Manage PHP versions with your server

Easily install, configure, and switch between multiple PHP versions on your Pivotlar server.

Overview #

Pivotlar simplifies managing multiple PHP versions on your server. Each PHP version runs its own FPM process, allowing you to assign different versions to different sites as needed. You can change a site’s PHP version at any time from the site management panel.

⚠️ Pivotlar only tracks and manages PHP versions that were installed during the provisioning process or through its dashboard. Manually installed versions won’t be visible or manageable via Pivotlar.

Multiple PHP Versions #

During server provisioning, Pivotlar installs PHP 8.3 by default. This becomes the system-wide version, used by CLI and new sites by default.

After provisioning, you can install additional PHP versions. Pivotlar configures separate PHP-FPM pools for each version, enabling multiple versions to run simultaneously.

Installing PHP Versions #

To install another PHP version:

1. Go to your server’s details page.
2. Underr Manage PHP Versions tab.
3. Click Install the desired version (e.g., PHP 8.2, 8.1).
4. Once installed, you can:
   • Use that version when provisioning a new site.
   • Switch an existing site’s PHP version from the site settings.

Each installed version is fully configured with its own php-fpm service.

Uninstalling PHP Versions #

You can remove a PHP version if:

• At least one other version remains installed.
• The version is not:
  • Set as the system default.
  • In use by any site.
  • The CLI’s active version.

Pivotlar will automatically prevent uninstallation if any of these conditions aren’t met.

PHP via CLI #

When multiple versions are installed, you can use the specific version on the CLI like so:

php8.1 -v
php8.2 -m

The php command always points to the current active CLI version, which can be changed from the server’s PHP tab.

Default PHP Version #

The default PHP version in Pivotlar determines:

• The version used when creating new sites.
• The default CLI version.

Changing the default does not affect existing sites — they will continue using their currently assigned PHP version.

Manage OPcache #

Changes to global PHP settings like OPcache will apply to Default PHP versions installed on the server.

Optimizing OPcache for production improves performance by caching compiled PHP code in memory.

Need Help? #

Reach out to our support team via support@pivotlar.com