apache2 and php5: module or filter

Question

What the difference between the php5 module (libapache2-mod-php5) and the php5 filter module (libapache2-mod-php5filter) for apache2? Which one should I use in which environment?

score 11 · Accepted Answer · answered Jan 05 '12 at 15:09

libapache2-mod-php5filter doesn't pass all http request methods through to your PHP application - for example, PUT and OPTIONS requests are answered directly by Apache, rather than your PHP application.

I assume that it's limiting the methods that get processed by PHP as a security measure.

libapache2-mod-php5, on the other hand, passes all requests through for processing by PHP.

From https://launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/php5/5.3.3-7ubuntu1, this message:

"Unless you specifically need filter-module support, you most likely should instead install libapache2-mod-php5"

See below. Filter modules (mod-php5filter) are completely different from content modules (mod-php5). — lucian303, May 24 '13 at 23:30

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 17 '11 at 11:16

2

For ease of deployment and configuration, use libapache2-mod-php5.

It really is a lot easier, but causes higher memory usage (as PHP is loaded for each request)

For scalability, use mod_fcgi and php-fpm.

Because it runs a pool of PHP Listeners, then uses FastCGI protocol to communicate between Apache and the Pool of PHPs.

answered Dec 17 '11 at 11:16

Tom O'Connor

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Is this still the case three years later? Are there any other modules etc. I should consider these days? – David Winiecki Jan 30 '15 at 02:13
Dunno. I stopped using PHP. – Tom O'Connor Feb 02 '15 at 10:42

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered May 24 '13 at 23:29

libapache2-mod-php5filter is used for internal apache php filters. I suppose you could run apps this way, but it's far from recommended as this is not its intention. mod-php5 on the other hand is a content module that generates content (from your php app) and that is what should be used.

apache2 and php5: module or filter

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