Search

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Install PHP-FPM on Centos 8

Welcome to our comprehensive guide on installing PHP-FPM on CentOS 8! If you're looking to enhance the performance and functionality of your CentOS 8 server, PHP-FPM is an essential server-side scripting language. In this step-by-step installation tutorial, we'll walk you through the process of setting up PHP-FPM on your CentOS 8 server. By following our easy instructions, you'll be able to configure PHP-FPM and leverage its power to run various web applications.

Whether you're new to PHP-FPM or an experienced user, this installation guide will provide you with all the necessary instructions to get started. From the initial system update to configuring Apache with PHP-FPM, we'll cover everything you need to know. So, let's dive in and get your CentOS 8 server ready for PHP-FPM!

Prerequisites for Installing PHP-FPM on CentOS 8

Before you can begin the installation process for PHP-FPM on CentOS 8, it is important to ensure that you have a fully functional LAMP stack set up on your server. The LAMP stack consists of Linux (the operating system), Apache (the web server), MySQL (the database management system), and PHP (the server-side scripting language). Make sure that Apache, MySQL, and PHP are all installed and configured correctly.

If you haven't set up a LAMP stack on your CentOS 8 server yet, don't worry. You can easily find comprehensive guides online that will walk you through the step-by-step process. Once your LAMP stack is up and running, you can proceed with the installation of PHP-FPM.

To summarize, the prerequisites for installing PHP-FPM on CentOS 8 are:

  1. A functioning LAMP stack with Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP already installed and configured
  2. Knowledge of how to set up a LAMP stack on CentOS 8 (if you haven't done so already)

By ensuring that these prerequisites are met, you will be well-prepared to install PHP-FPM and enjoy its benefits for your web applications.

Updating the System and Installing Required Packages

Before you can proceed with the installation of PHP-FPM on CentOS 8, it is important to update your system and ensure that you have the necessary packages installed. This step is crucial to ensure that you have the latest security patches and updates for your operating system.

To update your CentOS 8 system, open your terminal and run the following command:

sudo yum update

This command will update all the packages and dependencies on your system to the latest available versions. You may be prompted to confirm the update, so make sure to enter 'y' when prompted.

Once the update is complete, you need to install the required packages for PHP-FPM installation. One of the packages you need is 'wget', which is a command line utility that allows you to download files from the internet.

To install 'wget' on your CentOS 8 system, run the following command:

sudo yum install wget -y

This command will install 'wget' without any prompts. Once the installation is finished, you are now ready to proceed to the next steps of the PHP-FPM installation process.

Installing mod_fcgid and PHP-FPM on CentOS 8

Now that your system is updated and the necessary packages are installed, you can proceed with the installation of mod_fcgid and PHP-FPM on your CentOS 8 server. Follow these steps to set up both components:

  1. Open a terminal window and run the following command to install mod_fcgid and PHP-FPM:
  2. Once the installation is complete, verify the configuration of Apache by running the following command:
  3. If there are no errors, restart the Apache web server to apply the changes:

By following these steps, you have successfully installed mod_fcgid and PHP-FPM on your CentOS 8 server. These components are essential for running PHP applications and improving the performance of your server. Now, you can proceed to the next section to configure Apache with PHP-FPM.

Why use mod_fcgid and PHP-FPM?

mod_fcgid is a high-performance alternative to mod_cgi or mod_cgid modules in Apache. It allows the execution of FastCGI applications, such as PHP, in a separate process for improved performance and resource management. PHP-FPM, on the other hand, is a FastCGI Process Manager for PHP. It provides advanced features, including process pooling and dynamic process management, which enhance the scalability and efficiency of PHP applications.

By installing mod_fcgid and PHP-FPM, you can take advantage of their combined benefits to optimize the execution of PHP scripts on your CentOS 8 server. This will result in faster processing times, reduced resource consumption, and improved overall performance of your web applications.

