Configuring and using IIS Web Server for PHP or installing PHP on IIS

When I was handled with a task to run a web application on my local laptop with Windows XP and to used IIS 5.1 as the web server for an existing system a realized that many tutorials out there in the internet is lacking on running also SQL Server Database for this kind of setup.

The problem was even though I have already setup IIS 5.1 so thatit could run PHP scripts, but when I run my system to connect to SQL Server Database, it has an error of "Warning: PHP Startup: Unable to load dynamic library 'C:\PHP\ext\php_mssql.dll'". This error means it can't find the file php_mssql.dll even though I have already edited the php.ini specially the extension_dir = "C:\php\ext" and the file already existed in C:\PHP\ext\php_mssql.dll and also file C:\php\ext\php_pdo_mssql.dll, but still has an error.

The task that have been given to me is very urgent so because of that it come up in my mind to what if use XAMPP that I have installed to directly target its PHP to be used by IIS and the setup works.

These are the following settings for using IIS 5.1 web server for PHP:

I. Install/configure Xampp on your PC. On this setup I have installed xampp-win32-1.7.1 from apachefriends.org. The latest your Xampp is the better.

• 1. Installed Xampp on your machine/PC.
• 2. After installation go to file xampp\php\php.ini.
• 3. On php.ini find cgi.force_redirec.
• 4. change/uncomment ; cgi.force_redirect = 1 -> cgi.force_redirect = 0 and save it.

II. Configuration for IIS web server.

• 1. First be sure to have IIS 5.1 installed in your Window XP Pro.
• 2. Go to -> Contro Panel
• 3. Go to -> Administrative Tools
• 4. Go to -> Internet Information Services (IIS)
• 5. In IIS configure the Default Website right click and choose -> Propertise
• 6. A new window Default Website will open and go to -> Home Directory tab
• 7. In -> Home Directory click the -> Configutation button
• 8. A new window Application Configuratin will open find a .PHP file extension in the Extensionand if you can't find create a new.
• 9. Click -> Add button and new window will open
• 10. On the Executable field browse the xampp php folder on D:\xampp\php or what ever directory your xampp is locate. Then choose D:\xampp\php\php-cgi.exe.
• 11. On the Extension field type/input .php. and click the -> OK button.
• 12. Also repeat the process step 5-11 if you have created a Virtual Web Directory, example I have created mcdo and I could access is http://localhost/mcdo/.

Tips:

• 1. Be sure to have apache started on -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Services.
• 2. Be sure to have Default Web Site Started.