[[PageOutline]]

[wiki:howto <- Back to the HOWTO section]

= About PHP = #about

PHP is a popular server-side scripting language frequently used to develop web sites or command line scripts.

For information on integrating Apache with MySQL and PHP, see [wiki:howto/MAMP MAMP].

= Versions = #versions

MacPorts includes several versions of PHP. You can install any or all of these versions simultaneously, though it is expected that you will only need to install one of them.

* '''php81''': PHP v8.1.x. This is the latest stable version. Security support until 25 Nov 2024.
* '''php80''': PHP v8.0.x. This is an older stable version. Security support until 26 Nov 2023.
* '''php74''': PHP v7.4.x. This is an older stable version. Active support until 28 Nov 2021. Security support until 28 Nov 2022.
* '''php73''': PHP v7.3.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] on 6 Dec 2021.
* '''php72''': PHP v7.2.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] on 30 Nov 2020 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php71''': PHP v7.1.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] on 1 Dec 2019 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php70''': PHP v7.0.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] on 10 Jan 2019 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php56''': PHP v5.6.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] on 31 Dec 2018 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php55''': PHP v5.5.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] in 2016 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php54''': PHP v5.4.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] in 2015 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php53''': PHP v5.3.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] in 2014 and is therefore not recommended.
* '''php52''': PHP v5.2.x. This version reached [https://www.php.net/eol.php end of life] in 2011 and is therefore not recommended.


This page shows how to install and use the php81 family of ports, but you can use another version if you prefer; all of these ports use a similar directory layout.

= Step 1: Install PHP SAPIs = #install

PHP comes in several Server APIs (SAPIs). You can install any or all of these that you need:

||=SAPI                    =||=Port                =||=Install command                         =||
|| Command line             || php81                || `sudo port install php81`                ||
|| Apache 2 module          || php81-apache2handler || `sudo port install php81-apache2handler` ||
|| FastCGI                  || php81-cgi            || `sudo port install php81-cgi`            ||
|| FastCGI Process Manager  || php81-fpm            || `sudo port install php81-fpm`            ||


= Step 2: Install PHP Modules = #modules

The SAPI ports contain the core PHP features, but there are many optional features available in separate ports, some of which you may want to install as well. Use `port search php81` to see all the ports that are available.

Installing a PHP module automatically makes it available to all PHP SAPIs of the same PHP version.

For example, if you with to interact with a database server, here are some of the choices that exist:

||=Database server         =||=Port                =||=Install command                         =||
|| MSSQL                    || php81-mssql          || `sudo port install php81-mssql`          ||
|| MySQL, MariaDB, Percona  || php81-mysql          || `sudo port install php81-mysql`          ||
|| ODBC                     || php81-odbc           || `sudo port install php81-odbc`           ||
|| Oracle                   || php81-oracle         || `sudo port install php81-oracle`         ||
|| PostgreSQL               || php81-postgresql     || `sudo port install php81-postgresql`     ||
|| SQLite                   || php81-sqlite         || `sudo port install php81-sqlite`         ||


= Step 3: PHP Configuration file setup = #configuration

Set up your PHP configuration files. For development purposes use:
{{{
$ cd /opt/local/etc/php81
$ sudo cp php.ini-development php.ini
}}}
or for a production server:
{{{
$ cd /opt/local/etc/php81
$ sudo cp php.ini-production php.ini
}}}
then make changes to that newly created php.ini file - ''/opt/local/etc/php81/php.ini''

= Step 4: Install phpMyAdmin  = #phpmyadmin

Use MacPorts to install the latest version of `phpMyAdmin`.

{{{
$ sudo port install phpmyadmin
}}}

'''phpMyAdmin''' must be configured before it can be used. We do this in Step 5 below.

= Step 5: Visit [[howto/MAMP]] for integration information =
 [[howto/MAMP]] must be consulted next for modifications to the Apache Configuration file to enable PHP and MySQL.