Configuring Apache with PHP-FPM

Once you have installed PHP-FPM on your CentOS 8 server, the next step is to configure Apache to use PHP-FPM. This will allow Apache to pass all requests for PHP files to the PHP-FPM handler, ensuring that PHP scripts are executed properly.

To configure Apache with PHP-FPM, you will need to modify two configuration files: the PHP-FPM configuration file (/etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf) and the Apache configuration file (/etc/httpd/conf.modules.d/10-fcgid.conf).

In the PHP-FPM configuration file, you can adjust settings such as the number of child processes, the user and group that PHP-FPM runs as, and the listening address and port. Make sure to save the changes after modifying the file.

In the Apache configuration file, you will need to add a few lines of code to enable the FastCGI module and specify the location of the PHP-FPM socket file. This will ensure that Apache communicates with PHP-FPM correctly.

Modifying the PHP-FPM Configuration File

Open the PHP-FPM configuration file (/etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf) using a text editor such as nano or vi:

sudo nano /etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf

Scroll down to find the following lines:

;listen = /run/php-fpm/www.sock
;listen.owner = nobody
;listen.group = nobody
;listen.mode = 0660

Remove the semicolons (;) from the beginning of these lines to uncomment them. Then, modify the values according to your configuration. For example:

listen = /var/run/php-fpm/php-fpm.sock
listen.owner = apache
listen.group = apache
listen.mode = 0660

Save the changes and exit the text editor.

Modifying the Apache Configuration File

Open the Apache configuration file (/etc/httpd/conf.modules.d/10-fcgid.conf) using a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.modules.d/10-fcgid.conf

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

SetHandler "proxy:unix:/var/run/php-fpm/php-fpm.sock|fcgi://localhost/"
ProxyPassMatch ^/(.+\\.php(/.*)?)$ unix:/var/run/php-fpm/php-fpm.sock|fcgi://localhost/var/www/html/$1

Save the changes and exit the text editor.

After configuring Apache with PHP-FPM, you can check for any syntax errors in the configuration files by running the following command:

sudo httpd -t

If there are no errors, you can restart the Apache service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

With Apache now properly configured to use PHP-FPM, you can start serving PHP-based web applications on your CentOS 8 server.

Testing PHP Functionality

Once you have successfully configured Apache with PHP-FPM on your CentOS 8 server, it is essential to test the PHP functionality to ensure that everything is set up correctly. Verifying PHP installation on CentOS 8 is a crucial step in the process.

To test PHP functionality, you can create a PHP info file. Start by running the command sudo touch /var/www/html/example.com/public_html/info.php to create a new file. Then, add the PHP info code <?php phpinfo(); ?> to the file.

After creating the info file, you can access it through a web browser by navigating to www.example.com/info.php. This will display a comprehensive overview of your PHP installation, including information about PHP modules, configuration options, and server settings. If the page loads successfully and you can see the PHP info, it means that your PHP installation is working correctly.

Summary:

  1. After configuring Apache with PHP-FPM, it is important to test the PHP functionality.
  2. Create a PHP info file by running the command sudo touch /var/www/html/example.com/public_html/info.php and add the code <?php phpinfo(); ?> to the file.
  3. Access the info file through a web browser by navigating to www.example.com/info.php.
  4. If the page loads successfully and displays the PHP info, your PHP installation is working correctly.

Configuring PHP Pools

Once you have successfully installed PHP-FPM on your CentOS 8 server and configured Apache with PHP-FPM, it's time to set up PHP pools. PHP-FPM allows you to create and manage pools, which are used to run PHP processes for different websites or applications. By configuring PHP pools, you can optimize performance and resource allocation for each specific pool.

Creating a PHP Pool Configuration File

To create a PHP pool configuration file for your domain, you need to make a copy of the original pool file. This can be done by running the command sudo cp /etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf /etc/php-fpm.d/mydomain.conf. Replace "mydomain" with the name of your domain.

