Q. How do I configure and Install Apache web server with PHP5 and mod_fastcgi to get faster PHP access under FreeBSD server?

A.mod_fastcgi is a cgi-module for Apache web server.

FastCGI is a language independent, scalable, open extension to CGI that provides high performance without the limitations of server specific APIs.

Red Hat Linux / CentOS Linux specific mod_fastcgi tutorial is here.

FreeBSD Install Apache Web server

Install apache using FreeBSD ports collection:
# cd /usr/ports/www/apache22
# make install clean
# echo 'apache22_enable="YES"' >> /etc/rc.conf

FreeBSD Install PHP5

Make sure php-cgi binary exists and it is compiled with fastcgi support:
# /usr/local/bin/php-cgi -v
Output

PHP 5.2.6 with Suhosin-Patch 0.9.6.2 (cgi-fcgi) (built: Sep 10 2008 19:07:02)
Copyright (c) 1997-2008 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.2.0, Copyright (c) 1998-2008 Zend Technologies
    with XCache v1.2.2, Copyright (c) 2005-2007, by mOo

If you do not see word cgi-fcgi, recompile php with fastcgi support by visiting /usr/ports/lang/php5:
# cd /usr/ports/lang/php5
# make config
# make install clean


Configure FreeBSD Apache mod_fastcgi

Install mod_fastcgi, enter:
# cd /usr/ports/www/mod_fastcgi
# make install clean
Open /usr/local/etc/apache22/httpd.conf file, enter:
# vi /usr/local/etc/apache22/httpd.conf
Make sure following line exists:

LoadModule fastcgi_module     libexec/apache22/mod_fastcgi.so

Create virtual hosting configurations

Your sample setup:

• Apache share IP address: 74.86.49.131
• Domain name: theos.in
• DocumentRoot Directory: /websites/home/theos.in/http
• Log Directory: /websites/home/theos.in/logs
• PHP cgi-bin Directory: /websites/home/theos.in/cgi-bin/

Create directory structure as above:
# mkdir -p /websites/home/theos.in/{http,https,logs,cgi-bin,images,private,stats}
# chown -R theosftpuser:theosftpgroup /websites/home/theos.in/
Replace username, groupname and directories as per your setup.

Append following configuration directives to httpd.conf virtual hosting section:

<VirtualHost *:80>
        ServerAdmin webmaster@theos.in
        DocumentRoot "/websites/home/theos.in/http"
        ServerName theos.in
        ServerAlias www.theos.in
        ErrorLog "/websites/home/theos.in/logs/error.log"
        CustomLog "/websites/home/theos.in/logs/access.log" common
        ScriptAlias /cgi-bin/ "/websites/home/theos.in/cgi-bin/"
 
	<Directory "/websites/home/theos.in/http">
		Options -Indexes FollowSymLinks +ExecCGI
		AllowOverride AuthConfig FileInfo
		AddHandler php5-fastcgi .php
		Action php5-fastcgi /cgi-bin/php.cgi
		Order allow,deny
		Allow from all
	</Directory>
 
	<Directory "/websites/home/theos.in/cgi-bin">
		AllowOverride None
		Options None
		Order allow,deny
		Allow from all
	</Directory>
 
</VirtualHost>

Save and close the file.

Create php.cgi script

Create a shell script as follows (/websites/home/theos.in/cgi-bin/php.cgi):

#!/bin/sh
# Shell Script To Run PHP5 using mod_fastcgi under Apache 2.x
# Tested under FreeBSD 6.x and 7.x
### Set PATH ###
PHP_CGI=/usr/local/bin/php-cgi
PHP_FCGI_CHILDREN=4
PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS=1000
### no editing below ###
export PHP_FCGI_CHILDREN
export PHP_FCGI_MAX_REQUESTS
exec $PHP_CGI

Copy above shell script to /websites/home/theos.in/cgi-bin/ as php.cgi. Set permissions:
# chmod +x /websites/home/theos.in/cgi-bin/php.cgi

Restart Apache

Type the following command to restart Apache:
# /usr/local/etc/rc.d/apache22 restart

Test your setup

Place following code at /websites/home/theos.in/http/test.php:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Optional: Open port 80 using FreeBSD PF firewall

Add following PF firewall rule to /etc/pf.conf file:

pass in on $ext_if proto tcp from any to 74.86.49.131 port 80 flags S/SA synproxy state

Close and save the file. Reload pf firewall:
# /etc/rc.d/pf restart

Further configuration:

I also recommend installing xcache opcode php cacher and MySQL database server to host dynamic web sites.

Once installed you can upload open source scripts / software such as wordpress, phpBB and others at /websites/home/theos.in/http directory.

Further readings:

• Apache documentation
• man pages: ports, make, httpd.conf