Install OPCache to Improve PHP Performance in CentOS 7

PHP is one of the most popular programming language for developing applications, you will find it on every web hosting server. The most popular Content Management Systems (CMSs) are written in PHP, such as WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla.

One of the many reasons why PHP is well known out there is because it has numerous extensions in its default distribution, an example is OPcahce.

What is Opcache and How Does it Work?

Originally known as Zend Optimizer+, Opcache (introduced in PHP 5.5.0) is a powerful PHP extension built to enhance PHP performance thus boosting overall application performance. It is available as an extension through PECL for PHP versions 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4. It works by storing pre-compiled script byte-code in shared memory, thereby removing the need for PHP to load and parse scripts on each request.

In this article, we will explain how to install and configure OPcache in CentOS 7 for a specific PHP version.

Install Opcache PHP Extension in CentOS 7

1. First start by installing the EPEL repository and followed by the REMI repository on your system, as follows.

# yum update && yum install epel-release
# yum install http://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-7.rpm  

2. Next, you need to install yum-utils, a collection of utilities to extend yum’s default features; they help you manage yum repositories as well as packages without any manual configuration and more.

# yum install yum-utils

3. Once you have yum-utils installed, use yum-config-manager to enable Remi repository as the default repository for installing different PHP versions and modules.

# yum-config-manager --enable remi-php55		#For PHP 5.5
# yum-config-manager --enable remi-php56		#For PHP 5.6
# yum-config-manager --enable remi-php70 		#For PHP 7.0
# yum-config-manager --enable remi-php71		#For PHP 7.1
# yum-config-manager --enable remi-php72		#For PHP 7.2

4. Now install Opcache extension and verify your PHP version to confirm that it has Opcache extension installed using following commands.

# yum install php-opcache		
# php -v
Check OpCache PHP Extension
Check OpCache PHP Extension

Configure Opcache PHP Extension in CentOS 7

5. Next, configure OPcache by editing the /etc/php.d/10-opcache.ini (or /etc/php.d/10-opcache.ini) file using your favorite editor.

# vim /etc/php.d/10-opcache.ini

The following settings should get you started with using OPcache and are generally recommended as good performance. You can enable a configuration by uncommenting it.

opcache.enable_cli=1
opcache.memory_consumption=128
opcache.interned_strings_buffer=8
opcache.max_accelerated_files=4000
opcache.revalidate_freq=60
opcache.fast_shutdown=1

6. Finally, restart your web server for Opcache to start working.

# systemctl restart nginx
OR
# systemctl restart httpd

That’s all! Opcache is a PHP extension built to improve PHP performance. In this article, we have explained how to install and configure OPcache in CentOS 7. If you have any questions, reach us via the comments form below.

Hey TecMint readers,

Exciting news! Every month, our top blog commenters will have the chance to win fantastic rewards, like free Linux eBooks such as RHCE, RHCSA, LFCS, Learn Linux, and Awk, each worth $20!

Learn more about the contest and stand a chance to win by sharing your thoughts below!

Aaron Kili
Aaron Kili is a Linux and F.O.S.S enthusiast, an upcoming Linux SysAdmin, web developer, and currently a content creator for TecMint who loves working with computers and strongly believes in sharing knowledge.

Each tutorial at TecMint is created by a team of experienced Linux system administrators so that it meets our high-quality standards.

Join the TecMint Weekly Newsletter (More Than 156,129 Linux Enthusiasts Have Subscribed)
Was this article helpful? Please add a comment or buy me a coffee to show your appreciation.

6 Comments

Leave a Reply
  1. Hello Aaron. Thanks for the great advice. I followed your advice here and it REALLY speed things up with WordPress (since it is a PHP script essentially). I have PHP 7.2 and checking the php -v prior to following your advice opcache was not enabled. The speed boost was truly worth the effort! Much appreciated!

    Reply
    • @Pavel

      Oh, yes, you need to actually restart both nginx and php-fpm. Many thanks for the useful addition, we will update the article to reflect this.

      Reply

Got Something to Say? Join the Discussion...

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We appreciate your decision to leave a comment and value your contribution to the discussion. It's important to note that we moderate all comments in accordance with our comment policy to ensure a respectful and constructive conversation.

Rest assured that your email address will remain private and will not be published or shared with anyone. We prioritize the privacy and security of our users.