PHP

PHP is a general-purpose scripting language designed for creating dynamic web pages. The Apache server uses a PHP processor module to generate the final web page being served. It interprets code embedded into HTML documents. PHP has been pre-configured for test, production and development. A UniController sub-menu allows you to easily switch between the three configurations. This page covers configuration and additional features for maintaining PHP.

Note: A default installation of Uniform Server Zero installs PHP as an Apache module.

View phpInfo

PHP > View phpInfo

This menu button opens a page in the default browser that runs the PHP function phpinfo(), displaying a wealth of information relating to PHP. The page provides very detailed information and a menu splits this into smaller sections, making it easier to read.

• url: http://localhost/us_extra/phpinfo.php - Page displayed
• Location: C:\UniServerZ\home\us_extra\phpinfo.php

PHP Info Menu

• Configuration - Displays PHP Core configuration.
• Environment - PHP current environment.
• Modules - List all modules.
• Extensions - Overview and details (includes functions) for all loaded extensions.
• Variables - List all currently available PHP variables.
• General - Intro information.

Select PHP version

The Uniform Server Zero provides switching between PHP versions 7.x to 8.x. To achieve this, you need to download a suitable PHP plugin for each version.

PHP > Select PHP version

Note: While Apache is running, menu option is disabled (greyed out) to prevent problems.

Selection: Click version you wish to use (A-F). Previous selection is deselected and new selection enabled. Selected PHP version is indicated by a check marker (E). Note 1: For the new settings to become effective, you must restart the Apache server. Note 2: Greyed out menu button indicates that PHP version plugin is not installed.

Note: For full menu details, see PHP Version Switching page.

Select PHP configuration file

The Uniform Server Zero provides switching between PHP configuration files php_test.ini, php_development.ini and php_production.ini

PHP > Select PHP configuration file

Note: While Apache is running, menu option is disabled (greyed out) to prevent problems.

Selection: Click configuration file you wish to use (A-C). Previous selection is deselected and new selection enabled. Selected configuration file is indicated by a check marker (C). Note: For the new settings to become effective, you must restart the Apache server.

Test Configuration file

PHP > Select PHP configuration file > php_test.ini

Note: In the following, phpxx represents the PHP version selected (covered above).

• File path: UniServerZ\core\phpxx\php_test.ini
• This configuration file is pre-configured and can be modified for testing before making changes to the other two configuration files.
• Note: In a default installation of The Uniform Server Zero, the current configuration is a copy of this file (php_test.ini = php_production.ini).

Development Configuration file

PHP > Select PHP configuration file > php_development.ini

• File path: UniServer\core\phpxx\php_development.ini
• This configuration file is pre-configured for development.
• Note: Errors are displayed in the user's browser and also directed to log file.

Production Configuration file

PHP > Select PHP configuration file > php_production.ini

• File path: UniServerZ\core\phpxx\php_production.ini
• This configuration file is pre-configured for production use.
• Note: Errors are not displayed; these are directed to Apache's log file.

Edit selected configuration file

The following menu allows you to edit the currently selected (covered above) PHP configuration file in Notepad.
Note: While Apache is running, menu option is disabled (greyed out) to prevent problems.

PHP > Edit selected configuration file

• Note: This configuration file is the active configuration. When Apache is started, the contents of this file will configure PHP.

Edit Basic and Modules

Edit Basic Configuration

PHP > Edit Basic and Modules > Edit Basic Configuration

This menu item allows you to change commonly configured PHP options. Note: While Apache is running, menu option is disabled (greyed out) to prevent problems. Test (1): Before changing either development or production, use this file for temporary testing. Development (2): Configuration file used for development. Errors will be written to the screen. You can enable other parameters for testing. Production (3): Configuration file used for production. Prevents errors being written to screen. The initial settings tighten security, using Production Value by default. Any changes you wish to be permanent should be made in this file.

Note 1: After making changes, click the corresponding Update button. This writes the modified data to the associated configuration file.
Note 2: Changes to the current configuration are used next time the servers are started.
Note 3: For test, development and production configuration files to become effective, you need to select the appropriate file and restart Apache.
Note 4: Do not enable Short Open Tags. Doing so will conflict with other languages, such as XML's open tag. For detailed information, see PHP Short Open Tags.

PHP Modules Enable/Disable The following sub-menu allows you to enable or disable PHP extensions for the currently selected PHP configuration file: PHP > Edit Basic and Modules > PHP Modules Enable/Disable Note: While Apache is running, menu option is disabled (greyed out) to prevent problems. Checkbox unchecked: Extension disabled Checkbox checked: Extension enabled Note: After changing state, you must restart the Apache server for the new configuration to be recognized. File modified is the currently selected PHP configuration. Current selected config is shown at the top; for example: PHP Version: phpxx Config File: php_production.ini

Enable/Disable Zend OpCache Accelerator

The Uniform Server Zero provides support for the Zend OpCache PHP Accelerator. The following UniController sub-menu allows you to enable or disable it.

PHP > Enable/Disable Zend OpCache Accelerator

Note: While Apache is running, menu option is disabled (greyed out) to prevent problems.

Selection: Enable or Disable Zend OpCache When enabled, the icon is highlighted. Note 1: For the new settings to become effective, you must restart the Apache server. Note 2: A greyed out menu option indicates the accelerator is unavailable.

View Zend OpCache Control Panel

The Uniform Server Zero provides support for the Zend OpCache PHP accelerator. The following UniController sub-menu allows you to display the accelerator's controller in your default browser.

PHP > View Zend OpCache Control Panel

Note: View Zend OpCache Control Panel menu button greyed out indicates Apache and MySQL not running. The button is enabled when Apache and MySQL are running and PHP is installed.

Zend OpCache provides faster PHP execution through opcode caching and optimization. It improves PHP performance by storing precompiled script bytecode in the shared memory. The Uniform Server Zero default installation has Zend OpCache disabled. The Zend OpCache Control Panel is shown on the right.