Necessary and recommended PHP extensions for XF 2.1

[ibnesayeed]

If we were to setup a Linux box for state-of-the art XF 2.1 environment from scratch and wanted to use PHP 7.2 (or 7.3 when out), what would be mandatory, recommended, and nice to have PHP extensions (or other libraries/packages)? We would like to keep the system minimal (as in no unnecessary packages), but without any compromise on features, performance, and security. This box would be optimized for production environment, not for development.

Note: I know there is a requirements checker script, but that only checks for bare necessities.

 

[JonathanW]

The requirement checker script is going to be your best bet. There are few extensions that if not specifically taken advantage of would do any good.

The one exception to that which I can think of is Zend Opcache. It might be in your OS's package manager as "php-opcache" or something similar. It will do a good bit to speed up your site.

 

[eva2000]

The requirement checker script is going to be your best bet.

yup = XenForo's requirements script

But if you want to take advantage of XF 2.1 newer password hashing algorithms, you need also argon2 and libsodium extension and PHP 7.2/7.3 https://xenforo.com/community/threa...2-1-assorted-improvements.155901/post-1294989

You'd also need redis and memcached PHP extensions for caching.

 

[ivp]

You'd also need redis and memcached PHP extensions for caching.

What's recommended - redis or memcached?

 

[eva2000]

redis for sure

 

[ivp]

redis for sure

Can I apply the same on regular CentOS 7.6, including redis-install.sh:

Xenforo - Xenforo 2.1.0 Beta 1 Install & 2.1.0 Final Upgrade On Centmin Mod 123.09beta01 LEMP Stack

Xenforo 2.1 Beta 1 has been publicly released and this is my first attempt at installing it on Centmin Mod 123.09beta01 with default PHP 7.2 7.4...

community.centminmod.com

 

[eva2000]

Can I apply the same on regular CentOS 7.6, including redis-install.sh:

Xenforo - Xenforo 2.1.0 Beta 1 Install & 2.1.0 Final Upgrade On Centmin Mod 123.09beta01 LEMP Stack

Xenforo 2.1 Beta 1 has been publicly released and this is my first attempt at installing it on Centmin Mod 123.09beta01 with default PHP 7.2 7.4...

community.centminmod.com

not exactly, redis-install.sh installer script is specific to Centmin Mod LEMP stack users where nginx web server runs as nginx user/group.

 

[ivp]

not exactly, redis-install.sh installer script is specific to Centmin Mod LEMP stack users where nginx web server runs as nginx user/group.

Haven't noticed some significant speed improvement with single Redis instance. Is it necessary to setup all 3 to see the difference?

 

[eva2000]

Improvements will be minor as all redis cached requests still have to go via php processing and only really will notice on high concurrency level traffic patterns. Better than not having it enabled but it won't be significant.

 

[Mik_27]

Haven't noticed some significant speed improvement with single Redis instance. Is it necessary to setup all 3 to see the difference?

Sorry, three what?

 

[ivp]

Sorry, three what?

Three Redis instances.

 

[Mik_27]

For what is my little knowledge I understand that, as far as optimisation goes, OPcache is a no brainer and should always be enabled.
Then the most two popular choices are

• Memcached
• Redis

But from the look of them it seems memcached is less powerful but easier to set up.
Redis on the other hand gives more optimisation / speed but more complicated to set up and use.
For a not too experienced sysadmin would you suggest memcached?
Do both work with PHP 7.3?