A Step-By-Step Guide to Installing PHP 8 on IIS

Whether you’re a seasoned developer or someone venturing into the web development realm, the synergy between PHP 8 and IIS is significant. This tutorial lays down a clear, efficient path to integrate these powerful platforms.

What is PHP 8?

PHP 8 is the latest release of the popular scripting language, boasting improved performance and new features.

What is IIS?

IIS or Internet Information Services is Microsoft’s web server platform.

Pre-requisites Before Starting

1. An operational Windows Server.
2. IIS already installed and configured.

Step 1: Download PHP 8

Get the PHP Zip Package

Head to the official PHP Downloads page. Pick the VC15 x64 Non Thread Safe version for the best compatibility with IIS.

Step 2: Extract and Move PHP

Extract to a Suitable Location

Once downloaded, unzip the contents into a folder, preferably C:\php.

Update System PATH

Adding PHP to your system PATH simplifies tasks. Head to System Properties > Advanced > Environment Variables and add C:\php to your PATH.

Step 3: Configure PHP

Rename the Configuration File

In the PHP folder, rename php.ini-development to php.ini.

Tweak Settings (Optional)

Open the php.ini file. Adjust settings as desired, like memory limit and error reporting.

Step 4: Integrate PHP with IIS

Install the IIS CGI Feature

First, ensure the CGI feature is active. Go to Control Panel > Programs and Features > Turn Windows features on or off > Internet Information Services > Application Development Features and check ‘CGI’.

Configure the PHP Handler in IIS

Open IIS Manager. In the main panel, double-click on the “Handler Mappings” icon. Click “Add Module Mapping”. Fill out the following fields:

• Request path: *.php
• Module: FastCgiModule
• Executable: C:\php\php-cgi.exe
• Name: PHP_via_FastCGI

Click OK.

Set Default Document (Optional)

If you want index.php to be a default landing page, navigate to Default Documents in IIS and add index.php.

Step 5: Test Your Installation

Create a PHP Info Page

In your wwwroot folder (usually C:\inetpub\wwwroot), create a new file named test.php. Add the following:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Access It via Browser

Open a browser and type http://localhost/test.php. If you see PHP details, congratulations! You’ve successfully integrated PHP 8 with IIS.

Troubleshooting Tips

1. Permissions: Ensure IUSR and IIS_IUSRS have read permissions on the PHP folder.
2. Logs: Always keep an eye on your PHP error log and IIS logs for clues in case of issues.

With PHP 8 installed on IIS, you’ve unlocked an efficient platform for dynamic web applications.