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Apache2 is the standard Linux web server. It deals with all of the http and https requests sent to the server and complies PHP scripts. PHP is a simpler programming language which offers the power of the more complex object orientated languages without some of the more complex data management issues. PHP is commonly used to develop dynamic web content, especially content based upon a database like MySQL.

In a practical sense, you must have Apache installed to use PHP on your server. If you do not have Apache currently installed, instructions can be found here.

Installing PHP

These instructions assume you have already setup an AWS instance and have an SSH client (like PuTTY) available.

1. Log in to your instance via the SSH client. Transfer to the root user.
2. Use YUM to install php
3. Press "Y" when it asks if you want to install PHP
4. Verify the installation occurred correctly by starting/restarting the httpd service

Summary of command line inputs

• $ sudo su
• $ yum install httpd
• .....
• Do you want to install PHP 5.x (Y/N): Y
• $ service httpd restart

Configuring PHP

The default configuration of PHP is just fine to use for 90% of applications. If you are going to be doing development on the server, it would be appropriate to make a few changes to the php.ini file for the particular development server. These changes should occur in the Apache2 hosting configurations ("/etc/httpd/conf.d/vhosts.conf" in the previous Apache2 instructions). The major setting you would want to change is turning off safe mode.

 This is actually really easy, assuming you are using the base version of PHP (5.3.X) from the AWS package repository. YUM has phpMyAdmin as a package and most of the default settings work just fine. The first time I install on an AWS instance it took maybe 15 minutes to complete.

Installing phpMyAdmin

These instructions assume you have already setup an AWS instance and have an SSH client (like PuTTY) available and a SCP client (like WinSCP) to use when editing the configuration files.

1. Log in to your instance via the SSH client. Transfer to the root user ("sudo su").
2. Use YUM to install phpMyAdmin
3. Press "Y" when it asks if you want to install phpMyAdmin
4. Open the SCP client and go to the apache2 configuration files directory (default is "/etc/httpd/conf.d")
5. Open the "phpMyAdmin.conf" file.
6. Add an access exception to apache2 authentication protocol. There are three safe ways to allow access to phpMyAdmin;
   1. Allow Exception from a static IP Address Under the Directory tag "/usr/share/phpMyAdmin/", add the following line at the end of the tag, "Require ip XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX" and the following line at the end of the tag, "Allow from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX". In each situation you should be replace XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX with the actual IP address.
   2. Allow access from a VPN You will need a Virtual Private Network setup already, which is well beyond these instructions. Under the Directory tag "/usr/share/phpMyAdmin/", add the following line at the end of the tag, "Require ip XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX" and the following line at the end of the tag, "Allow from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX". In each situation you should be replace XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX with the actual IP address.
   3. Use SSL Certificate for authentication These instructions are not complete yet.
7. Save the edited "phpMyAdmin.conf" file.
8. Verify the installation occurred correctly by starting/restarting the httpd service (in SSH "service httpd restart")

Summary of command line inputs

• $ sudo su
• $ yum install phpmyadmin
• .....
• Do you want to install phpMyAdmin 5.x (Y/N): Y
• $ service httpd restart

First few lines of phpMyAdmin.conf file with default installation path, edited for access by a single IP address

• # phpMyAdmin - Web based MySQL browser written in php
• #
• # Allows only localhost by default
• #
• # But allowing phpMyAdmin to anyone other than localhost should be considered
• # dangerous unless properly secured by SSL
• Alias /phpMyAdmin /usr/share/phpMyAdmin
• Alias /phpmyadmin /usr/share/phpMyAdmin
• <Directory /usr/share/phpMyAdmin/>
• <IfModule mod_authz_core.c>
• # Apache 2.4
• <RequireAny>
• Require ip 127.0.0.1
• Require ip ::1
• Require ip XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
• </RequireAny>
• </IfModule>
• <IfModule !mod_authz_core.c>
• # Apache 2.2
• Order Deny,Allow
• Deny from All
• Allow from 127.0.0.1
• Allow from ::1
• Allow from XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
• </IfModule>
• </Directory>
• ...

Configuring phpMyAdmin

The default configuration of phpMyAdmin needs only a few changes to get it working correctly.

1. Log in to your instance via the SCP client (like WinSCP)
2. Open the phpMyAdmin base directory (default AWS installation directory is "/usr/share/phpMyAdmin")
3. Open the file "config.sample.inc.php"
4. Go down to the line "$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'XXXXXXXX';" where XXXXXX is some alphanumeric combination. Add a bunch more letters and numbers within the single quotes.
5. Go down to the line "$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlhost']" and make sure it is uncommented. After it, add "= 'localhost';"
6. The next line should be "$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controluser']"and make sure it is uncommented. After it, add "= 'USERNAME';" where USERNAME is the username you want to log into phpMyAdmin using.
7. The next line should be "$cfg['Servers'][$i]['controlpass']"and make sure it is uncommented. After it, add "= 'PASSWORD';" where PASSWORD is the password associated with the previously entered username.
8. Save the file as "config.inc.php".
9. Use YUM to install phpMyAdmin
10. Press "Y" when it asks if you want to install phpMyAdmin
11. Open the SCP clint and go to the apache2 configuration files directory (default is "/etc/httpd/conf.d")
12. Open the "phpMyAdmin.conf" file.
13. Direct your browser to "http://XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX/phpMyAdmin" where XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX is the IP address of your server. You should be prompted for a username and login. Enter the pair you just saved in the config file and you should run phpMyAdmin.