Microsoft IIS / PWS

This section contains notes and hints specific to IIS (Microsoft Internet Information Server). We have included installation instructions for PWS/IIS 3, PWS 4 or newer and IIS 4 or newer versions.

Important for CGI users: Read the faq on cgi.force_redirect for important details. This directive needs to be set to 0.

Warning

By using the CGI setup, your server is open to several possible attacks. Please read our CGI security section to learn how to defend yourself from those attacks.

Windows and PWS/IIS 3

The recommended method for configuring these servers is to use the REG file included with the distribution (pws-php4cgi.reg in the SAPI folder for PHP 4, or pws-php5cgi.reg in the main folder for PHP 5). You may want to edit this file and make sure the extensions and PHP install directories match your configuration. Or you can follow the steps below to do it manually.

Warning

These steps involve working directly with the Windows registry. One error here can leave your system in an unstable state. We highly recommend that you back up your registry first. The PHP Development team will not be held responsible if you damage your registry.

The following steps do not affect the web server installation and only apply if you want your PHP scripts to be executed when they are run from the command line (ex. run C:\myscripts\test.php) or by double clicking on them in a directory viewer window. You may wish to skip these steps as you might prefer the PHP files to load into a text editor when you double click on them.

PWS and IIS 3 users now have a fully operational system. IIS 3 users can use a nifty tool from Steven Genusa to configure their script maps.

Windows and PWS 4 or newer

When installing PHP on Windows with PWS 4 or newer version, you have two options. One to set up the PHP CGI binary, the other is to use the ISAPI module DLL.

If you choose the CGI binary, do the following:

If you choose the ISAPI module, do the following:

Windows NT/2000/XP and IIS 4 or newer

To install PHP on an NT/2000/XP Server running IIS 4 or newer, follow these instructions. You have two options to set up PHP, using the CGI binary (php.exe in PHP 4, or php-cgi.exe in PHP 5) or with the ISAPI module.

In either case, you need to start the Microsoft Management Console (may appear as 'Internet Services Manager', either in your Windows NT 4.0 Option Pack branch or the Control Panel=>Administrative Tools under Windows 2000/XP). Then right click on your Web server node (this will most probably appear as 'Default Web Server'), and select 'Properties'.

If you want to use the CGI binary, do the following:

To use the ISAPI module, do the following:

If you experience 100% CPU usage after some time, turn off the IIS setting Cache ISAPI Application.