Inconsistent PHP session variables

Inconsistent PHP session variables

Already searched for an answer in PHP Session data not being saved but not
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Sessions work perfectly on a different server and on localhost, but for
some reason are getting lost on a new server install. There is no
unsetting or session destroy. All in php5, session values from phpinfo()
below. Noticing new host has save_path set to /tmp, I have changed the
session_save_path to a folder with the correct permissions where sessions
ARE getting saved; however, when retrieving the variables, I am getting
only null's as a response. Any thoughts anyone?
session (from phpinfo)
Session Support enabled
Registered save handlers files user sqlite
Registered serializer handlers php php_binary wddx
Directive Local Value Master Value
session.auto_start Off Off
session.bug_compat_42 On On
session.bug_compat_warn On On
session.cache_expire 180 180
session.cache_limiter nocache nocache
session.cookie_domain no value no value
session.cookie_httponly Off Off
session.cookie_lifetime 0 0
session.cookie_path / /
session.cookie_secure Off Off
session.entropy_file no value no value
session.entropy_length 0 0
session.gc_divisor 100 100
session.gc_maxlifetime 1440 1440
session.gc_probability 1 1
session.hash_bits_per_character 4 4
session.hash_function 0 0
session.name PHPSESSID PHPSESSID
session.referer_check no value no value
session.save_handler files files
session.save_path /tmp /tmp
session.serialize_handler php php
session.use_cookies On On
session.use_only_cookies Off Off
session.use_trans_sid 0 0