= Trouble shoot =
If by some reason the server still doesn't interpret PHP files (i.e. your web client tries to download them) it means the PHP configurations, as described at [[howto/MAMP#job1]], are not taking effect.
Typically,  the file ''"Include etc/apache2/extra/mod_php81.conf"'' - is not being processed; the file is missing; or the contents incorrect. That file contains the two "AddType" lines below.

==  Verify your config file again! ==
Verify any changes you have made to the config file: /opt/local/etc/apache2/httpd.conf - The most common problem is that the files in the "extra" directory are not "readable"
All files in that directory should be "-rw-r--r--"

{{{
$ /opt/local/sbin/apachectl -t
}}}
This will return either "Syntax OK" or a specific line by line error listing.
 The typical error message:  ''"Could not open configuration file /opt/local/etc/apache2/extra/httpd-mod_php81.conf: Permission denied"''
After correcting any config errors and saving the updated config file, simply run:
{{{
$ sudo port unload apache2
}}}

to stop apache (even though it is not running) and then start it using

{{{
$ sudo port load apache2
}}}

to start it again.

If the above fails to cause php files to be interpreted, you can edit the Apache httpd.conf file itself again and search for the block:
{{{
<IfModule mime_module>
}}}

And then add the following two lines before the end of that block.

{{{
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
}}}

Then restart the server.

As a last check, reboot and verify that everything has autostarted and is running (i.e., repeat the above tests).

= Step 6: Configure phpMyAdmin =

As the final step let's configure and test `phpMyAdmin`  to access MySQL.

First create the config.inc.php file:
{{{
$ cd /opt/local/www/phpmyadmin/
$ sudo cp config.sample.inc.php config.inc.php
}}}

Assuming that you have /Users/username/Sites as DocumentRoot for Apache, copy and paste `phpMyAdmin` in it :
{{{
$ sudo cp -R /opt/local/www/phpmyadmin/ /Users/username/Sites/phpmyadmin
}}}


To check your phpMyAdmin installation, point your browser to http://localhost/phpmyadmin and verify that phpMyAdmin loads and you see it's login page.
Try to login as root with the MySQL password for root.\\
There is a fair chance you can't login and will see two pink colored squares with cryptic error codes in it. The reason for it is that mySQL uses strong encryption,\\
that phpMyAdmin can't handle. So let's change the encryption for the user root in mySQL to a lower level:

{{{
$ mysql -u root -p
mysql> ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'here your password for root';
mysql> exit
}}}

Now accessing databases in MySQL with phpMyAdmin should work. So installing a CMS like Drupal or WordPress should be a piece of cake.
First step is to create a new user in mysql and his database. Download for example WordPress and copy it's files in your DocumentRoot.
When installing it, you will see that macOS prevents WordPress from creating a config file in the DocumentRoot. Create that file manually and copy the contents provided by WordPress in it.
Within a minute your Wordpress website is up and running. **Excellent job done !! ** \\

 
If you want to consult the phpMyAdmin manual, we should copy it into your DocumenRoot :
{{{
$ cp -R /opt/local/www/phpmyadmin/doc/html /Users/username/Sites/phpmyadmin-doc
}}}

Just open localhost/phpmyadmin-doc in your browser et voilà! There it is.

There is no need to edit the config.inc.php file, so feel free to skip the following:\\

However if you are curious, check the following: locate the line:
{{{
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['auth_type']   = 'cookie';    // Authentication method (config, http or cookie based)? - default is Cookie.
}}}
It will be right at the beginning in the section labeled: "/* Authentication type */"

Change the value from 'cookie' to 'config'.

You will need to add the following two lines immediately after it.
{{{
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['user']        = 'root';      // MySQL user
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['password']    = '';          // MySQL password (only needed with auth_type = 'config')
}}}

Where ' ' is an empty password; fill it with your MySQL root password. \\
'''NOTE:''' You should change the 'auth_type' from 'config' to 'cookie' or 'httpd' so that you do not need to  provide the password you selected for the MySQL root user in the 'password' option.
(I.e. leaving it in plain text in this config file.) \\
However, as this is to simply get you "up-and-running," details for configuring those two authorization options are not given here.
Details on "Using Authentication Modes" can be found at "''https://docs.phpmyadmin.net/en/latest/setup.html#using-authentication-modes''."

