How do I run multiple copies of php concurrently on IIS 6 (a.k.a Windows Server 2003) using separate php.ini files or put differently,
how to get multiple instances of PHP to use different php.ini files on IIS6?

I have been successful in getting both the 5.0.0 distribution version of PHP and the the 5.1.0 development version running at the same time (configured on different virtual servers). But no matter what I try I am unable to get them to use separate php.ini files, which is the whole point to begin with.

There is no php.ini file in the windows directory and there is a copy of the corresponding php.ini file in the directories for php50 and php51dev. I have also put different copies of php.ini at the root level of both virtual servers.

This does not work. Php simply defaults to c:\windows as the ini path (even though there is no file there) and uses default initialization values.
The php installation instructions state that PHP looks for php.ini in the working directory, in the path designated by the environment variable; PHPRC, and in the Windows directory. I seem to be unable to determine what the actual working directory is or if php is really looking there for the ini file in this order.


Any ideas how to get multiple instances of PHP to use different php.ini files?

thanks
Charlie
http://www.lupicas.com