Managing PHP Versions and Containers in Enhance

For website owners and developers, having granular control over the server environment is essential. Whether you are installing a legacy application that requires an older version of PHP or you want to leverage the speed of the latest release, the Enhance control panel makes this process seamless.

At HOSTYAP, we utilize the Enhance platform to give you full autonomy over your hosting environment. Below is a comprehensive guide on how to change your PHP version and restart the PHP container for your website.

Understanding PHP Versions

Enhance offers a wide range of PHP versions to ensure compatibility with any script or Content Management System (CMS) you wish to run. By default, new websites are set up with PHP 8.4 (the latest stable release), but you are free to switch to other versions depending on your needs.

Available PHP Versions

You can choose from the following PHP releases:

• 8.4 (Latest) – The most current stable version.
• 8.3 (LTS) – Long Term Support.
• 8.2 (LTS) – Long Term Support.
• 8.1 (LTS) – Long Term Support.
• 8.0
• 7.4
• 7.3
• 7.2

Decoding the Tags

• Latest Version: This represents the most up-to-date stable PHP release, offering the newest features and performance improvements.
• LTS (Long-term Support): These versions are considered the most stable for production environments. They receive regular security patches and bug fixes for an extended period.
• Unlabelled (e.g., 8.0, 7.4): These are “End-of-Life” (EOL) versions. While available for legacy application support, they no longer receive official security updates. We recommend using these only if your specific application requires them.

How to Change Your PHP Version

Changing the PHP version for your domain is a straightforward process. Please note that any add-on domains or subdomains associated with the same website will automatically inherit the primary domain’s PHP settings.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Navigate to Websites: From the Enhance control panel sidebar, click on Websites.
2. Select Your Domain: Find and click on the website for which you wish to modify the PHP settings.
3. Access Advanced Settings: Once the website dashboard loads, locate the top navigation bar and click on Advanced.
4. Open Developer Tools: In the Advanced section, select Developer tools.
5. Locate PHP Versions: Scroll down until you see the PHP Versions section.
6. Choose Your Version: Click the dropdown menu and select your desired PHP version (e.g., 8.3 LTS or 7.4).
7. Confirm the Change: A confirmation modal will appear. Click Update to apply the new configuration.

Warning: Before switching PHP versions, it is critical to ensure that the applications running on your site (such as WordPress, Laravel, or custom scripts) are compatible with the new version. Upgrading to a newer version may introduce breaking changes, while downgrading may cause security risks or deprecation errors.

Restarting PHP for a Website

Unlike traditional shared hosting where PHP services are global, Enhance utilizes a containerized system. Each primary website has its own isolated PHP container. This architecture allows you to restart PHP for a single site without affecting the performance of other websites in your account.

Restarting the PHP container is useful for:

• Reloading the php.ini configuration file.
• Reloading redis.conf for caching configurations.
• Terminating “stuck” PHP workers or processes that are causing high resource usage or site errors.

How to Restart the PHP Container

1. Open Websites: In the left sidebar, click on Websites.
2. Select Your Website: Click on the specific site you wish to manage.
3. Go to Advanced: Click the Advanced tab in the top navigation.
4. Select Developer Tools: Choose Developer tools.
5. Find the Restart Option: Scroll down to the PHP section.
6. Restart the Container: Under “Restart PHP container,” click the Restart button.
7. Confirm Action: A confirmation modal will appear; click Restart to execute the process.

Warning: When you restart the PHP container, your website will experience a brief moment of downtime (usually just a few seconds) as the service stops and starts again. We recommend performing this action during low-traffic periods to minimize disruption to your visitors.