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How to Install PHP 5.6 on Amazon Linux

Are you working with Amazon Linux and need to install PHP 5.6? This article will guide you through the process, ensuring you can set up your environment correctly and efficiently.
By Saturn Cloud | | Miscellaneous

How to Install PHP 5.6 on Amazon Linux

Are you working with Amazon Linux and need to install PHP 5.6? This article will guide you through the process, ensuring you can set up your environment correctly and efficiently.

Introduction

Amazon Linux, a powerful, secure, and high-performance execution environment, is often a preferred choice for many data scientists and software engineers. However, installing certain software versions like PHP 5.6 can be a bit complex. This post will provide a step-by-step guide on how to accomplish this task.

Pre-installation Notes

Before we start, it’s essential to note that Amazon Linux 2 comes with PHP 7.2 by default. If you require PHP 5.6 specifically, you have to remove PHP 7.2 and install PHP 5.6 from a third-party repository. Always be aware of the security implications when using third-party repositories.

Steps to Install PHP 5.6 on Amazon Linux

Step 1: Update the System

Firstly, always ensure your system is up-to-date by running the following command:

sudo yum update -y

Step 2: Remove Existing PHP

If any version of PHP is already installed, you need to remove it first. Use the following command:

sudo yum remove php-* -y

The -y flag is used to confirm the removal process automatically.

Step 3: Add EPEL and Remi Repository

To install PHP 5.6, you will need to add the EPEL and Remi repositories to your system:

sudo amazon-linux-extras install epel -y
wget https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-7.rpm
sudo rpm -Uvh remi-release-7*.rpm

These commands will add the necessary repositories to your system.

Step 4: Enable PHP 5.6 Remi Repository

Next, enable the Remi repository for PHP 5.6:

sudo yum-config-manager --enable remi-php56

Step 5: Install PHP 5.6

Now, you are ready to install PHP 5.6. Run the following command:

sudo yum install php php-mcrypt php-cli php-gd php-curl php-mysql php-ldap php-zip php-fileinfo

This command will install PHP 5.6 along with some commonly used extensions. You can add or remove extensions based on your needs.

Step 6: Verify PHP Installation

Finally, to ensure PHP 5.6 has been installed successfully, use the following command:

php -v

If the installation is successful, this command will output the version of PHP that’s currently active, and it should reflect PHP 5.6.

Conclusion

This blog post has provided a comprehensive guide on how to install PHP 5.6 on Amazon Linux. Always ensure to verify the security of third-party repositories when using them, as they can potentially pose a risk to your system.

Whether you’re a data scientist building complex data models or a software engineer developing applications, maintaining the correct environment, including the right PHP version, is crucial. This guide should help you maintain that balance.

We hope you found this step-by-step guide helpful. If you have any further queries or issues, please leave a comment below. Happy coding!

Keywords

  • How to install PHP 5.6 on Amazon Linux
  • PHP 5.6
  • Amazon Linux
  • PHP installation guide
  • Data scientist
  • Software engineer
  • EPEL and Remi Repository
  • PHP extensions

Meta Description

A step-by-step guide to installing PHP 5.6 on Amazon Linux for data scientists and software engineers. Learn how to add necessary repositories and install common PHP extensions.

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