How to Install Apache with PHP 8.2 on Ubuntu

Introduction

This article guides you through the process of installing Apache Web Server with PHP 8.2 on an Ubuntu system. This setup is commonly used for hosting websites and web applications.

Prerequisites

• A system running Ubuntu (Version 20.04 or later is recommended).
• Access to a user account with sudo privileges.
• An active internet connection.

Installing PHP 8.2 and Apache on Ubuntu

Step 1: Update the System

Before installing any new software, it's a good practice to update your system's package list. Open a terminal and execute the following command:

$ sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Apache

Apache is one of the most popular web servers. Install it by running:

$ sudo apt install apache2 -y

Once installed, you can start and enable the Apache service:

$ sudo systemctl start apache2
$ sudo systemctl enable apache2

Step 3: Install PHP 8.2

PHP 8.2 might not be available in the default Ubuntu repositories. You will need to add a third-party repository:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php -y
$ sudo apt update

Install PHP 8.2 and commonly used extensions:

$ sudo apt install php8.2 libapache2-mod-php8.2 php8.2-cli php8.2-common php8.2-mysql php8.2-curl php8.2-xml php8.2-mbstring php8.2-zip -y

Step 4: Configure Apache to Use PHP

To ensure Apache uses PHP 8.2, you might need to disable the older version (if installed) and enable PHP 8.2:

$ sudo a2dismod php7.x  # Replace 'x' with the specific version number if necessary
$ sudo a2enmod php8.2
$ sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 5: Test PHP Installation

Create a PHP file to test the PHP installation:

$ echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Now, open your web browser and navigate to http://your_server_ip/phpinfo.php. You should see a page displaying information about the PHP version and configuration.

Step 6: Secure Your Server

It's important to secure your Apache server:

• Configure firewalls and restrict access.
• Regularly update your software to the latest versions.
• Implement SSL/TLS to encrypt data transmission.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Apache with PHP 8.2 on your Ubuntu system. This setup forms the backbone for hosting various types of websites and web applications. For advanced configurations and optimization, refer to the Apache and PHP official documentation.