Moodle

Hi

I'm trying to install Moodle - an open source eLearning software package. I have it installed locally and now want to install it to my new website. It uses php which is supported here, but the install script reports the following error when trying to access the SQL database I've created for it:

PHP has not been properly configured with the MSSQL extension so that it can communicate with SQL*Server. Please check your php.ini file or recompile PHP.

Any thoughts?
Many thanks for your help

 

MSSQL support is not compiled into our php installation by default, so any php script that tries to use it will fail.

 

Many thanks for getting back to me. I have to ask the question: is it possible for you to compile MSSQL support into your php installation? I quite understand if this is not possible. Moodle is something that I wanted to experiment with on-line, but I can continue to do so on my local machine.

Regards
Chris

 

I'm going to say 'no,' because the php install has to remain standard across all the servers. But having said that, I will check and see if there is any technical reason not to add it to the standard compilation.

 

I quite understand how important it is to maintain a standard build across your servers and really appreciate your looking to see if the change to php would be ok.

Many thanks for your help

 

Have you checked this kb article that gives a PHP example script on how to connect to a SQL database. I tried this script myself with my own SQL 2008 database hosted on Winhost and it worked.

http://support.Winhost.com/KB/a687/how-to-query-an-ms-sql-database-with-php-using-dsn.aspx

Since Moodle uses PHP you should be able to use this PHP script.

 

Ray, that holds true for code you write yourself, but I think there are a lot of installation scripts that use specific mssql php commands (mssql_connect, mssql_query, mssql_result, etc.), and those will fail if mssql support isn't compiled into php.

I will have an answer later this afternoon after I meet with the sys admins.

 

Thanks guys - I appreciate your help

 

Well, as it turns out, you can't just compile php with mssql in the Windows installation. There is an mssql module, but it was written for SQL 2005 and has not been updated in some time. We are going to do some testing of that module, but I'm afraid that the end result could be, "no native mssql support in php."

 

I had a feeling that it wouldn't be straightforward but massive thanks for looking into this further. I was recommended to you and I'm hugely impressed with your support.

If it means "no native mssql support in php" then that's ok - the fact that you're prepared to give it a try says a lot to me

 

Yeah, we're definitely testing it, because if it's something we can work with it's a plus for everyone. I'll keep on the admins about it and we'll see what we can come up with.

 

Hi - have you come up with anything yet on native mssql support in php?
I haven't retried my installation yet.

Thanks

 

We're still actively pursuing it, but I can't give you an ETA at the moment.

 

No worries Hank - thanks for pursuing it and I will wait to hear from you. Greatly appreciate it.

Thanks

 

Have there been any updates to the issue of mssql support for php? I signed on because I saw that you had both services and then found out that I can't use php. Thanks.

 

Try looking at this kb article to query/connect to a SQL 2008 server using PHP.

http://support.Winhost.com/KB/a687/sample-code-to-connect-to-an-ms-sql-database-using-php.aspx