Selecting the correct PHP version is crucial for performance and compatibility when managing a website. On Brixly's shared and reseller cPanel hosting plans, two primary tools are available for managing PHP versions: MultiPHP and Select PHP Version (PHP Selector). Though they might seem similar initially, they serve distinct purposes and offer different advantages.
Select PHP Version (PHP Selector)
Select PHP Version, commonly known as the 'PHP Selector, ' is a tool designed to optimize your site's performance while providing a broad array of self-service options for managing PHP extensions and settings. More importantly, the PHP Selector works at 'account level', and sets the PHP version for all domains within the cPanel account.
Key Features and Notes:
- Security Enhancements: The PHP Selector enforces 'alt-php', secured and patched versions of PHP designed for shared environments. This includes patches to old and previously insecure older versions of PHP.
- Simplified Extension and Settings Management: It allows you to easily customize PHP extensions and settings directly from the cPanel interface, offering a high degree of control over your PHP environment.
- Version Availability: PHP Selector typically includes a wider range of PHP versions, due to the implemented security patches as part of alt-php.
- Single PHP Version per cPanel Account: The PHP Selector sets a PHP version, applicable to all domains across a single cPanel hosting account. As such, it's not suitable as a solution where you require multiple domains to have varying versions of PHP. Please note however, that as a reseller, you are able to split the domains down into separate cPanel accounts, if required, each of which would of course have its own PHP Selector, and versions applicable.
Best Use Case:
PHP Selector is ideal for users who prioritize performance and security and need extensive control over PHP settings and extensions. This is our recommended selector, and should be used for almost all cases.
MultiPHP
MultiPHP is a tool that allows for managing different PHP versions across various domains or directories within the same hosting account. However, the caveats are that this option lacks more granular control, such as the ability to set particular extensions, and may offer a more restricted set of PHP versions.
Key Features:
- PHP Version by Directory or Domain: Unlike the PHP Selector, MultiPHP enables you to assign different PHP versions to different parts of your website. For instance, your main site could use PHP 8.1, while a specific application within a subdirectory operates on PHP 7.4.
- EA-PHP: MultiPHP uses ea-php (provided by cPanel) rather than alt-php (provided by CloudLinux). The alt-php packages have been intrinsically secured and patched by the team at Cloudlinux, whereas the ea-php binaries are typically unaltered, and may contain upstream security exploits. Please note, however, that we do have an additional layer of security on our servers to prevent such exploits, as part of Imunify360.
- PHP INI Editor Compatibility: When using ea-php versions, the MultiPHP INI Editor allows for easy customization of PHP settings, which makes modifications to your .htaccess files for your domains. However, for alt-php versions (set through the PHP Selector), adjustments must be made through the Select PHP Version interface.
Best Use Case:
MultiPHP is best suited for users who need to run multiple PHP versions simultaneously across different domains or directories. Using this facility does add a layer of complexity, that typically isn't required - we do find that most clients prefer the PHP Selector instead.
Key Points to Remember
- Select PHP Version (PHP Selector) is the recommended tool for most users, offering enhanced security through 'alt-php' versions, simplified management of PHP extensions and settings, and a broad range of PHP versions due to security patches. It operates at the account level, setting a single PHP version for all domains within a cPanel account, thereby ensuring uniform performance and security settings across your hosting environment.
- MultiPHP, on the other hand, provides flexibility in assigning different PHP versions to different domains or directories within the same hosting account. This is particularly useful for users who manage diverse applications requiring various PHP versions for optimal functionality. However, it offers a more limited control over PHP extensions and a potentially more restricted set of PHP versions, relying on 'ea-php' provided by cPanel, which may not have the same level of security enhancements as 'alt-php'.
Conclusion
Choosing the right PHP management tool depends on your specific needs:
- Opt for Select PHP Version (PHP Selector) if you prioritize a secure, performance-optimized environment with extensive control over PHP settings and extensions across all domains in your cPanel account. This is the default recommendation for enhancing the security and performance of your websites.
- Choose MultiPHP if your hosting setup requires different PHP versions for different parts of your website, acknowledging the added complexity and the need for careful management to ensure security and performance.
Ultimately, Brixly aims to provide a hosting environment that caters to diverse requirements, whether you're focusing on security and performance enhancements with PHP Selector or require the flexibility of MultiPHP for specific use cases. Understanding the capabilities and limitations of each tool will empower you to make informed decisions, ensuring your websites are both secure and performant.