How install pdo_sqlsrv to connect to MSSQL Servers

Introduction

When connecting to a Microsoft SQL server, installing pdo_sqlsrv is necessary for PHP to communicate with this third-party SQL service. Several options exist to connect to SQL servers, but utilizing pdo_sqlsrv is the best option and has few requirements.

Please note that pdo_sqlsrv requires PHP 8.0 or newer.

Procedure

Please note that this is a task that an administrator should perform to avoid conflicts and issues. Manually attempting to install any package or related functionality may result in a conflict that needs to be addressed by an administrator before a successful installation is achieved.

1. Access the server's command line as the 'root' user via SSH or "Terminal" in WHM.
2. Install the Microsoft SQL Driver using Microsoft's documentation.

   Microsoft Docs: Installing the Microsoft SQL Driver for Linux

3. Install the following packages.
   • RHEL-based servers

     dnf install gcc-c++ libtool-ltdl-devel unixODBC-devel -y

   • Ubuntu

     apt install g++ libltdl-dev unixodbc-dev -y

   Please note that If users need access to ODBC commands inside of CloudLinux CageFS, you must add the RPMs to CageFS.
4. Install the sqlsrv package.
   The exec function must not be disabled for the PHP version you are installing this on. If exec is present in the disable_functions setting you will need to remove it using the WHM MultiPHP Manager interface.  
   

   /usr/bin/ea-php8#-pecl install sqlsrv

   Please note that "#" must be replaced with the PHP subversion for which the package is being installed.
   Please note that for PHP 8.0, sqlsrv must be replaced with sqlsrv-5.11.0.
5. Install the pdo_sqlsrv PECL package.

   /usr/bin/ea-php8#-pecl install pdo_sqlsrv

   Please note that "#" must be replaced with the PHP subversion for which the package is being installed.
   Please note that for PHP 8.0, pdo_sqlsrv must be replaced with pdo_sqlsrv-5.11.0.
6. Finally, you can check that the modules installed successfully with a command like this

   /usr/bin/ea-php8# -m | grep sqlsrv

Additional resources

How to add a command or binary to CageFS for all users using addrpm

How to install PHP extensions using PECL using WHM

How To Enable A Particular PHP Extension For A Cloudlinux ALT-PHP## Installation?

MultiPHP Manager for WHM