How do I connect to a remote Oracle database instance from PHP?
I need to query (read only) the remote Oracle database for some information; do I need to have an Oracle Instant Client installed?
Is the OCI extension for PHP enough?
From PHP Manual
You will need the Oracle client libraries to use this extension.
The most convenient way to install all the required files is to use Oracle Instant Client, which is available from Oracle's site
The best manual for using PHP with Oracle is Underground PHP Oracle Manual. Periodically updated. For example last update describe new cool OCI (Oracle Call Interface) features. I found it by accident and since then has never regretted. Start from that good manual.
there are a couple of steps you need to go through to make this work.
First, you need to install the oracle driver for whatever OS you have. Then, create a DSN for odbc to use to connect the php function call to the oracle database. On windows, you can find this on the Control Panel -> ODBC Sources
Once you have done this, restart the DB, the web server and then you should be able to test it all with this:
odbc_connect($dsn,$user,$pass);
If you have linux, the same steps are needed but I'm not sure how you create a DSN in unix.
I saw this in the "Notes" section of the PHP documentation:
If you're using PHP with Oracle Instant Client, you can use easy connect naming method (...)
So I think it's rather clear that you can connect to an Oracle DB without the Oracle Instant Client, using only the PHP Oracle extension.
If you're attempting to connect to oracle on ubuntu with PHP, the following links have been more than helpful:
A) http://pecl.php.net/bugs/bug.php?id=9253
That's the real-workhorse one - it gives you just about all the data you need.
B) http://fabrizioballiano.net/2008/01/26/how-to-install-php-pdo_oci-on-ubuntu-gutsy/
This is also helpful for details of things that need to be installed for oracle to work with ubuntu.
If you're using it with PHP, you'll need to make sure that the TNS_ADMIN and ORACLE_HOME environment variables are available for apache's user - there's a file named 'envvars' in the apache2 directory where you can set these. (For my own ease of use, I have the two point to the same directory.)
Related
I'll start off by saying I am thoroughly confused. I've read through "The Underground PHP and Oracle Manual White Paper" and through some similar questions on StackOverflow and I still have no idea what I need to do.
I'm using PHP 5.3.1 on Ubuntu 12.04. I'm trying to connect to Oracle 11g. I don't know if I need Instant Client or Oracle XE. I want to connect to it using PDO as that's how my code is already structured but I can't make heads or tails of the documentation. I also have an option to connect via ODBC. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
In any way, you need at least instant client if you are connecting with PDO.
Oracle XE contains OCI runtime (Oracle call interface), but you may need to setup some environment variables to make it work.
Is it Oracle XE instance on same server as Apache/PHP ?
You have couple of good articles on google's search result like:
http://www.sitepoint.com/oracle-10g-xe-and-php/
http://docs.oracle.com/cd/E17781_01/appdev.112/e18555/ch_one.htm
http://web3us.com/drupal6/how-create-web-site-handbook/oracle-xe-php [Recommended reading]
http://www.devshed.com/c/a/Oracle/Configuring-Oracle-Database-XE-and-PHP/
http://php.net/manual/en/function.oci-connect.php
I generally use linux servers and program in PHP (plus other associated technologies) with mysql databases. A client has existing ASP sites using MSSQL databases on a Windows server and wants some new sites created on their server using their MSSQL database as the main data source. I have used ASP in the past but much prefer PHP so would rather use this.
I just wanted to confirm that i'm right in saying as long as the server has PHP installed (which it does) then there's no reason I can't create a PHP site on the Windows server and just use different connectors to connect to the MSSQL db (rather than what i would usually use for connecting to a MYSQL db). Presumably (other than the different connect/query code) this would work in pretty much the same way as with a linux setup with mysql and i could then code the site in PHP but use their existing datasource?
I would be extremely grateful if anyone could confirm i'm right in saying this and if there's any other issues that might cause any problems?
