Re: [cobalt-security] MySql version for cobalt raQ4r

[Michael Stauber <cobalt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Carrie,

> I've installed the MySQL packages on quite a few different RaQ4s now, and I
> have *never* needed to recompile PHP in order for it to work properly with
> the MySQL. The PHP that is installed on the RaQ4 works with the MySQL
> packages right out of the box as soon as you put the package in.

That might be the easiest way, but yes, I omitted that piece of information 
because I think it's not the best approach.

You see, I'm a little nuts about performance and like it when all pieces are 
tuned to the maximum of their capabilities. There are several ways for PHP to 
interface with MySQL. One is through basic linux sockets and the other one 
through the imbedded PHP function calls which you compile into PHP by 
specifying the option "--with-mysql". That one is missing in the older PHP4 
which is shipped with the RaQ4's or otherwise Apache would freak out while 
loading libphp4.so. 

Installing PHP4.0.6 is so easy that you can do it half asleep. And it fixes a 
whole bunch of minor and major issues, including security improvements which 
all make it (IMHO) worth to go for the sources. Additionally: compiling PHP 
with either APC or the ZEND Optimizer (first one is included, the second one 
can be "plugged" in) gives your PHP enabled websites a tremendous performance 
boost while they're under load.

If you just want a rudimentary LAMPS system, then by all means go for the 
PHP4 which ships with the RaQ4. On my personal machine I have since long 
outgrown that, as one of the PHP driven mesage boards generates 70 Gigs of 
traffic per month. Then there is a PHP4 driven, IMAP based Webmail site which 
never would have worked without upgrading IMAP and compiling IMAP support 
into PHP. Or the high profile PHP content management system with MySQL 
backend. With APC and recompiled PHP it now runs almost as fast as a flat 
file HTML site, even though it has to fetch the information from a large 
database.

Just my $.02

-- 

With best regards,

Michael Stauber
SOLARSPEED.NET