Complete Guide to Configuring Apache and PHP on Linux

Setting Up Apache and PHP on Linux

Apache (HTTPD) and PHP remain one of the most popular combinations for web development. This guide walks you through setting up a fully functional web server with Apache and PHP on a Linux system, from preparation to security optimization.

Preparing the Environment

Before beginning the configuration, ensure your system is up to date. Use the following commands to update Ubuntu or CentOS:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade  # Ubuntu
sudo yum update                      # CentOS

Installing Apache HTTPD

On Ubuntu, use this command to install Apache:

sudo apt install apache2

For CentOS, run:

sudo yum install httpd

After installation, start the Apache service and enable it to launch on boot:

sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd

Configuring Apache for PHP

To enable PHP support in Apache, edit the main configuration file. For CentOS:

/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

For Ubuntu:

/etc/apache2/apache2.conf

Make sure to add the following line to support PHP file handling:

AddType application/x-httpd-php .php

Installing PHP and Modules

On Ubuntu, install PHP and necessary modules using:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql

On CentOS:

sudo yum install php php-mysql

Testing PHP Setup

To verify your PHP setup, create a test file in Apache's default root directory:

echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/info.php

Then open http://your_server_ip/info.php in your browser. If you see the PHP configuration page, your setup was successful.

Security and Performance Optimization

After installation, enhance your system's security and performance with these practices:

• Regularly update the system and installed packages to patch vulnerabilities
• Configure a firewall to restrict unnecessary port access
• Disable unused Apache modules to streamline performance

Conclusion

By following these steps, you have successfully set up Apache and PHP on a Linux server. This configuration is suitable for most web hosting and development needs. For long-term stability and security, keep your system updated and follow best practices for optimization.