How to configure Apache to process PHP code inside an .html file on a Plesk server

Question

How to configure Apache to process PHP code inside a .html file?

Answer

1. Log into Plesk as admin user.

2. Adjust PHP-FPM configuration for the domain:

   • For Plesk Onyx 17.5.3 Update 32 and newer.

     • Go to Domains > example.com > PHP Settings and add the following lines into the field Additional configuration directives:

       [php-fpm-pool-settings]
       security.limit_extensions = .php .phar .html .inc

     • Click OK to save the changes.

   • For Plesk versions earlier than Onyx 17.5.3 Update 32.

     • Connect to the server using SSH.

     • Create the file /var/www/vhosts/system/example.com/conf/php.ini.

     • Open the created file in a text editor and add the following lines:

       [php-fpm-pool-settings]
       security.limit_extensions = .php .phar .html .inc

     • In Plesk, go to Domains > example.com > PHP Settings and click OK to update PHP-FPM pool settings.

3. Go to Domains > example.com > Apache & nginx settings and add the following lines into the fields Additional directives for HTTP and Additional directives for HTTPS:

   For PHP running as an Apache module:

   <IfModule mod_php5.c>
   <Directory /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs>
   AddHandler php5-script .php .html .htm
   AddType text/html .php .html .htm
   </Directory>
   </IfModule>

   For PHP handler set as CGI:

   <Directory /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs>
   <Files ~ .(htm|html)$>
   SetHandler None
   AddHandler php-script .html .htm
   Options +ExecCGI
   allow from all
   </Files>
   </Directory>

   For PHP handler set as FastCGI:

   <Directory /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs>
   <Files ~ .(htm|html)$>
   SetHandler fcgid-script
   FCGIWrapper /var/www/cgi-bin/cgi_wrapper/cgi_wrapper .htm
   FCGIWrapper /var/www/cgi-bin/cgi_wrapper/cgi_wrapper .html
   Options +ExecCGI
   allow from all
   </Files>
   </Directory>

   For PHP handler set as FPM:

   <IfModule mod_proxy_fcgi.c>
   <Directory /var/www/vhosts/example.com/httpdocs>
   <Files ~ .(?i:inc|html|htm)$>
   SetHandler proxy:unix:///var/www/vhosts/system/example.com/php-fpm.sock|fcgi://127.0.0.1:9000
   </Files>
   </Directory>
   </IfModule>

If a change is required on a global scale, then the virtual host configuration templates can be adjusted and the sections above put into web server configuration files automatically. For more information, check KB article #213413649.

Note: If short_open_tag is used in the code, enable it at example.com > PHP Settings > Common Settings > short_open_tag

Note: Full path has to be provided inside <Directory> tag. If the location of your files is differ, adjust it accordingly. Or remove strings with <Directory> </Directory> tags.