As much fun as it is to interact with MySQL from a command line, IBM i people expect more. We want convenience. We want ease of use. We want a Graphical User Interface. We want phpMyAdmin.
Starting with Zend Server for IBM i version 6.3.0, Zend is packaging a number of open source applications that can be deployed directly from the Zend Server Admin interface. This article demonstrates the deployment from the Zend Server Admin interface. Users of older versions of Zend Server 6 for IBM i should read the note below, before continuing.
Update 08/06/2014
The latest version of phpMyAdmin available for download from the Zend Server Guide Page requires MySQL 5.5. At the time of this update, MySQL 5.5 is not yet available on IBM i. It is in the works, but in the meantime, we need a version of phpMyAdmin that will work with MySQL 5.1. You can find alternative instructions and a download here:
Deploy phpMyAdmin compatible with MySQL 5.1
Please do not continue with the instructions on this page. I will update this post again, once MySQL 5.5 is available for IBM i.
Prerequisites: Before performing the phpMyAdmin deployment, you must first install Zend DBi, start the MySQL server daemon, and set the root password. These articles can help with that:
Install MySQL using the Zend DBi installer with Zend Server
Start the Zend DBi MySQL Daemon job and verify it is running
Set the Zend DBi MySQL root user password
Please note that the deployment will restart your Apache server, making your web site unavailable for a few minutes. Please plan this activity for a time when you can have the site down for a short while. To begin, please open your browser and go to the Zend Server Admin:
http://<your IBM i IP address>:10081
If prompted, log in as admin. Go to the Administration -> Settings tab:
Set the Default Server to match the IP address for your IBM i that appears in the browser address line. In this example we are using a numeric ip address, 192.168.15.103. However, this could also be a domain name in the form of ‘something.com’ or whatever appears between ‘http://’ and ‘:10081’. Please click the ‘Save; button to apply your changes.
Next, please navigate to the Overview -> Guide Page tab. Find the Deploy Sample Apps section.
There are icons for four applications, but none of these are for phpMyAdmin. Click the right arrow icon to display more apps.
Please click the phpMyAdmin icon (the one that looks sort of like an orange sailboat) to begin the deployment.
The Application Download display should appear, and the download progress will display. Please wait for the download to complete, and then click the ‘Next’ button. The Readme will display. Please read the information provided, and then click the ‘Next’ button.
On the Application details display, leave the Display Name set to ‘phpMyAdmin. The Virtual host should default to the Default Server entered earlier. In our example, this is 192.168.15.103. DO NOT leave the path blank. Set it to ‘/phpmyadmin’. This will be the last part of the URL used to access phpMyAdmin on your server. Please click the ‘Next’ button.
Please read the License Agreement and click the check box to indicate your agreement. Click the ‘Next’ button to continue.
The Prerequisites Validation will verify your version of PHP and that you have all the required extensions enabled. The installation of Zend Server 6 for IBM i sets all of these on by default. If any have been disabled, you will need to enable them and retry the phpMyAdmin deployment. If everything is green here, please click the ‘Next’ button to continue.
On the User Parameters display, leave the Hostname set to ‘127.0.0.1’. The port should be left at 3306, unless it was changed. Leave the user ‘root’, and enter the password set for the root user. In our example the password is ‘belladonna’. DO NOT check the Apache Basic Authentication box, and do not change anything else on this display. Please click the ‘Next’ button to continue.
The Deployment Summary shows the information you have entered and some information about the application. The Base URL will be the address used in your browser to access phpMyAdmin. Notice the last part is ‘/phpmyadmin’, the path specified in the Application Details display. Take a moment to review the information on this display. When you are ready, please click the ‘Deploy’ button. This will launch the deployment. Please remember that during this time your web site will be restarted and will not be available for a few minutes.
The deployment can take a while, depending on your IBM i performance. Please don’t interrupt it. You will probably see the ‘staging’ status for some time.
And then the activating status. I was not quick enough to grab a screen shot of the restart.
And then finally the application is deployed. Congratulations! You now have phpMyAdmin. Position your cursor on the line where the application is displayed to expand it.
There is a lot of information about your application here. Take a look around, click on the tabs, kick the tires. Notice that the Base URL is a link. Give it a click.
A new tab opens up, and there you have phpMyAdmin. Success!
Special note for users of versions of Zend Server 6 for IBM i prior to 6.3.0:
The best thing to do is to update Zend Server for IBM i to the current version. This is always recommended. However, if you must remain on the older version, please try this:
Deploy phpMyAdmin compatible with MySQL 5.1