Can I have a new linode with php 5.6 ?
I have an application that is not currently running on php greater than PHP 5.6. Can I have a new linode with PHP 5.6 instead of 7? I
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PHP 5.6 is no longer being receiving security updates (as of Jan 1st 2019), it would be a significant security hazard to keep using it. You should not try and use PHP 5.6 and should instead seek an updated version of the application that supports newer versions of PHP - or if none is available, a replacement application.
I understand that PHP v5.6 is old. I am in need of PHP v5.5. Can I do it (install v5.5 on my linode and run it)? I would not be running anything else on my linode other than the 3rd-party product called the ACS Atlas. Security for that product is not a big deal. I would be calling the Atlas with an API. The atlas cannot run on anything above PHP v5.5. Thank you.
I understand that PHP v5.6 is old. I am in need of PHP v5.5. Can I do it (install v5.5 on my linode and run it)? I would not be running anything else on my linode other than the 3rd-party product called the ACS Atlas. Security for that product is not a big deal. I would be calling the Atlas with an API. The atlas cannot run on anything above PHP v5.5. Thank you.
Sure, you can install PHP 5.[56] yourself. It should run just fine on a "modern" Linode. However… (you knew that was coming, right)
Some of the accessory modules of PHP.[56] may not run on a modern Linode. Accessory modules (like php_pdo for example) may depend on Linux APIs or other 3rd party packages that may be deprecated. That's the risk you're taking. You can find the source code for PHP 5.[56] here:
https://prototype.php.net/versions/5.5.38/
If your 3rd party system doesn't depend on anything but vanilla PHP, you're probably golden. Otherwise, you have two choices:
- find an alternative to your 3rd party system and re-develop accordingly; or
- make your 3rd party system run on a current version of PHP (7.x or better).
Neither is trivial IMHO and neither is particularly palatable…but the latter may be easier than the former. If that's the case, you should terminate any paid support agreements post haste…since you are now doing support. If they demand your code or whatever, exact a price. You deserve to get paid for your hard work.
-- sw
P.S. If you depend on the Apache module for PHP 5 support, you are probably SOL.