Topic: Apache 2.4 in combination with PHP, MySQL and phpMyAdmin

[Peter2]

Sorry for using a third thread in some days!
But I see that there is very much confusion about the combination of Apache with PHP, MySQL and phpMyAdmin.

On the internet I find contradicting information. So it becomes very difficult for me. My knowlegde about these matters is not so great. Almost I would try very old versions from my old computer. In that time Apache could work very well together with PHP and the others. But old programs can give new problems on a new computer with Windows 7. And sometimes old programs suddenly refuse to work still longer after the installation of new Windows updates.

Now I have installed Apache 2.4. And I am glad with it. But it is very difficult for me to find versions of PHP, MySQL and phpMyAdmin which can work together in a good way with Apache 2.4. As I said already on the internet I find contradicting information. Can you help me?
(I have Windows 7, 64 bit).

[DnvrSysEngr]

I am currently running

Apache/2.4.2 (Win32)
(http://www.apachelounge.com/download/win32/bins/httpd-2.4.2-win32.zip)

PHP Version 5.4.5-Dev
(http://windows.php.net/downloads/snaps)

phpMyAdmin 4.0.0-Dev
(http://www.phpmyadmin.net/home_page/downloads.php)

MySQL 5.6.5-m8 - MySQL Community Server (GPL)
(http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/#downloads) - Development Releases

Instead of loading the PHP module, I run

Mod_fcgid/2.3.7
(http://www.apachelounge.com/download/win32/mods-24/mod_fcgid-2.3.7-win32.zip)

Hope this helps. Let me know if you need any config files as well.

[Peter2]

Thank you for your answer, DnvrSysEngr.
Because of problems with my health I could not write back immediately.
Unfortunately your answer gives me more questions and problems than before.
1. You are using a 32-bit version of Apache. And I am using a 64-bit version of Apache. So I do not know if your choices for PHP, MySQL en phpMyAdmin are the best choices for me.
2. For PHP you are using a Dev-version. But I do not even know what Dev means and why Dev would be the best choice for me. (I see that you are also using a Dev-version for pypMyAdmin).
3. What means m8 in MySQL 5.6.5-m8 ?
4. For MySQL you are using a Development Release.
But I like to use a stable version.
5. You are using a module instead of the PHP module. But I am not even sure what is the PHP module. Is that the file php.ini? I like to use php.ini to configure PHP.

[Steffen]

Just use the latest versions, at the moment: Mysql 5.5.24 (64 bit) , php 5.4.3 (32 bit) and phpmyadmin 3.5.1 .

See also http://www.apachelounge.com/viewtopic.php?t=4481

Steffen

[Peter2]

Thank you Steffen! Yes, I like to use the official versions. Only people with much knowledge and experience can play with newer experimental versions.

What is TS and NTS in the link you gave me?

Nice that you are also from The Netherlands! Surprising to meet you here!

[admin]

Thread Safe - TS, used with PHP as module. PHP is loaded in the server.

Non Thread safe - NTS, used with FastCGI (mod_fcgid), PHP is not loaded in the server.

There are advantages to running PHP with FastCGI. Separating the PHP code from the web server removes 'bloat' from the main server, and improves the performance of non-PHP requests. Secondly, having one permanent PHP process as opposed to one per apache process means that shared resources like persistent MySQL connections are used more efficiently. And maybe even more important is stability, Apache does not crash caused by php (extension) errors.

Steffen

[Peter2]

All these things are very difficult for me. I do not even know what CGI is and from where I can fetch it. But I shall study about these things. Without self study my questions would be almost endless. But I shall restrict myself.

Nevertheless I have one question now:
When I have FastCGI in use, can I configure then the PHP-file php.ini in the same way as I always did (also with the old versions of Apache en PHP, working under Windows XP)?

Yes, I knew already that you were admin on this forum. A very honourable job!

[Peter2]

Maybe you find my question above a somewhat strange question. But I understand nothing of it!
Is the file php.ini the same as the php5_module, or are those totally different?

Please do not see me as a stupid one. In the year 2006 I could install Apache, PHP, MySQL and phpMyAdmin on my old computer with Windows XP. And then I could make nice programs, even a search engine. But in that time nobody spoke to me about CGI or a PHP module (others than the normal PHP program).

[Steffen]

Some study and searching forums and google may help, your questions are a bit open.

