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How to Configure PHP + Apache on Amazon EC2: A Step-By-Step Guide

As data scientists and software engineers, we often find ourselves in the need to set up server environments. Amazon EC2 is a popular choice due to its scalability and flexibility. In this article, we’ll be discussing how to configure PHP and Apache on an Amazon EC2 instance.
By Saturn Cloud | | Miscellaneous

How to Configure PHP + Apache on Amazon EC2: A Step-By-Step Guide

As data scientists and software engineers, we often find ourselves in the need to set up server environments. Amazon EC2 is a popular choice due to its scalability and flexibility. In this article, we’ll be discussing how to configure PHP and Apache on an Amazon EC2 instance.

Prerequisites

Before we start, ensure you have an Amazon EC2 instance running. We’ll be working with an Amazon Linux 2 AMI, but the steps would be similar for other Linux distributions.

Step 1: Update Your System

First, log into your EC2 instance via SSH. Once logged in, update your system’s default applications:

sudo yum update -y

Step 2: Install Apache

Next, install Apache using the yum package manager:

sudo yum install httpd -y

To start the Apache server:

sudo systemctl start httpd

And to ensure Apache starts at boot:

sudo systemctl enable httpd

Step 3: Install PHP

Now, let’s install PHP:

sudo yum install php php-mysqlnd -y

This will install PHP and the MySQL Native Driver. Restart the Apache server to recognize PHP:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Step 4: Test PHP Processing

Create a .php file in Apache’s root directory:

echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Now, visit http://<Your-EC2-Instance-IP>/phpinfo.php. If you see a page displaying information about your PHP configuration, PHP processing is working fine.

Step 5: Secure Your Server

Finally, modify the security group linked to your EC2 instance to allow HTTP traffic.

  1. Go to the Amazon EC2 console.
  2. On the navigation pane, under NETWORK & SECURITY, choose Security Groups.
  3. Choose the security group linked with your EC2 instance.
  4. Choose the Inbound tab, then choose Edit.
  5. Add a rule that allows HTTP traffic (Type: HTTP, Protocol: TCP, Port range: 80, Source: Anywhere).
  6. Choose Save.

Conclusion

You have now successfully configured PHP and Apache on an Amazon EC2 instance. This setup can serve as the foundation for deploying various web applications. Always remember to keep your system updated to the latest version to avoid security vulnerabilities.

Keywords: Amazon EC2, Apache, PHP, Server Configuration, Data Science, Software Engineering

Meta Description: Learn how to configure PHP and Apache on an Amazon EC2 instance with this step-by-step guide for data scientists and software engineers.

Stay tuned for more such guides to help you navigate the world of cloud computing and server configuration. Happy Coding!

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