PHP Upgrades At Reliable Penguin

TL;DR – Do I need to upgrade PHP?
Yes. Running outdated PHP is insecure and slows down your site. Make sure your CMS, plugins, and themes are updated and tested, then send a request to Reliable Penguin to upgrade your PHP version.

When it comes to keeping your website secure and performing at its best, PHP upgrades are critical. This article is targeted to Reliable Penguin customers, but much of the information here applies to any hosting service that runs PHP-based websites.

What is PHP?

PHP is a widely used, open-source programming language designed for building dynamic websites and web applications. Many popular content management systems (CMS), including WordPress, Drupal, and Joomla, are powered by PHP. If your website uses one of these platforms (or a custom application built in PHP), your server depends on PHP to function correctly.

Why Do I Need PHP?

• Website Functionality – PHP powers the features of your site, from contact forms to shopping carts.
• Compatibility – Themes, plugins, and extensions often require specific versions of PHP.
• Performance – Newer versions of PHP run faster and handle more requests with fewer resources.

Why Are PHP Upgrades Needed?

1. Security – Each version of PHP receives regular security patches for a limited time. Running an outdated version exposes your site to vulnerabilities.
2. Performance – Each upgrade improves speed, efficiency, and memory usage.
3. Compatibility – Plugin and CMS developers drop support for older versions. Upgrading ensures your website code continues to work.
4. Compliance – Many industries require supported software versions for security audits and regulatory compliance.

Who is Responsible for PHP Upgrades?

Reliable Penguin utilizes a shared responsibility model for PHP upgrades:

• Reliable Penguin (RP):
  • Installs and manages available PHP versions on your server.
  • Applies minor updates automatically.
  • Performs major version changes upon request.
• You (the Site Owner):
  • Responsible for requesting major version upgrades.
  • Responsible for testing your website after an upgrade.
  • Responsible for updating themes, plugins, or custom code to ensure compatibility.
  • RP is not responsible for maintaining or updating your site’s codebase.

Which Versions of PHP Are Available?

Most Reliable Penguin Managed Hosting servers use the Plesk Control Panel and come pre-configured with popular recent versions of PHP.

• Minor updates (security patches within a version) are applied automatically.
• Major version changes (e.g., 8.2 → 8.3) are applied by Reliable Penguin upon request.

As of 2025, commonly available versions include:

• PHP 8.1
• PHP 8.2
• PHP 8.3
• PHP 8.4

End of Support & End of Life (EOL)

⚠️ Important Risk Notice

Older PHP versions (7.x and 5.x) have been unsupported for years. They receive no security patches and expose your website to:

• Known, unpatched vulnerabilities.
• Higher risk of malware and website defacement.
• Incompatibility with modern CMS platforms and plugins.
• PCI and compliance audit failures.

If your site is running PHP 7.x or 5.x, you must upgrade immediately.

How to Prepare for a PHP Upgrade

1. Update your CMS and plugins – Make sure WordPress (or other CMS), themes, and plugins are on their latest versions.
2. Check compatibility – Review plugin/theme documentation for PHP version compatibility.
3. Test on staging if possible – If you have a staging site, upgrade there first and confirm everything works.
4. Backup your site – Reliable Penguin performs system-level backups, but you should also ensure you have application-level backups before upgrade.
5. Schedule your upgrade – Contact RP Support to arrange a time, ideally during low-traffic hours.

Upgrade Request & Scheduling Procedure

1. Submit a request to Reliable Penguin Support, specifying the domain and desired PHP version.
2. RP schedules the upgrade (typically same day or next business day).
3. RP applies the new PHP version on the server.
4. You test your site thoroughly (front-end, admin, checkout, forms, etc.).
5. If issues occur, you may request a rollback, but long-term resolution requires updating your code/plugins.

WordPress Version ↔ PHP Version Support

The table below shows the minimum PHP versions required for different WordPress releases, as well as the versions recommended by the WordPress project. This helps you understand whether your WordPress site is running on a supported PHP version and when you should plan an upgrade.

WordPress recommends PHP 8.1+ for best performance and security. Running below 7.4 is unsafe.

Common Breaking Changes Between Major PHP Versions

Upgrading PHP sometimes breaks older code. Here are common issues to watch for:

• PHP 5 → PHP 7
  • Removal of mysql_* functions (replaced by mysqli_* or PDO).
  • Changes in error handling (E_STRICT merged into other levels).
  • Changes to variable handling and engine performance.
• PHP 7 → PHP 8
  • Introduction of strict typing (may break loose-typed code).
  • Removal of deprecated functions (create_function(), each(), ereg_*).
  • Changes to reserved keywords (e.g., match).
  • Default error reporting changes (fatal errors now throw exceptions).
• PHP 8.0 → PHP 8.1/8.2/8.3
  • readonly properties introduced (may conflict with legacy code).
  • Deprecation of dynamic properties (using $obj->newProp without declaration).
  • Deprecation/removal of functions like utf8_encode() and utf8_decode() in PHP 8.2.
  • Warnings on passing null to non-nullable parameters.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Will upgrading PHP break my site?
A: Most upgrades are seamless, but older themes or plugins may not be compatible. Reliable Penguin tests sites after upgrades and will help identify issues, but fixing code problems is the responsibility of the site owner.

Q: Can I stay on an old version if my site isn’t ready?
A: We may temporarily provide older versions for legacy applications, but this is strongly discouraged. Unsupported PHP puts your site at risk.

Q: How do I know which version I’m running?
A: There are several ways to check: (a) log into the Plesk Control Panel and view the PHP settings for your domain, (b) check in the WordPress admin dashboard under Site Health or Server Info, or (c) contact Reliable Penguin support and we’ll confirm your current PHP version and recommend an upgrade plan.

Q: How often do upgrades happen?
A: Major PHP releases are annual, with support cycles of three years (two years active, one year security). We recommend reviewing your PHP version annually.

Q: Can I change the PHP version myself?
A: Yes. If you’re on a server with Plesk Control Panel, you can log in and select the desired PHP version for your domain. Reliable Penguin recommends testing thoroughly after making the change.

Q: What if my server does not have Plesk?
A: On servers without Plesk, PHP versions are managed directly at the system level. In these cases, you cannot switch PHP versions yourself. You must open a support request with Reliable Penguin, and we will schedule and perform the PHP upgrade for you.

Q: My website is on RP Shared Hosting. How do I get a PHP upgrade?
A: On Reliable Penguin Shared Hosting platforms, PHP upgrades work just like on Managed Hosting. You can either request an upgrade through RP Support, or change the PHP version yourself via the Plesk Control Panel for your domain. Minor updates are applied automatically, while major version changes may require testing.

Q: I need help with WordPress upgrades. What should I do?
A: If you’re not comfortable managing WordPress core, theme, and plugin updates yourself, consider joining the Reliable Penguin Managed WordPress program. This service includes regular WordPress updates, compatibility checks, and ongoing maintenance. Contact Reliable Penguin for details.

Next Steps

• Review your current PHP version.
• If you’re on PHP 8.2 or lower, plan an upgrade with Reliable Penguin.
• Contact us if you need help testing or preparing your website for a PHP upgrade.