This guide explains how to configure Apache under FreeBSD in order to run PHP under the fastcgi module using php-fpm instead of mod_php.

php-fpm can be built by installing PHP from ports with the portglob lang/php. To change directory to the PHP port, issue:

cd /usr/ports/lang/php

and then configure all dependencies, issue:

make config-recursive

At this point you should select the option for PHP to build PHP FPM and then proceed with the rest of the dependencies. Finally to install PHP, issue:

make install clean

Next, a file is created at /etc/apache2/Includes/php-fpm.conf with the following contents:

fastcgi.conf

<IfModule mod_fastcgi.c>
    AddType application/x-httpd-fastphp .php
    Action application/x-httpd-fastphp /php-fcgi
    Alias /php-fcgi /usr/local/www/apache24/cgi-bin/php-fcgi
    FastCgiExternalServer /usr/local/www/apache24/cgi-bin/php-fcgi -appConnTimeout 600 -idle-timeout 600 -socket /var/run/php-fpm.sock -pass-header Authorization
    <Directory /usr/local/www/apache24/cgi-bin>
        Require all granted
    </Directory>
</IfModule>

this will configure PHP FPM to work through sockets and PHP FPM must now be configured to create the socket at /var/run/php-fpm.sock. In order to do so, edit /usr/local/etc/php-fpm.conf and amend or add the lines:

; user and group (set to Apache user and group)
user = www
group = www
; socket listen user and group (set to Apache user and group)
listen.owner = www
listen.group = www
listen.mode = 0666
; create the socket
listen = /var/run/php-fpm.sock

Edit /etc/rc.conf and add or amend the lines:

# Depends on your Apache version.
apache24_enable="YES"
php_fpm_enable="YES"

PHP-FPM has to be started by issuing:

/usr/local/etc/rc.d/php-fpm restart

and after that Apache2 can be started by issuing:

/usr/local/etc/rc.d/apache24 restart

Create a PHP file containing:

<?php phpinfo();

and open it in the browser. You should see on the first screen along the top:

Server API	FPM/FastCGI

which indicates that it is working.

In case you see:

Server API     Apache Handler 2.0

then it is not working - most likely you have forgotten to disable the standard PHP module (with a2dismod php5).

• Set a PCRE recursion limit.