getting mysql to work with PHP *cannot find "configure"*

my PHP 3 was installed with the linux OS and i just installed mysql.
to get it work i need to run 'configure --with-mysql=DIR'

problem is 
PHP 3 was probably rpm installed.
thus no 'configure' could be found.

funny thing is i can't find the PHP source from the library/tools CD
that came with linux.  wonder how it got in there.

i am thinking of upgrading to PHP 4. does that solve the problem?
how do i go about it?

thanks in advance
beesh