To manually install the MongDB PHP drivers without pear/pecl follow the below steps
# install required php tools
sudo apt-get install php5-dev
# grab the driver
# unzip and install
unzip mongodb-mongo-php-driver-a54a5f7.zip
cd mongodb-mongo-php-driver-a54a5f7/
phpize
./configure
sudo make install
# the above step should place the mongo.so file in your php extensions directory
# but it didn't when i tried - to manually copy the driver follow the below steps
# find the php extensions directory
php -i | grep extension_dir
# copy the driver to that directory
sudo cp modules/mongo.so /usr/lib/php5/20060613+lfs/
# now create the php mongo config file create/open the below file in vi
sudo vi /etc/php5/conf.d/mongo.ini
# and paste in the below configuration
extension=mongo.so
[mongo]
; If the driver should reconnect to mongo
mongo.auto_reconnect = true
; Whether to allow persistent connections
mongo.allow_persistent = On
; Maximum number of persistent connections (-1 means unlimited)
mongo.max_persistent = -1
; Maximum number of links (persistent and non-persistent, -1 means unlimited)
mongo.max_connections = -1
; Default host for mongo connection
mongo.default_host = localhost
; Default port for mongo database
mongo.default_port = 42
; When saving files to the database, size of chunks to split them into
mongo.chunk_size = 1024
; Specify an alternate character to $ to use for special db functions ($set, $push, etc.)
mongo.cmd = "$"
# save the above file and close
# now check php and ensure that it has picked up the mongo driver and configuration
php -re mongo
# assuming the above is OK restart apache
sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart
# your now all done - enjoy mongodb and php
