Configuring Apache and PHP for Windows

By Sergey Skudaev

Here you will learn about Apache installation and configuration, PHP installation and configuration, MySQL installation, how to Configure Apache Server for PHP, how to edit httpd.conf file, how to edit php.ini file.

Download Apache web server for Windows from www.apache.org

Download PHP for Windows from www.php.net

Download MySQL for Windows from www.mysql.com

All software are free and we take it for granted, but some one did hard work to develop it.

When you will install Apache Web Server, by default it will be installed in "C:/Program Files" directory. During installation you have to change path to install Apache in "C:\Apache" or in "C:\Apache2" directory.

To install PHP unzip PHP distributable zip file in "C:\php" directory.

Install MySQL in "C;\mysql" directory. During installation change default directory "C:\Program Files" to "C:\mysql".

Configure Apache httpd.conf file, which is located in conf directory.
On my PC it is "C:\Apache2\conf\httpd.conf"

For Apache 2.x version and PHP 4.x.x version add this text in httpd.conf file:

LoadModule php4_module c:/php/php4apache2.dll

ScriptAlias /php/ "c:/php/"

AddType application/x-httpd-php .html .phtml

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php4

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

DirectoryIndex index.html index.html.var index.php

Copy php4apache2.dll in C:\php directory. Copy php4apache2.dll and php4ts.dll in Windows/system directory or in WINT/system32 directory.

Edit php.ini.dist file in C:\php directory

Find the text:

; Directory in which the loadable extensions (modules) reside.
extension_dir = "./"

and set it to your extension directory. On my PC it is:

extension_dir = "C:\php\extensions"

Find:

;upload_tmp_dir =

and type directory to which your user will be permitted to upload files. On my PC it is:

upload_tmp_dir = "c:\Apache2\htdocs\catalog\upload"

Rename php.ini.dist file to php.ini and copy it to Windows\system or WINT\system32 directory

For Apache2 and PHP5 add to httpd.conf file the following lines:

LoadModule php5_module c:/php/php5apache2.dll
ScriptAlias /php/ "c:/php/"
AddType application/x-httpd-php .html .phtml
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php5
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
DirectoryIndex index.html index.html.var index.php

Copy php5apache2.dll in C:\php directory. Copy php5apache2.dll and php5ts.dll and libmysql.dll in Windows/system directory or WINT/system32 directory.

If you use Apache 2.2 you may have error:

httpd.exe: Syntak error on line 118 of C:/Apache2/conf/httpd.conf:
Cannot load C://php/php5apache2.dll into server: The specified module could not be found.

In this case you have change load module linein httpd.conf:

LoadModule php5_module c:/php/php5apache2_2.dll
It is enough for me. I have professional Windows XP SP2. If it is not enough for you then download additional dll:php5apache2_2.dll_ from link below

See additional informtion in http://forum.vingrad.ru/topic-100737.html

Edit php.ini.dist file in C:\php directory

Find the line:

; Directory in which the loadable extensions (modules) reside.
extension_dir = "./"

and set it to your extension directory. On my PC it is:

extension_dir = "C:\php\ext"

Find the line:

;upload_tmp_dir =

Type directory to which your user will be permitted to upload files.

On my PC it is:

upload_tmp_dir = "c:\Apache2\htdocs\catalog\upload"

Uncomment

# php.MySQL.dll

If you want to use short open php tag like "<?" instead of "<?php" Set "short_open_tag" to On.

short_open_tag = On

By default it is set to Off in PHP.INI file. It is recommended, however, to user "<?php" tag just in case if hosting server does not support short open tag.

Make sure that following extentions are uncommented in PHP.INI file

extension=php_curl.dll
extension=php_gd2.dll
extension=php_gettext.dll
extension=php_imap.dll
extension=php_mbstring.dll
extension=php_mcrypt.dll
extension=php_mysql.dll
extension=php_mysqli.dll
extension=php_pdo.dll
extension=php_pdo_mysql.dll
extension=php_pdo_sqlite.dll
extension=php_xmlrpc.dll
extension=php_zip.dll

Rename php.ini.dist file to php.ini and copy it to Windows\system or WINT\system32 directory

For testing configuration regardless of PHP version create a test directory in C:\Apache2\htdocs directory.

Open notepad and type a php script:

<?php

phpinfo();

?>

Save file as phpInfo.php in the test directory.

Start Apache web server from Windows start up menu.

Open you Internet Explorer and type in the following URL address:

http:/localhost/

If Apache installed and configured correctly, Apache home page displays.

To test php installation and configuration, type the following URL address in Internet Explorer:

http:/localhost/test/phpinfo.php

Click Go button. If installation is correct, you will see a long text with information about your Windows, Apache, and PHP setup.

Each time after you modify PHP.INI file, you have to restart Apache so that the changes take affect.

PHP links:

If you sign for hosting through one of 4 links on my site I placed below I will send you PHP authentication templates for free. See details user Authentication Demo

Hosting companies I use and recomend!

1. Fatcow.com I use it for www.configure-all.com, www.hardstuffez.com and www.healthstairs.com
40% off at FatCow!

2. www.bluehost.com
Host Unlimited Domains - 1 Account $6.95 Per Month

3. www.hostmonster.com
HostMonster - Perl, CGI, SSH, Free Domain

Affiliate Disclosure: I may get comission, when you purchase products or services through links on my website.

Did you find information useful?
Send to your friend a link to this page

If you like this page click +1 button.

Please rate the tutorial

How to Build Your Own Web Site from Scratch [Kindle Edition] $2.99

Earn Money on Internet as an Affiliate [Kindle Edition] $0.99

Comments


dele 29-11-2010

Register to add comments ( 1000 char ) for apachephpmysql.php.

Computer Programming Web programming Tips

Configuring Apache and PHP for Windows