Ansible Role: Nexcess SCL PHP

Installs Remi's SCL PHP Version(s). By default this role only installs the CLI version of PHP. PHP 7.1 is the current default version of PHP installed by this role, but you can override via 'php_prefix'. FPM options are available (see Role Variables below).

Role Variables

See defaults/main.yml.

Dependencies

• https://github.com/nexcess/ansible-role-repo-remi

Add to Requirements

- src: https://github.com/nexcess/ansible-role-php.git
  name: nexcess.php

Example Playbook

- hosts: php_hosts
  roles:
    - nexcess.php

Using Meta Packages with use_meta_php_package

When the use_meta_php_package variable is set to true, this role will install a single meta-package instead of individual PHP packages. This meta-package is named nexcess-php-meta-{{ php_prefix }} and includes all base, PECL, and version-specific PHP packages required for that PHP version.

How it works

By default, the role installs individual PHP packages using yum (or dnf) as defined in the php_base_packages, php_pecl_modules, and version-specific package lists. However, when use_meta_php_package: true is set:

• The role skips installing individual PHP packages.
• It installs a single meta-package: nexcess-php-meta-{{ php_prefix }}.
• This meta-package aggregates all required PHP components into one installable unit.

Prerequisites

To use this feature, you must have built and deployed the meta-packages using the nexcess-php-meta builder script. See the section below for more information.

Example usage

  roles:
    - { role: nexcess.php, php_prefix: "php56", use_meta_php_package: true }

This will install the nexcess-php-meta-php74 package, which includes all necessary PHP packages for PHP 7.4.

Building Meta Packages with nexcess-php-meta

The under the nexcess-php-meta folder is a bash script that generates RPM meta‑packages for each supported PHP version. A meta‑package aggregates all required base, PECL, and version‑specific PHP packages into a single installable unit, allowing you to pull the complete PHP stack with one dnf/yum command (e.g. dnf install nexcess-php-meta-php74).

How the script works

1. make – parses the configuration, creates a clean SPECS/ directory, and writes a SPEC file for every PHP version.
2. build – runs rpmbuild on the generated SPEC files, producing the RPM meta‑packages.
3. clean – removes all generated SPEC files and build artefacts.

Optional skip logic (-s/--skip) lets you exclude specific PHP versions from generation or building.

Typical usage

# Generate SPEC files for all PHP versions
./php-meta=builder.sh make

# Build the RPMs (requires a functional rpmbuild environment)
./php-meta=builder.sh build

# Install a meta‑package on a target host
sudo dnf install nexcess-php-meta-php74

Skipping unwanted versions

If you only need a subset of versions, provide a comma‑separated list:

./php-meta=builder.sh -s php56,php70 make
./php-meta=builder.sh -s php56,php70 build

The script will still generate SPEC files for the remaining versions and ignore the skipped ones during the build step.

License

MIT