= Step 6: Install pmadb = #pmadb
Some consider the installation of pmadb "optional." \\
However, phpMyAdmin will flag the fact that it is missing and therefore certain features are not functional, with the message:
{{{
The phpMyAdmin configuration storage is not completely configured, some extended features have been deactivated. Find out why. 
      Or alternately go to 'Operations' tab of any database to set it up there.
}}}

For additional features provided by pmadb (http://wiki.phpmyadmin.net/pma/pmadb), first run 
{{{
$ mysql -u root -p < /opt/local/www/phpmyadmin/sql/create_tables.sql
}}}

Next: create a file: ''mysql_phpMyAdmin_pmaSetup.sql'' - containing the following SQL code:   (change the 'pmapass' to your password)
- this is a one-time use scratch file so you can place it anywhere and delete it after use. (It is not included with the phpMyAdmin distribution.)

'''Note:''' In MySQL versions beginning with 5.6.7, there is no mysql.host table, so you will need to edit the SQL code below: (i) in lines 9 and 17 delete "Host," from the the GRANT SELECT commands; and (ii) delete the line 16 command "GRANT SELECT ON mysql.host TO 'pma'@'localhost';".

{{{
-- HOW TO USE THIS FILE (with MacPorts installation)
-- mysql -u root -p < /opt/local/www/phpmyadmin/examples/create_tables.sql
-- mysql -u root -p < mysql_phpMyAdmin_pmaSetup.sql

CREATE USER 'pma'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'pmapass';

GRANT USAGE ON mysql.* TO 'pma'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'pmapass';
GRANT SELECT (
    Host, User, Select_priv, Insert_priv, Update_priv, Delete_priv,
    Create_priv, Drop_priv, Reload_priv, Shutdown_priv, Process_priv,
    File_priv, Grant_priv, References_priv, Index_priv, Alter_priv,
    Show_db_priv, Super_priv, Create_tmp_table_priv, Lock_tables_priv,
    Execute_priv, Repl_slave_priv, Repl_client_priv
    ) ON mysql.user TO 'pma'@'localhost';
GRANT SELECT ON mysql.db TO 'pma'@'localhost';
GRANT SELECT ON mysql.host TO 'pma'@'localhost';
GRANT SELECT (Host, Db, User, Table_name, Table_priv, Column_priv)
    ON mysql.tables_priv TO 'pma'@'localhost';

-- Privileges
GRANT SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, UPDATE ON `phpmyadmin`.* TO 'pma'@localhost;
}}}

Then run this SQL to setup the pma 'controluser'

Finally, verify that the config file, at ''/opt/local/www/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php'', is like this:\\
'''Note:''' The database name is ''pma underscore underscore'' -- two underscores!
{{{
/* User used to manipulate with storage */
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlhost'] = '';                                                                                             
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlport'] = '';    
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controluser'] = 'pma';
$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass'] = 'pmapass';
/* Storage database and tables */
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['pmadb'] = 'phpmyadmin';                                                                                         
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['bookmarktable'] = 'pma__bookmark';                                                                              
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['relation'] = 'pma__relation';                                                                                   
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_info'] = 'pma__table_info';                                                                               
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_coords'] = 'pma__table_coords';                                                                           
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['pdf_pages'] = 'pma__pdf_pages';                                                                                 
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['column_info'] = 'pma__column_info';                                                                             
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['history'] = 'pma__history';                                                                                     
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['table_uiprefs'] = 'pma__table_uiprefs';                                                                         
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['tracking'] = 'pma__tracking';                                                                                   
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['userconfig'] = 'pma__userconfig';                                                                               
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['recent'] = 'pma__recent';                                                                                       
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['favorite'] = 'pma__favorite';                                                                                   
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['users'] = 'pma__users';                                                                                         
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['usergroups'] = 'pma__usergroups';                                                                               
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['navigationhiding'] = 'pma__navigationhiding';                                                                   
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['savedsearches'] = 'pma__savedsearches';                                                                         
// $cfg['Servers'][$i]['central_columns'] = 'pma__central_columns';       
}}}