsigned int i, const unsigned int cc, const unsigned int im) :
         n_max(m),
         n_startup(s),
         n_idle(i),
         concurrency(cc),
+        immortal(im),
         n_running(0),
         n_active(0)
 {}
@@ -62,6 +63,8 @@
             }
         } else if (strncmp(token, "concurrency=", 12) == 0) {
             concurrency = atoi(token + 12);
+        } else if (strcmp(token, "immortal") == 0) {
+            immortal = 1;
         } else {
             self_destruct();
         }

=== modified file 'src/HelperChildConfig.h'
--- src/HelperChildConfig.h	2010-02-13 09:16:30 +0000
+++ src/HelperChildConfig.h	2010-02-20 01:42:43 +0000
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 class HelperChildConfig
 {
 public:
-    HelperChildConfig(const unsigned int m=0, const unsigned int s=0, const unsigned int i=1, const unsigned int cc=0);
+    HelperChildConfig(const unsigned int m=0, const unsigned int s=0, const unsigned int i=1, const unsigned int cc=0, const unsigned int im=0);
     ~HelperChildConfig();
     HelperChildConfig &operator =(const HelperChildConfig &rhs);
 
@@ -54,6 +54,16 @@
      */
     unsigned int concurrency;
 
+    /**
+     * Whether Squid should die if these helpers are closing too fast.
+     * This permits use of some script languages which have a maximum script run lifetime (ie PHP)
+     *
+     * The danger is that when used on truely broken helpers it will cause Squid to enter an
+     * infinite loop of restarting helpers.
+     * Default: 0 - Squid will shutdown if helpers close at too fast a rate.
+     */
+    unsigned int immortal;
+
     /* derived from active operations */
 public:
 
@@ -72,7 +82,7 @@
 
 /* Legacy parser interface */
 #define parse_HelperChildConfig(c)     (c)->parseConfig()
-#define dump_HelperChildConfig(e,n,c)  storeAppendPrintf((e), "\n%s %d startup=%d idle=%d concurrency=%d\n", (n), (c).n_max, (c).n_startup, (c).n_idle, (c).concurrency)
+#define dump_HelperChildConfig(e,n,c)  storeAppendPrintf((e), "\n%s %d startup=%d idle=%d concurrency=%d%s\n", (n), (c).n_max, (c).n_startup, (c).n_idle, (c).concurrency, ((c).immortal?" immortal":""))
 #define free_HelperChildConfig(dummy)  // NO.
 
 #endif /* _SQUID_SRC_HELPERCHILDCONFIG_H */

=== modified file 'src/helper.cc'
--- src/helper.cc	2009-12-16 03:46:59 +0000
+++ src/helper.cc	2010-02-20 01:38:33 +0000
@@ -715,8 +715,14 @@
         if (hlp->childs.needNew() > 0) {
             debugs(80, 1, "Too few " << hlp->id_name << " processes are running (need " << hlp->childs.needNew() << "/" << hlp->childs.n_max << ")");
 
-            if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30)
-                fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
+            if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30) {
+                if (!hlp->childs.immortal) {
+                    fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
+                } else {
+                    debugs(80,0, "WARNING: The " << hlp->id_name << " helpers are crashing too rapidly. They may be broken!");
+                    debugs(80,0, "WARNING: Immortality override applied.");
+                }
+            }
 
             debugs(80, 1, "Starting new helpers");
             helperOpenServers(hlp);
@@ -775,7 +781,13 @@
             debugs(80, 1, "Too few " << hlp->id_name << " processes are running (need " << hlp->childs.needNew() << "/" << hlp->childs.n_max << ")");
 
             if (hlp->childs.n_active < hlp->childs.n_startup && hlp->last_restart > squid_curtime - 30)
-                fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
+                if (!hlp->childs.immortal) {
+                    fatalf("The %s helpers are crashing too rapidly, need help!\n", hlp->id_name);
+                } else {
+                    debugs(80,0, "WARNING: The " << hlp->id_name << " helpers are crashing too rapidly. They may be broken!");
+                    debugs(80,0, "WARNING: Immortality override applied.");
+                }
+            }
 
             debugs(80, 1, "Starting new helpers");
             helperStatefulOpenServers(hlp);