[rvltr]

are you even sure /etc/named.conf exists on the server youre trying on.. not all servers have or use /etc/named.conf

[deadmans96]

Bybass first PHP disabled functions and it will work with you
shell_exec this is a problem
first upload php.ini and htaccess and symlink
or you can use CGI Perl to excute commands . :)

[th3.g4m3_0v3r]

popen is disable
You can't execute any command :P if you want to get etc/passwd try open base dir

and post here php version or uname -a info

[deadmans96]

The passwd is 0 bytes in the etc folder...

There is no var in the base dir... also, there is no named.conf in /etc/

because of this permission is denied for you
What's the type of server ? Hostgator ? bluegator ? What ?

[th3.g4m3_0v3r]

you even can't do anything with this version PHP/5.3.14 :)) try cgi shell :)

[deadmans96]

We have tool Called Web Root try to get it from here it's fantastic with CGI Awesome chell