Next, you can edit the newly created pool file to set the necessary parameters. Some important settings to consider include the pool name, user and group ownership, listen address and port, and the maximum number of child processes. Make sure to customize these settings according to your specific requirements.

Restarting PHP-FPM and Updating Virtual Host

After configuring the PHP pool, you need to restart the PHP-FPM service to apply the changes. You can do this by running the command sudo systemctl restart php-fpm. Once the service is restarted, it's time to update the virtual host file for your domain to use the new PHP-FPM pool.

Note: The location of the virtual host file may vary depending on your server configuration. By default, the Apache virtual host files are located in the /etc/httpd/conf.d/ directory.

Edit the virtual host file for your domain and modify the ProxyPassMatch directive to point to the PHP-FPM pool. The syntax should be similar to ProxyPassMatch ^/(.*\.php(/.*)?)$ fcgi://127.0.0.1:9000/path/to/your/domain. Make sure to replace 127.0.0.1:9000/path/to/your/domain with the correct address and path for your PHP-FPM pool.

Save the changes to the virtual host file, and then restart the Apache web server by running the command sudo systemctl restart httpd. This will ensure that the changes take effect and your domain is now using the newly configured PHP-FPM pool.

Installing PHP 8.x on CentOS

If you're looking to install PHP 8.x on your CentOS system, you've come to the right place. Follow these step-by-step instructions to get PHP 8.x up and running smoothly.

Step 1: Update Your System and Install Repositories

Before installing PHP 8.x, it's crucial to update your system and install the EPEL and Remi repositories. This ensures that you have access to the latest packages and dependencies. Use the following commands:

  1. sudo yum update - This updates your system to the latest available packages.
  2. sudo yum install epel-release - This installs the EPEL repository.
  3. sudo yum install https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-8.rpm - This installs the Remi repository for CentOS 8.

Step 2: Enable Remi Repository and Install PHP

Once the repositories are installed, you can enable the Remi repository for PHP 8.x and install PHP using the yum package manager. Follow these commands:

  1. sudo yum module reset php - This resets the PHP module to ensure a clean installation.
  2. sudo yum module enable php:remi-8.0 - This enables the PHP 8.x module from the Remi repository.
  3. sudo yum install php - This installs PHP 8.x on your CentOS 8 system.

Step 3: Additional PHP Extensions and Web Server Configuration

After installing PHP 8.x, you may need to install additional PHP extensions depending on your application's requirements. You can do this using the yum package manager. For example, the following command installs the PHP PDO extension:

sudo yum install php-pdo

Finally, configure your web server, such as Apache or Nginx, to use PHP 8.x. The exact steps for this depend on your chosen web server, so consult the official documentation for detailed instructions.

Conclusion

Wrapping up, this comprehensive guide has provided you with step-by-step instructions on how to install and configure PHP-FPM on CentOS 8. By following these instructions, you have successfully set up PHP-FPM alongside Apache or Nginx, allowing you to unleash the power of this server-side scripting language for enhanced performance and functionality on your CentOS 8 server.

Throughout the installation process, you have learned how to update your system, install the required packages, configure Apache with PHP-FPM, test PHP functionality, and create and manage PHP pools. These steps ensure that your PHP-FPM installation is optimized and ready to serve your web applications efficiently.

Remember, maintaining the security and performance of your PHP-FPM installation requires regular updates and monitoring. It is important to keep your CentOS 8 system up to date and apply any necessary patches or security fixes to PHP. By doing so, you can ensure that your server remains secure and benefits from the latest features and improvements.

So, now that you have successfully installed PHP-FPM on CentOS 8, you are ready to take advantage of its capabilities and unleash the full potential of your web applications. Enjoy the enhanced performance and functionality that PHP-FPM brings to your CentOS 8 server!

Sys Admin

Sys Admin

I am a Red Hat Certified Engineer (RHCE) and working as an IT Professional since 2012...