Topic: Apache 2.2.2 and PHP 5.1.4 Installation Issues and Questions

[Aznsilvrboy]

Hi, I'm just starting to learn (or trying to) learn PHP and MySQL. I've bought a "PHP and MySQL for Dummies" book to help me. The first thing i need to do is setup Apache, then MySQL and finally PHP. Software versions are as the title suggests, MySQL version is 5.0. Operation System is Windows XP Pro

Anyways I have a question about the following:

I'm trying to configure Apache for PHP and according to the book I'm to insert 3 lines into the httpd.conf file for Apache:

ScripAlias /php/ "c:php/"
Action application/x-httpd-php/php/php/php-cgi.exe
AddType applicaion/x-httpd-php .php

I'm able to find the places to insert all but 1 line (bolded). I can't find the place in the httpd.conf to insert Action application/x-httpd-php/php/php/php-cgi.exe

Another question is, where should the php.ini file be? I currently have it in C:\Windows\

What should I do? I read from php.net that there is an alternative to configuring Apache for PHP:

------------------------------------------------------

Installing as an Apache module

You need to insert these two lines to your Apache httpd.conf configuration file to set up the PHP module for Apache 2.0:

Example 6-6. PHP and Apache 2.0 as Module

# For PHP 5 do something like this:
LoadModule php5_module "c:/php/php5apache2.dll"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

# configure the path to php.ini
PHPIniDir "C:/php"

-------------------------------------------------------

I know how to do the first #, but have no idea about configuring the path to php.ini (bolded). What can I do? Thanks.

[pnllan]

First, you realize that you either setup PHP to run as CGI or as a module...you cannot do both.

CGI is setup using these directives:

ScripAlias /php/ "c:php/"
Action application/x-httpd-php/php/php/php-cgi.exe
AddType applicaion/x-httpd-php .php

As a module using these directives:

LoadModule php5_module "c:/php/php5apache2.dll"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

The ACTIONS directive can be added to the block that you inserted the AddType directive.

Most people favor running PHP as a module. Many of us here leave the PHP.INI file in the PHP folder. Then we use the Apache directive PHPIniDir to indicate to Apache where the INI file is. Then add the folder that contains PHP to the Path (Control Panel, System properties | Advanced tab | Environment Variables button | System variables combo box | scroll to PATH | Edit button). For example: Add ;C:\php to the end of the PATH statement.

How's that?
..
.

[Aznsilvrboy]

[pnllan]

Maybe I should have bolded Path rather than all cappaing it. Whichever, you found it. If you have PHP in C:\PHP, then just add it to the end of the Path statement:

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\AGL;C:\Program Files\MySQL\MySQL Server 5.0\bin;C:\php

To Setup as a module, just add the 'module lines' after the long series of LoadModule directives:

...
LoadModule status_module modules/mod_status.so
LoadModule userdir_module modules/mod_userdir.so
LoadModule ssl_module modules/mod_ssl.so

#This is for PHP to run as a module
LoadModule php5_module "c:/php/php5apache2.dll"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
PHPIniDir "C:/php"

If you use a module, save yourself some time and download the php5apache2.dll from the Download page. Follow the instructions in the ZIP file.

[Aznsilvrboy]

[pnllan]

Visual C++ 2005 Redistributable Package is used since Steffen compiles with Visual C++ 2005. It is small, free, and ensures future compatibility. I highly recommend it.