I am installing a CMS program (SPIP from www.spip.net) which needs a server (Apache2 in this case), PHP3 and MySQL working together.

I have those packages installed (using synaptic). So far I have Apache2 working and a database accessible in Mysql but the install of SPIP gives a message:
SPIP requires a php extension: MYSQL
This module (php3-mysql) is installed so I guess there is a configuration to be done somewhere but I have no idea where and how.

Can someone suggest how to solve this?

Thank you for your help.

Maybe the MySQL account is not activated?
http://www.spip.net/en_article84.html

This doesn't seem to be a Debian issue at all. I would look for an English-speaking SPIP forum or email list.

Edit: Make sure you haven't made an error configuring Apache, MySQL and PHP. For instance, if you have rebooted, you need to make sure they are started automatically.

Thank you michapma, I was able to use Mysql.

It seems to me it is entirely a Debian issue because Debian has its own config files, especially for Apache.

SPIP needs PHP3, the Debian distro I have (14 CDs) has both but the Apache configuration files are only prepared for PHP4

I have added the following files & lines:
/etc/apache2/mods-available/php3.load
LoadModule php3_module /usr/lib/apache/1.3/libphp3.so

/etc/apache2/mods-available/php3.conf
<IfModule mod_php3.c>
AddType application/x-httpd-php .php .phtml .php3
AddType application/x-httpd-php-source .phps
</IfModule>

and I get the following error:

lt:/home/rene# /etc/init.d/apache2 stop
Stopping web server: Apache2.
lt:/home/rene# /etc/init.d/apache2 start
Starting web server: Apache2Syntax error on line 1 of /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/ php3.load:
Cannot load /usr/lib/apache/1.3/libphp3.so into server: /usr/lib/apache/1.3/libp hp3.so: undefined symbol: ap_user_id
lt:/home/rene#

Here is the contents of ~mods-enabled/

rene@lt:/etc/apache2/mods-enabled$ ls -l
total 0
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 36 2005-10-28 22:13 cgi.load -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/cgi.load
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 33 2005-10-28 22:13 mod_python.load -> ../mods-available/mod_python.load
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 37 2005-10-28 22:17 perl.conf -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/perl.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 37 2005-10-28 22:17 perl.load -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/perl.load
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 37 2005-12-16 12:23 php3.conf -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/php3.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 37 2005-12-16 12:22 php3.load -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/php3.load
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 40 2005-10-28 22:13 userdir.conf -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/userdir.conf
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 40 2005-10-28 22:13 userdir.load -> /etc/apache2/mods-available/userdir.load
rene@lt:/etc/apache2/mods-enabled$

Why even go with SPIP if they are so far behind? Everybody is getting ready for php5 and they still are working with php3
I suggest you go with xoops, xoops can do all that stuff too and it is up to date.

However if you need old debian stuff here is an install which works:
http://www.projektfarm.com/en/support/debian_setup/

to install the new version of debian and then xoops use this:
http://www.falkotimme.com/howtos/per...arge/index.php

Thank you all, I've just discovered that SPIP was not what I expected and I am going to try "tikiwiki" (xoops, like spip, doesn't have some features I need).

gruessle's link will come handy.