Configuring Multiple PHP Versions on Virtualmin

Virtualmin allows the selection of different PHP versions and execution modes for each domain. The recommended execution mode is FPM, but CGI/FCGId is also available, enabling per-directory PHP version settings.

Installing additional PHP versions

On RHEL, Alma, Rocky, Oracle, CentOS Stream and Fedora Linux

Install Remi repository

. /etc/os-release && repo_dir=$([ "$ID" = "fedora" ] && echo "fedora" || echo "enterprise") && dnf -y install "https://rpms.remirepo.net/$repo_dir/remi-release-$(rpm -E %$ID).rpm" && dnf clean all

Install PHP packages

dnf install php81-php-{cli,fpm,pdo,gd,mbstring,mysqlnd,opcache,curl,xml,zip}

Replace php81 with the desired PHP version, e.g., php83. Check available PHP versions and extensions in the Remi Repository or use dnf search php.

On Debian

Enable Sury/PHP repository

apt-get -y install apt-transport-https lsb-release ca-certificates curl && curl -sSL -o /usr/share/keyrings/debsuryorg-archive-keyring.gpg https://packages.sury.org/php/apt.gpg && sh -c ‘echo “deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/debsuryorg-archive-keyring.gpg] https://packages.sury.org/php/ $(lsb_release -sc) main” > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/sury-debian-php-$(lsb_release -sc).list’ && apt-get update

Install PHP packages

apt-get install php8.1-{cgi,cli,fpm,pdo,gd,mbstring,mysqlnd,opcache,curl,xml,zip}

Replace php8.1 with the desired version, e.g., php8.3. Check available PHP versions and extensions on the SURY website or via apt-cache search –names-only ^php.

On Ubuntu

Enable Ondrej/PHP repository

LC_ALL=C.UTF-8 add-apt-repository -y ppa:ondrej/php && apt-get update

Install PHP packages

apt-get install php8.1-{cgi,cli,fpm,pdo,gd,mbstring,mysqlnd,opcache,curl,xml,zip}

Replace php8.1 with the specific version, e.g., php8.3. Check available PHP versions and extensions on the Ondrej PPA website or via apt-cache search –names-only ^php.

Installing additional PHP extensions

In order to add additional PHP extensions, for all PHP versions installed on the system, use the following command:

Debian and derivatives

for php in $(ls /etc/php); do sudo apt-get install -y “php$php-“{curl,intl}; done

EL systems

for php in $(scl list-collections 2>/dev/null | grep 'php' | sed 's/$/-php/') php; do for ext in curl intl; do sudo dnf -y install "${php}-${ext}"; done; done

A command above will install the curl and intl extensions for all PHP versions installed on the system. You can replace the names of the extensions with the ones you need to have installed.

Configuring default PHP version

After installing another PHP version:

Verify in Virtualmin: Log in, go to System Settings ⇾ Re-Check Configuration. Among other information, you should see available PHP versions and execution modes.

Set default PHP version: Configure the default version for new virtual servers in System Settings ⇾ Server Templates ⇾ PHP Options page. For specific virtual server, set the PHP version in Web Configuration ⇾ PHP Options page.