Re: [cobalt-users] Re: RaQ3 - Problems installing PHP4.0.6

["Steve Werby" <steve-lists@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"islam el-azazy" <islam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> the problem with me that i have a php 3.0.16 and mysql
>
> all things is fine
>
> but i want to upgrade to php 4 without problem coz i have alot of sites
> running on the server all of them use php and mysql soo i want the best
and
> fast way to update

I always recommend installing from source since it gives you more control
and more options, though it's not for the faint of heart.  An RPM install
may work too, but I couldn't tell you which RPM to get or whether it will
work.  I'll assume you chose to install from source.  You will need to
recompile PHP, no uninstallation is necessary.  If you're using a MySQL
older than 3.23.x you probably want to upgrade that too at the same time.
If you backup the relevant files first you will be able to revert to your
current version of PHP should you encounter problems with the install.  This
is always a wise idea when installing anything you are uncomfortable or
unfamiliar with.  If you're PHP 3.0.16 is compiled into the Apache httpd
binary you'll probably want to recompile Apache too (which makes this more
complex).  If you do that backup the httpd binary first and do not do the
"make install" step when installing Apache.  If your PHP is installed as an
Apache DSO (Dynamically Stored Object) then you'll want to backup your
module file (probably something like /usr/lib/apache/libphp.so) in case you
need to revert to the old PHP.  And so you don't have to install PHP again
anytime soon you should make note of the non-standard PHP functionality you
and your clients need or may want down the road so you can install the
proper libraries and compile support for those libraries into PHP the first
time.  Otherwise you'll have to go through this process again when a client
wants PHP with curl support, gd support, aspell, etc.

--
Steve Werby
President, Befriend Internet Services LLC
http://www.befriend.com/