How to Install PHP 8.1 on AlmaLinux

PHP 8.1 is one of the most significant updates in the PHP ecosystem, offering developers new features, enhanced performance, and improved security. With features such as enums, read-only properties, fibers, and intersection types, PHP 8.1 takes modern application development to the next level. AlmaLinux, an enterprise-grade Linux distribution, provides a stable platform for hosting PHP applications, making it an ideal choice for setting up PHP 8.1.

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the steps to install PHP 8.1 on AlmaLinux, configure essential extensions, and ensure your environment is ready for modern PHP development.

Why Choose PHP 8.1?

PHP 8.1 introduces several noteworthy features and improvements:

1. Enums: A powerful feature for managing constants more efficiently.
2. Fibers: Simplifies asynchronous programming and enhances concurrency handling.
3. Read-Only Properties: Ensures immutability for class properties.
4. Intersection Types: Allows greater flexibility in type declarations.
5. Performance Boosts: JIT improvements and better memory handling.

These enhancements make PHP 8.1 an excellent choice for developers building scalable, high-performance applications.

Prerequisites

Before installing PHP 8.1, ensure the following prerequisites are met:

1. Update Your AlmaLinux System:

   sudo dnf update -y
   

2. Install Required Tools and Libraries:
   Install essential dependencies required by PHP:

   sudo dnf install -y gcc libxml2 libxml2-devel curl curl-devel oniguruma oniguruma-devel
   

3. Administrative Access:
   Ensure you have root or sudo privileges to install and configure PHP.

Step 1: Enable EPEL and Remi Repositories

PHP 8.1 is not included in AlmaLinux’s default repositories. You need to enable the EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) and Remi repositories to access updated PHP packages.

1.1 Install the EPEL Repository

Install the EPEL repository:

sudo dnf install -y epel-release

1.2 Install the Remi Repository

Install the Remi repository, which provides PHP 8.1 packages:

sudo dnf install -y https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-8.rpm

1.3 Enable the PHP 8.1 Module

Reset any existing PHP modules and enable the PHP 8.1 module:

sudo dnf module reset php -y
sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.1 -y

Step 2: Install PHP 8.1

Now that the repositories are set up, you can proceed with installing PHP 8.1.

2.1 Install PHP 8.1 Core Package

Install the PHP 8.1 core package:

sudo dnf install -y php

2.2 Install Common PHP Extensions

Depending on your application, you may need additional PHP extensions. Here are some commonly used ones:

sudo dnf install -y php-mysqlnd php-pdo php-mbstring php-xml php-curl php-json php-intl php-soap php-zip php-bcmath php-gd php-opcache

2.3 Verify PHP Installation

Check the installed PHP version:

php -v

You should see output similar to:

PHP 8.1.x (cli) (built: ...)

Step 3: Configure PHP 8.1

Once PHP is installed, you may need to configure it according to your application’s requirements.

3.1 Locate the PHP Configuration File

To locate the main php.ini file, use:

php --ini

3.2 Edit the PHP Configuration File

Open the php.ini file for editing:

sudo nano /etc/php.ini

Modify these common settings:

• Maximum Execution Time:

  max_execution_time = 300
  

• Memory Limit:

  memory_limit = 512M
  

• Upload File Size:

  upload_max_filesize = 50M
  post_max_size = 50M
  

Save the changes and exit the editor.

3.3 Restart the Web Server

After making changes to PHP settings, restart your web server to apply them:

• For Apache:

  sudo systemctl restart httpd
  

• For Nginx with PHP-FPM:

  sudo systemctl restart php-fpm
  sudo systemctl restart nginx
  

Step 4: Test PHP 8.1 Installation

4.1 Create a PHP Info File

Create a simple PHP script to test the installation:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

Add the following content:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

4.2 Access the Test Page

Open a browser and navigate to:

http://<your-server-ip>/info.php

You should see a detailed PHP information page confirming the PHP 8.1 installation.

4.3 Remove the Test File

For security reasons, delete the test file after verification:

sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php

Step 5: Install Composer (Optional)

Composer is a dependency manager for PHP and is essential for modern PHP development.

5.1 Download and Install Composer

php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"
php composer-setup.php --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer
php -r "unlink('composer-setup.php');"

5.2 Verify Installation

Check the Composer version:

composer --version

Step 6: Upgrade from Previous PHP Versions (Optional)

If you’re upgrading from PHP 7.x or 8.0 to PHP 8.1, follow these steps:

1. Backup Configuration and Applications:
   Create backups of your existing configurations and applications.

2. Switch to PHP 8.1 Module:

   sudo dnf module reset php -y
   sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.1 -y
   sudo dnf install -y php
   

3. Verify Application Compatibility:
   Test your application in a staging environment to ensure compatibility with PHP 8.1.

Step 7: Troubleshooting Common Issues

7.1 PHP Command Not Found

Ensure the PHP binary is in your system PATH:

export PATH=$PATH:/usr/bin/php

7.2 Missing Extensions

Install the required extensions from the Remi repository:

sudo dnf install -y php-<extension-name>

7.3 Web Server Issues

• Ensure PHP-FPM is running:

  sudo systemctl status php-fpm
  

• Restart your web server:

  sudo systemctl restart httpd
  sudo systemctl restart php-fpm
  

Conclusion

Installing PHP 8.1 on AlmaLinux equips your server with the latest features, performance enhancements, and security updates. This guide covered all the essential steps, from enabling the required repositories to configuring PHP settings and testing the installation.

Whether you’re developing web applications, hosting WordPress sites, or building APIs, PHP 8.1 ensures you have the tools to create high-performance and scalable solutions. Follow this guide to set up a robust environment for modern PHP development on AlmaLinux!