Understanding the ins and outs of PHP extensions can greatly aid in web development. In this guide, we specifically focus on managing PHP extensions within the DirectAdmin control panel on a VPS provided by domainindia.com. We'll discuss the extensions that come pre-installed, how to install additional ones, and other nuances of PHP extension management.
Overview of Default PHP Extensions on DomainIndia VPS
When you get a VPS from domainindia.com with DirectAdmin, several PHP modules come pre-installed. To view these, you can use the php -m command. Here's a snapshot of the extensions you'd typically find:
[PHP Modules]
bcmath
calendar
Core
ctype
curl
date
dom
exif
fileinfo
filter
ftp
gd
gettext
hash
i360
iconv
intl
ionCube Loader
json
libxml
mbstring
mysqli
mysqlnd
openssl
pcre
PDO
pdo_mysql
pdo_sqlite
Phar
posix
Reflection
session
SimpleXML
soap
sockets
sodium
SPL
sqlite3
standard
tokenizer
xml
xmlreader
xmlwriter
xsl
zip
zlib
[Zend Modules]
the ionCube PHP Loader
These modules cover a broad range of functionalities, providing the foundation for robust web applications.
Installing Additional PHP Extensions in DirectAdmin
Even with the rich array of pre-installed extensions, you might need additional ones to meet your specific web development needs. Some extensions that you are allowed to install on domainindia.com include:
bz2
gmp
htscanner
igbinary
imap
ioncube
ldap
opcache
phalcon
redis
readline
suhosin
snuffleupagus
xmlrpc
zend
Let's walk through the process of installing one of these, for example, imap.
Step 1: Navigate to the CustomBuild directory
Begin by navigating to the custombuild directory in DirectAdmin. This is typically located at /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild. Use the cd command to change your current directory:
cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild
Step 2: Update CustomBuild
Before installing any new extensions, ensure that your CustomBuild installation is up to date:
./build update
Step 3: Set the PHP Extension for Installation
You can use the set_php option in CustomBuild to mark the desired extension for installation:
./build set_php "ioncube" yes
This command doesn't install the extension but merely prepares it for installation.
Step 4: Install the PHP Extension
Finally, install the extension using the following command:
./build "php_ioncube"
After running this command, the ioncube PHP extension will be installed on your DirectAdmin.
These steps can be replicated for any additional extension you wish to install, replacing "ioncube" with the name of the desired extension.
Remember, effectively managing PHP extensions on your DirectAdmin can greatly enhance your web development experience. Always ensure that you're using the most suitable extensions for your needs and keeping them up to date.
