Php Safe Mode On or Off?

[seachen]

any expert here can recommend me to switch on or switch of Php Safe Mode?
what is the different between on or off?

thank you.

 

[smtalk]

"on" is better for security, because it doesn't let some exploits to work. If you run PHP as CGI - there is no need to set it on.

 

[tarquel]

If you run PHP as CGI - there is no need to set it on.

Can i pick your brain on this one...

- Will running PHP as CGI have any negative effect?
- Are there any things to be careful of with running PHP as CGI?
- Will php running as cgi still work exactly the same as normal? i.e. wont affect dynamic sites such as forums,blogs, cms's etc.
- Can you point me to how to change php to run as cgi?

I ask as I generally have safe mode "on" on all domains as default, but someone is asking me about vBlogetin and that it wont work on Safe Mode [without some fiddling of things I havent yet learnt or understood lol] so if i could elliminate the need for using Safe Mode, then all the better I guess

Cheers
Nath.