Required software

Solaris installs often lack C compilers and their related tools. Read this FAQ for information on why using GNU versions for some of these tools is necessary.

For unpacking the PHP distribution you need

• tar
• gzip or
• bzip2

For compiling PHP you need

• gcc (recommended, other C compilers may work)
• make
• GNU sed

For building extra extensions or hacking the code of PHP you might also need

• flex (up to PHP 5.2)
• re2c
• bison
• m4
• autoconf
• automake

In addition, you will need to install (and possibly compile) any additional software specific to your configuration, such as Oracle or MySQL.

Using Packages

You can simplify the Solaris install process by using pkgadd to install most of your needed components. The Image Packaging System (IPS) for Solaris 11 Express also contains most of the required components for installation using the pkg command.