PHP 5.6 as Software Collection

RPM of upcoming new major version of PHP 5.6, are available in remi repository for Fedora 19, 20 and Enterprise Linux 6, 7 (RHEL, CentOS, ...) in a fresh new Software Collection (php56) allowing its installation beside the system version.

As I strongly believe in SCL potential to provide a simple way to allow installation of various versions simultaneously, and as I think it is useful to offer this feature to allow developers to test their applications, to allow sysadmin to prepare a migration or simply to use this version for some specific application, I decide to create this new SCL.

Installation :

yum --enablerepo=remi install php56

To be noticed:

• as the SCL is independant from the system, and doesn't alter it, this SCL is available in remi repository


• installation is under the /opt/remi tree


• the Apache module, php56-php, is available, but of course, only one mod_php can be used (so you have to disable or uninstall any other, the one provided by the default "php" package still have priority)


• the FPM service (php56-php-fpm) is available, it listens on default port 9000, so you have to change the configuration if you want to use various FPM services simultaneously.


• the php56 command give a simple access to this new version, however the scl command is still the recommended way.


• for now, the collection provides 5.6.0RC4, but stable version should be released soon.


• more PECL extensions will be progressively also available.


• only x86_64, no plan for other arch.

Also read other entries about SCL.

$ scl enable php56 'php -v'
PHP 5.6.0RC4 (cli) (built: Aug 24 2014 20:24:53) 
Copyright (c) 1997-2014 The PHP Group
Zend Engine v2.6.0-dev, Copyright (c) 1998-2014 Zend Technologies
    with Zend OPcache v7.0.4-dev, Copyright (c) 1999-2014, by Zend Technologies

As always, your feedback is welcome, a SCL dedicated forum is open.

more