php-4.2.3: description + notes

Note: links below will go outside SGI, and SGI is not in any way responsible for the content of the linked pages.

PHP-4.2.3 has some significant configuration changes from earlier releases (pre-4.1.0).

These are not SGI-specific, but rather are changes made by the PHP team at php.net. Most important of these changes is most likely the change in the treatment of global variables. Please check the PHP web site for more information. Some old PHP scripts may not work without modification.

Note if you are installing the Apache module version of PHP: You should stop any Apache servers you are running on your local system, and upgrade them to SGI Freeware Apache version 1.3.26 if needed.

Please note that this release of PHP DOES NOT WORK with the "official" SGI apache from the IRIX 6.5.x Application CD. If you run the command 

    % versions -b '*_apache'
and the product 'sgi_apache' is returned, you cannot use the Apache module build of PHP. You must either use the CGI executable or remove sgi_apache and install fw_apache, the SGI Freeware build of Apache. Builds of PHP for sgi_apache will only be done (well, most likely only) on a fee-for-service basis. After all, if you want it to be supported like sgi_apache, it isn't really free as in "free beer" any more.

Also, for Apache installs, you will need to run the following command after the installation (as root): 

    # (cd /usr/freeware/apache/etc/ ; mv httpd.conf.N httpd.conf)
This will update your Apache configuration file, by adding "index.php" to your list of DirectoryIndex pages, and by adding the control structures to load and enable PHP. See the Apache documentation for further information, as well as the section below relating to Apache.

What is PHP?

PHP is a server-side, cross-platform, HTML embedded scripting language. If you are completely new to PHP and want to get some idea of how it works, have a look at the Introductory Tutorial. Once you get beyond that have a look at the example archive sites and some of the other resources available in the Links section.

This distribution: 4.2.1

This distribution includes support for the Netscape server API, but not in the default manner PHP uses. Instead, redirection of PHP requests are handled by a separate shared object (the same way as was done for PHP 3.0.16). Upgrades from PHP 3.0.16's NSAPI module will result in the NSAPI version of PHP being used; you will have to hand-select the NSAPI version if you are running the SGI freeware release of PHP. If you are planning to use the NSAPI version of PHP, please be sure to follow the directions at the bottom of these release notes!

New and improved distribution: functionality modules

Since I had a bit more time to build this release, I have built PHP using loadable shared objects. This allows functionality such as IMAP support, GD support, etc. to be put into shared libraries which are not strictly required by PHP. Thus, someone who wants a bare-bones PHP can use this distribution, as can someone who wants more bells and whistles.

The available functionality modules are:

Users should note that MySQL functionality is automatically built into PHP.

If you have other requests, please let me know.

N.B. It is not possible to build in database support for non-freeware databases, e.g., Oracle.

Installing the Apache module or NSAPI module

  1. When the Software Manager window opens, click on the "Customize Installation" button.
  2. After the distribution and the initialization history are read, there will be a checkbox in the window which shows the software to be installed. To the right of the checkbox is an icon which looks like a folded piece of paper. Click on this to "unfold" it. This will allow you to choose which parts of the PHP software are installed. Make *sure* you have the "Log" window open.
  3. Click the checkbox next to the Apache module (fw_php.sw.php_apache if you use short names) or the NSAPI module (fw_php.sw.php_nsapi) to select it. The "Conflicts" button should light up, because the CGI executable is also selected at this point, and you can't have both. Click the checkbox next to the CGI executable to de-select it, or use the Conflicts button to not install fw_php.sw.php.
At this point, if the Conflicts button is still lit, you are missing some of the required software listed above. Otherwise, you can click on "Start" to begin the installation.

Additional information for Apache users

The installation procedure now does attempt to modify Apache's configuration file, which is a change from previous Freeware releases. This file, /usr/freeware/apache/etc/httpd.conf, controls how the Apache server functions. You will have to run a command after your installation completes, which will be stated in the "Log" window.

This installation requires the latest SGI Freeware version of Apache, which is apache-1.3.26.

Additional information for NSAPI users

The installation procedure cannot safely determine where your Netscape server is located. Please be *SURE* to open the "Log" window if you are doing your install using swmgr. There is important information in the log, which will help you to configure your system to run PHP.
To auto-install this package, go back and click on the respective install icon.