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How to Install PHP 8.0 on Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux

PHP is a popular server-side scripting language powering millions of websites and applications. PHP 8.0, released in November 2020, introduced significant improvements like the Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler, union types, named arguments, and enhanced error handling. If you’re running Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux (both RHEL-based distributions), this guide will walk you through installing PHP 8.0 step-by-step.

Rocky Linux and AlmaLinux are enterprise-grade operating systems, but their default repositories often include older PHP versions. To install PHP 8.0, we’ll use third-party repositories like EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) and Remi (a trusted repository for PHP packages).

2026-03

Table of Contents#

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Step 1: Update Your System
  3. Step 2: Enable EPEL Repository
  4. Step 3: Enable Remi Repository
  5. Step 4: Install PHP 8.0
  6. Step 5: Install PHP Extensions
  7. Step 6: Verify PHP Installation
  8. Step 7: Configure PHP (Optional)
  9. Step 8: Test PHP with a Web Server (Apache/Nginx)
  10. Troubleshooting Common Issues
  11. Conclusion
  12. References

Prerequisites#

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • A server running Rocky Linux 8/9 or AlmaLinux 8/9.
  • Sudo or root access to execute administrative commands.
  • An active internet connection to download packages.

Step 1: Update Your System#

First, update your system’s package index to ensure you have the latest dependencies. Run:

sudo dnf update -y

This command updates all installed packages and resolves potential conflicts.

Step 2: Enable EPEL Repository#

EPEL provides additional packages for Enterprise Linux. Install it using:

sudo dnf install epel-release -y

Verify EPEL is enabled:

dnf repolist | grep epel

You should see epel in the output (e.g., epel/x86_64 Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux 8 - x86_64).

Step 3: Enable Remi Repository#

Remi is a third-party repository that offers the latest PHP versions. Install the Remi release package for your OS version:

For Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux 8:#

sudo dnf install https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-8.rpm -y

For Rocky Linux/AlmaLinux 9:#

sudo dnf install https://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-9.rpm -y

Next, enable the PHP 8.0 module from Remi. List available PHP modules to confirm:

dnf module list php

You’ll see entries like php:remi-8.0 (for PHP 8.0). Enable it with:

sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.0 -y

This sets Remi’s PHP 8.0 as the default PHP version.

Step 4: Install PHP 8.0#

Now install PHP 8.0 core packages. Run:

sudo dnf install php -y

This installs the base PHP 8.0 binaries, including the CLI (Command-Line Interface).

Step 5: Install PHP Extensions#

Most applications require additional PHP extensions (e.g., for databases, XML, or image processing). Install common extensions using:

sudo dnf install php-cli php-fpm php-mysqlnd php-zip php-devel php-gd php-mcrypt php-mbstring php-curl php-xml php-pear php-bcmath php-json -y

Here’s what these extensions do:

  • php-fpm: FastCGI Process Manager (for web servers like Nginx).
  • php-mysqlnd: MySQL native driver (for database connectivity).
  • php-gd: Image processing.
  • php-mbstring: Multibyte string support.
  • php-curl: HTTP requests.

Install only the extensions your application needs. Use dnf search php- to find others (e.g., php-redis for Redis support).

Step 6: Verify PHP Installation#

Check the installed PHP version to confirm success:

php -v

You should see output like:

PHP 8.0.30 (cli) (built: Jun  6 2023 15:11:08) ( NTS )  
Copyright (c) The PHP Group  
Zend Engine v4.0.30, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies  
    with Zend OPcache v8.0.30, Copyright (c), by Zend Technologies

Step 7: Configure PHP (Optional)#

PHP settings are managed via the php.ini file. The location varies by SAPI (Server API):

  • CLI: /etc/php.ini
  • PHP-FPM: /etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf (pool-specific settings)

Example: Adjust PHP Memory Limit#

Edit php.ini with a text editor like nano:

sudo nano /etc/php.ini

Find the memory_limit directive (default: 128M) and update it (e.g., to 256M for larger applications):

memory_limit = 256M

Save and exit (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X).

Restart PHP-FPM (If Using It)#

If you installed php-fpm, restart the service to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart php-fpm  
sudo systemctl enable php-fpm  # Start on boot

Step 8: Test PHP with a Web Server (Apache/Nginx)#

To use PHP with a web server, configure Apache or Nginx to process PHP files.

Option 1: Apache Web Server#

If using Apache, install the Apache PHP module and restart Apache:

sudo dnf install php-apache -y  
sudo systemctl restart httpd  
sudo systemctl enable httpd

Create a test PHP file in Apache’s web root (/var/www/html):

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

Access the file via your server’s IP or domain: http://your-server-ip/info.php. You’ll see the PHP info page.

Option 2: Nginx Web Server#

Nginx uses PHP-FPM to process PHP files. Install Nginx first:

sudo dnf install nginx -y  
sudo systemctl start nginx  
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Edit Nginx’s default server block to handle PHP:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/default.conf

Add the following location block to process .php files:

server {  
    listen 80;  
    server_name your-domain.com;  # Replace with your domain/IP  
    root /usr/share/nginx/html;  
    index index.php index.html;  
 
    location ~ \.php$ {  
        fastcgi_pass 127.0.0.1:9000;  
        fastcgi_index index.php;  
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;  
        include fastcgi_params;  
    }  
}

Save and exit, then test Nginx configuration:

sudo nginx -t

If valid, restart Nginx:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Create a test PHP file in Nginx’s web root (/usr/share/nginx/html):

echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /usr/share/nginx/html/info.php

Access http://your-server-ip/info.php to confirm PHP is working.

Troubleshooting Common Issues#

1. PHP Version Still Old?#

If php -v shows an older version, ensure the Remi module is enabled:

dnf module list php | grep enabled

If php:remi-8.0 isn’t enabled, re-run:

sudo dnf module reset php -y  
sudo dnf module enable php:remi-8.0 -y  
sudo dnf install php -y

2. PHP-FPM Service Fails to Start?#

Check the logs for errors:

journalctl -u php-fpm

Common fixes:

  • Ensure php-fpm is installed: sudo dnf install php-fpm -y.
  • Verify www.conf syntax: sudo nginx -t (for Nginx) or check php-fpm logs.

3. Firewall Blocking Web Access?#

Allow HTTP/HTTPS through firewalld:

sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=http --permanent  
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=https --permanent  
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Conclusion#

You’ve successfully installed PHP 8.0 on Rocky Linux or AlmaLinux. This guide covered adding repositories, installing PHP and extensions, configuring PHP settings, and testing with Apache/Nginx. PHP 8.0’s performance and features make it a great choice for modern web applications.

References#