For php I advise you read http://www.php.net/manual/

Also a starting point from Mario is: http://www.apachelounge.com/viewtopic.php?t=2394

Steffen

[Peter2]

Yes, surely I want to study about these things!
But maybe this question from above is not difficult for you:
"Is the file php.ini the same as the php5_module, or are those totally different?"

[Steffen]

Nope,

PHP.ini contains the directives you can set to configure your PHP setup, see http://php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php

With the Apache module php5_module (also called handler) you can run PHP with Apache, see http://php.net/manual/en/install.windows.apache2.php


Steffen

[Peter2]

A light begins to burn already in my mind!
When I installed Apache and PHP in 2006 on my old computer, I wrote in the configuration-file of Apache:
LoadModule php5_module c:/php/php5apache2.dll

So I think the php-module is a dll-file, which is included in the PHP-package. Is that right?

Sometimes some simple remarks help me more than hours of study!
But surely I am willing to study!

[DnvrSysEngr]

Here is what I used when I installed PHP on my Windows Server.

http://www.thesitewizard.com/php/install-php-5-apache-windows.shtml

[Peter2]

I am glad because of the kindness of you all
Now I have much to study. And I am very busy. The past week I lost much time because of phlebitis in my left leg. I had to make a journey to a clinic in an other part of my country.

But is it true that the php-module is a dll-file, which is included in the PHP-package (to refer to in the configuration file of Apache)?

It is important for me that I can connect my knowledge of 2006 to my problem in 2012!
Some things are totally new in 2012. But other things are only a continuation of the situation in 2006. Maybe I had already experience with some things, without to know that. Sometimes only other names are used.

[Peter2]

I studied already some hours. But again the information that I found seems to be contradicting.

At first: In the item of this thread of Sat 26 May '12 11:23 Steffen wrote:

"Just use the latest versions, at the moment: Mysql 5.5.24 (64 bit) , php 5.4.3 (32 bit) and phpmyadmin 3.5.1 ."

But in the item of Sun 27 May '12 19:40 he gave me 2 links. When I follow the second link I arrive at a page where is written:

You should read the manual installation steps first!
When I go to the page of the manual installation I read:

"If PHP is used with Apache 1 or Apache 2 then choose PHP 5.3 VC6 or PHP 5.2 VC6."
But Apache 2.4, which I have in use, also belongs to Apache 2. And nowhere I find PHP 5.3 VC6. And PHP 5.2 VC6 is an old version.

Steffen adviced me Sat 26 May '12 11:23 a newer version of PHP!

Moreover: In the times before I visited Apache Lounge I had already installed PHP 5.2 VC6. But that gave conflicts with a newer version of MySQL!
So I was looking for a solution. And I hoped to find the solution at Apache Lounge!

[admin]

Yep, new versions are coming and coming. To get up to date keep regularly an eye on the author (php, mysql etc.) websites.

[Peter2]

I understand that new versions are coming and coming.
But how can be written on the official PHP site ( http://www.php.net/manual/en/install.windows.manual.php ):
"If PHP is used with Apache 1 or Apache 2 then choose PHP 5.3 VC6 or PHP 5.2 VC6." I think that this is a mistake. When that is true the newest Apache 2.4 version must work together with old PHP-versions, which also give problems with new MySQL-versions.

On the page http://windows.php.net/download/ I read (left side): "VC9 versions of Apache can be fetched at Apache Lounge." I believe this is correct!

Do you agree with me that the mentioned words "If PHP is used with Apache 1 or Apache 2 then choose PHP 5.3 VC6 or PHP 5.2 VC6." are not correct?
I think that these words are only correct when we restrict ourselves to old Apache 2 versions. Do you agree with me?

[Steffen]

You can make a bug report at www.php.net to let make it actual.

Btw.
Apache 2.4 works with "old" php versions, with mod_fcgid or correct php5 module, this together with "old" and "new" MySql versions.

[Peter2]

OK, I reported it to the webmasters of php.net!

Further you write: "Apache 2.4 works with "old" php versions, with mod_fcgid or correct php5 module, this together with "old" and "new" MySql versions."

But believe me: PHP 5.2.17 (we can call this: the newest of the old PHP versions) could not work correctly together with a new MySQL version. I know this, because phpMyAdmin reported this to me!