Thanks so much for your help as ever,
Dave
You can enable MSSQL support in PHP on Windows. The default Windows PHP install has the php_mssql.dll extension commented out in the php.ini file. Uncomment that line, restart Apache, and it should work.
There is a supporting DLL called ntwdblib.dll that you may need to find a replacement for, as the version included with PHP may be outdated and won't work with newer versions of SQL Server. (I had this problem when setting it up.)
There are two different libraries to connect to SQL Server from PHP:
The legacy mssql extension, which has been discontinued on Windows
Microsoft's sqlsrv extension, which only works on Windows
I've basically worked with the second one and I can say it's a very interesting product. It's robust, it has a very nice interface and it's totally up-to-date. But what I like most is that it has very nice features. E.g.:
It can return dates as PHP DateTime objects
It provides a PDO driver
The only drawback of using SQL Server is that there isn't an easy way to write a cross-platform app but I understand it isn't problem in your case.
Yes, it is rather straight forweard.
You need to have the mssql library activated in php.ini. Which can be troublesom.
MSSSQL docmentation
I'm interested in quering a Pervasive DB server running on a Windows platform from Linux.
Would anyone happen to know if this is possible, what's required and what resources there are for me to read up on it?
Thanks!
What version of Pervasive are you using? All versions since v8 (including v9 and v10) support a Linux client which is included with the Pervasive.SQL server engine. V9 and V10 clients are also available for download from the Pervasive website (http://www.pervasivedb.com/Database/Products/PSQLv10/Pages/PSQLOverview.aspx). Once you've got a client installed on the Linux machine, you can create an ODBC DSN or use the Btrieve API to access the data.
Most database have at least a command line client to connect to database. check your brand of database to see if you have such tools. For example, Mysql has mysql command line client for making query to MySql database. Otherwise, another way is you might want to try setting up ODBC with Perl.
Is there a thin driver for Oracle available to be used with PHP (for example as an extension)?
I cannot install the OCI driver/client, but need to be able to access an Oracle database.
What is the problem with installing the OCI driver ?
The InstantClient version simply requires an unzip and setting a couple of environment variables.
The other option is exposing the database functionality through web services. 11g includes an inbuilt HTTP server.
Oracle released a jdbc driver written only in java, but (afaik) without the source code, so I doubt they will release a php (source code) driver. And never heard of an attempt by someone else.
But another question: "(for example as an extension)" You would be able to install an extension but not the oci8 extension?
There is no "thin" Oracle driver in PHP. You always need an external client library such as Oracle Instant Client - which is really easy to install.
Check http://www.oracle.com/technology/tech/php/pdf/underground-php-oracle-manual.pdf
(Also, Oracle has RPMs of PHP and Instant Client that can be used on RH Linux.)
I have on my local PC installed WAMP environment (using WampServer OS).
Now I would need to change one script from working with MySQL to MSSQL.
I have no idea at all how to proceed, where to download MSSQL, how to install it and how to connect with PHP?
Thank you very much
Download mssql express http://www.microsoft.com/Sqlserver/2005/en/us/express.aspx
Familiarize yourself with one of the great database abstraction layers, for example PDO http://www.php.net/pdo
Refactor your code to use the database abstraction layer
You may need to rewrite the mysql specific things to "standard" SQL
Start by getting Sql Server working. If you are using an old copy of Sql Server (pre 2005) you will need to make sure ntwdblib.dll is present in your System32 directory, and removed from your PHP dll directory (ntwdblib.dll is installed with the enterprise tools, so you may have to install them on your PHP box as well). Once you have Mssql querying properly, start finding where Mssql differs from MySql in your code.
A couple of tips:
The ntwdblib doesn't accept long strings (I think it is limited to 4k, but don't quote me on that). You have to use Stored Procs if you are trying to process a string longer than 4k.
Try to use Sql Server 2005 if you can (see above), the ntwdblib.dll is ancient and has numerous issues.
The PHP site is your friend for mssql.