You have to turn on includes In your php.ini file, The best way to test this is to put a test page in with these php code,
<?php
phpinfo();
?>
Phpinfo.php it call it whatever you like. Once you turn this on the look for the line "allow_url_fopen = 0"; you need a 1 to turn in On. Make the change in the php.ini file in the /etc folder (for some reason it On instead of 0 or 1) check to see that it works. If it does you then should change make the change permanent by changing the template – I am not sure how familiar you are with SME, but it uses a template system that overwrites the main config file when it reboots, so changing the php.ini file will work until you reboot.
The files are in /etc/e-smith/templates/etc/php.ini
copy them into /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/etc/php.ini (you may have to create the file with mkdir –p /etc/e-smith/templates-custom/etc/php.ini )
find the line in the file you need (here the php.ini file is broken out into several files, you’ll only need to change 65FopenWrappers, so if you want to just copy it, you’ll be fine.
Once there you want to run /sbin/e-smith/expand-template /etc/php.ini
This will expand the template in your php.ini file and the change will be permanent. There used to be a section in the handbook called Customizing the system / custom template modification. I can’t seem to find it in the latest documentation, if you find an older copy with this description, you can use it – I have used it on 6.01 to modify this exact file and it still works. Hunt around on line for some documentation on the process and read through till your ready to give it a try.