There are several options for downloading PECL extensions, such as:
If you get "pear.php.net is using a unsupported protocal" [sic!] do:
cd /usr/local/lib/php
rm -r .channels
pear update-channels
When using "pecl install package", you might run into a memory limit problem. Solution is to use "pear install pecl/$extensionname" since it uses php.ini's memory limit.
See also:
- http://pear.php.net/bugs/bug.php?id=15107
- http://aspn.activestate.com/ASPN/Mail/Message/pear-dev/3168978