(php 5.3.4 Page 6 of 7)

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Testing PHP 5.3.4 Installation Configuration:

httpd.conf file edits:
If you installed the Apache2.2.x Module option (only available in the thread safe install versions), then these cahnges do not apply to you. We have however included the modifications made by the Module install method in our troubleshooting page.

If you selected Apache CGI, you may want to know what php has changed in your httpd.conf file. If you suspect the PHP installer has not made the correct modifications your apache httpd.conf file or if you have trouble with your installation, you are able follow the included instructions and correctly modify the file your self.

Change 1) With no forward slash at the end, and assuming your Php install path is "C:/PHP", use a text editor (like notepad, not Ms Word), find (search) the note that says "cgi-bin should be changed to whatever your ScriptAliased CGI directory exists" and locate the <Directory> tag directly below which includes a reference to "cgi-bin". It will look like the following when you first install Apache:

<Directory "C:/Program Files/Apache Software Foundation/Apache2.2/cgi-bin">

then replace the directory path with the correct directory path to your php-cgi.exe directory (copy and paste the following over them if you like). This group will then look similar to the following after you have amended the first line:

<Directory "C:/PHP">
    AllowOverride None
    Options None
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
</Directory>

Note: If you have a previously installed PHP as apache's CGI handler, this might already be correctly modified in your .conf file. Also, this entry does not hinder your use of the module type installation in the case you find you may need to switch back and forth between PHP Apache Module and PHP-CGI installation modes (in my experience).

Change 2) Move to the very end of the httpd.conf file. Find the last few entry lines which start and end with reference to being #PHP INSTALLER EDITS. These lines may be missing if you used the Non Thread Safe installer. (This step adds scriptalias, registers the .php extension and locates the Cgi Interpreter for Apache). And in either case, copy, paste and replace (or add) the following 5 lines so that they are the last and final instructions in your httpd.conf file.

#BEGIN PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL
ScriptAlias /PHP/ "C:/PHP/"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
Action application/x-httpd-php "/PHP/php-cgi.exe"
#END PHP INSTALLER EDITS - REMOVE ONLY ON UNINSTALL

Testing your PHP 5.3.4 configuration:
And now, no matter which install method you have chosen, you are ready to test the configuration of your PHP 5.3.4 installation in Apache.

As previously mentioned, the first thing we do is re-start (or start) apache HTTP server so that Apache can now include any new configuration information. Apache should start without error. If you are unsure how to check/test your apache installation, or how to locate your home directory (the document root), please review the appropriate section(s) in our Apache Server 2.2.17 install guide.

Those of you who have the apache icon in the system tray (see Fig. 11) can do this by selecting the apache feather logo icon and asking apache to restart. The green triangle/start button is displayed over the logo when Apache is in its serving state (review our apache guide if you cannot locate the icon but want to).

The Apache System Tray Server Status Icons.
(Fig. 11)

Most of you will encounter no issues here and so move directly into the final testing phase (Jump to troubleshooting if you have encountered a problem).

To test PHP 5.3.4 is installed, it is a good idea to create a simple php script that will load your PHP configuration data into your web browser. This is a simple but very useful script the Website Administrator can use to also confirm the success of his installation. Open a simple text editor (like Notepad) and copy/paste these next three lines into it;

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Save this file in your Apache Document Root Folder (your home directory) as phpinfo.php

Next we simply call the file in our web browser. For example, if your home setup is a local setup, you would simply type one of the following into the location bar and depress the enter key...

http://127.0.0.1/phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

This is the moment of truth that will tell you if you have been successful in your efforts and can now start to code in .php. If your .php script worked, you will be greeted with a bunch of data explaining your PHP 5.3.4 and server setup like so (Fig.12) (and dont forget that if you need to recall this file because it didnt work the first time, you might keep re-calling the cached error version, to avoid this, rename the .php file each time you test it, eg; phpinfo01.php, phpinfo02.php, etc. Use our TroubleShooter page!)...

You can also upload this small file to your www folder at your website to learn the configuration of your hosting site (if php is enabled on that website). After you have uploaded the file to your website, you would view the information by typing www.MySite.com/phpinfo.php into your browser location bar.

We should note that your webhost may have PHP installed but has removed this configuration display feature. Your php.ini would have to state disable_functions = phpinfo to hide the feature. You may be able to save a file in you root directory called php.ini with disable_functions = which may turn it on for you, else, contact the system admin (If there already is an existing php.ini, you would append this data inside that file).

This phpifo information is invaluable as a tool for checking or debugging various information as you load or add other items to your PHP configuration under Apache.

The Website Admin can now easily re-enter the Options Selector page (Fig. 10) at any time to add or remove components via the Installation Change / Repair / Remove menu (You would of course select change). Gain access to the menu by restarting the .msi installation file or by using Add/Remove Programs in Windows Control Panel to change your PHP 5.3.4 items configuration. This phpinfo.php script will confirm a successful option installation by adding a corresponding section to the list using that options name as the new header.

Bookmark this tutorial for future reference.

Things to remember: When seeking to add to your installation, first ask do I need a threadsafe add-on or not? and secondly, will this add-on integrate correctly with my Apache-CGI setup or my Apache PHP Module or not.

That is it!

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You are now ready to start coding your .php files and scripts. And remember to save your files with php script in them as .php, not .html. You would need to add an apache handler if you wanted to save them as .html. All that is left to do now is to fine tune your php.ini to better suit your needs. And this comes as par for the course while you learn to master your PHP. If you need it, troubleshooting is on the next page. Enjoy.