How to properly configure alias directive in nginx?

Question

I have been trying to configure multiple webapp on my nginx webserver but I can\'t get working one Laravel app that requires $document_root set to laravel public folder. I

Answer 1

I found the solution. It seems that a wrong request was sent for php files. When alias is used it is recommend to use $request_filename instead of $fastcgi_script_name.

Here is my location block :

location /paperwork {

      alias /var/www/html/paperwork/frontend/public;
      #try_files $uri $uri/;
      location ~ \.php$ {
          fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php5-fpm.sock;
          include fastcgi_params;                       
          fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $request_filename;
          #fastcgi_intercept_errors on;
      }
}

This solved my problem for my 'test.php' file which is now executed while reaching https://IP/paperwork/test.php. So alias is working and php is well executed. I still have a problem when trying to reach 'index.php' (which is my laravel app index). File is found but instead of executing it is downloaded. So when I reach https://IP/paperwork/index.php I get a login file downloaded which is index.php file. I get same behaviour if I try /paperwork/index.php/login or /paperwork/login.