Setting up PHP as Fast CGI (FCGI) under Apache

Hi Gonzalo,

Make you do not try to bind two services on the same ip/port.
Also if you are running some firewall on the local server disable for a few seconds to see it that helps.

Cheers,
Chris

Next add to your httpd.conf:
AddHandler fcgid-script .php

Make sure your comment out the previous lines handling .php.

Next your should see a line like:

<Directory "D:\AppServ\php5">

...some configuration directives....

</Directory>

Simply add the lines (adjust to your location of php-cgi.exe) :
FCGIWrapper "c:/php/php-cgi.exe" .php
and then make sure your options include ExecCGI with:
Options ExecCGI
or to add this option to your existing Options:
Options +ExecCGI

Note if you use the .htaccess mechanism you can also add those 2 lines to that file (in the directory with your php scripts).

Basically fast cgi enable a recycling of the "PHP threads". Apache and PHP (on windows at least) is know to create problems after x amount of PHP requests. Using FASTCGI you actually keep the "PHP engine" loaded for a few minutes or a few hours and it will recycle itself (you can configure this exact behavior with the FASTCGI directives). The main advantage with FASTCGI versus CGI is that since you actually keep a "PHP context" for a few hours you can also use PHP accelerator to even further compensate for the slowness CGI introduces. So you end up with a stable "Apache + PHP" stack that is pretty much the same speed as when using the PHP module.

Cheers,
C

Hi Christ,

Thanks alot for the reply, but i am still lost about which directory i need to config in httpd.conf for fast cgi module to run

Here is two directory i am guessing that i can be able to config for:

<Directory D:\AppServ\php5> and <Directory D:\AppServ\www>

which one i should go for, or tell me any other directory i need to add if none of those are good to go

thanks

Its probably the D:\AppServ\www directory.

Try adding the lines to both and if it works remove from one and see if it still works.

Hi christ,

i got this error when config using <Directory D:\AppServ\www>

It is internal error 500 message, and the error log of apache wrote this:

[Sun Dec 17 16:48:22 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] D:/AppServ/www/index.php is not executable; ensure interpreted scripts have "#!" first line, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:22 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] (9)Bad file descriptor: mod_fcgid: don't know how to spawn child process: D:/AppServ/www/index.php, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:23 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] D:/AppServ/www/index.php is not executable; ensure interpreted scripts have "#!" first line, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:23 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] (9)Bad file descriptor: mod_fcgid: don't know how to spawn child process: D:/AppServ/www/index.php, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:25 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] D:/AppServ/www/index.php is not executable; ensure interpreted scripts have "#!" first line, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:25 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] (9)Bad file descriptor: mod_fcgid: don't know how to spawn child process: D:/AppServ/www/index.php, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:36 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] D:/AppServ/www/index.php is not executable; ensure interpreted scripts have "#!" first line, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:36 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] (9)Bad file descriptor: mod_fcgid: don't know how to spawn child process: D:/AppServ/www/index.php, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:36 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] D:/AppServ/www/index.php is not executable; ensure interpreted scripts have "#!" first line, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/
[Sun Dec 17 16:48:36 2006] [error] [client 69.237.184.84] (9)Bad file descriptor: mod_fcgid: don't know how to spawn child process: D:/AppServ/www/index.php, referer: http://tinhthienthu.ath.cx/

But when i use <Directory D:\AppServ\php5> nothing happen, any suggestion ?

May be i need you to decide for me, let me first tell you that i am running a phpbb forum in this directory D:\AppServ\www

my apache server is in D:\AppServ\Apache2.2
and php is in D:\AppServ\php5

I am totally lost, but i really like the fast cgi thingy to be working for my forum, plaese help me christ

Thanks

Hi Panda,

This should work:

1) In your httpd.cong add:

LoadModule fcgid_module modules/mod_fcgid.so

AddHandler fcgid-script .php

2) Remember to comment out the old PHP module:

#LoadModule php4_module "D:/Apache2/bin/php4apache2.dll"
#LoadModule php5_module "D:/Apache2/bin/php5apache2_2.dll"

3) Add in the <Directory D:\AppServ\www> directive:

Options +ExecCGI
FCGIWrapper "D:/AppServ/php5/php-cgi.exe" .php

Make sure you indeed have the file php-cgi.exe in that folder !

Note: you might have to add these 2 previous lines in your .htaccess located at: D:\AppServ\www

If you still have issues please post in the Forums. Thanks.

Happy Holidays!

Thanks again christ for your reply

but unfortunately, after i tried to config like you said, the apache wont start, i dont know why but the error log didn't witness anything went wrong, may be i need to post my httpd.conf for you to check

Sorry i am in the hurry to create a nick name in the forum, next time i will and post in there

Very appreciated for your help and i am still looking forward to wait for fast cgi to be working on my server.

Best wishes and happy holidays to you.