Server upgrade
This annoucement includes important information regarding our upcoming server software updates. It is recommended that all clients read this in its entirety. Also resellers are also asked to relay this information to their own clients.
Overview
An overview of the updates to be preformed are listed below.
- Update to cPanel v11
- Update to Apache 2.2
- PHP 5.2.5 configured as the PRIMARY PHP version
- PHP 4.4.7 configured as the SECONDARY PHP version
- Update of Eaccelerator
- Update of Zend Optimizer
- Update of IonCube
- Exim ACL updates
- Frontpage EOL
Due to the magnitude and potential side effects of these updates, we will be contacting all clients multiple times over the course of the next month with reminders. For those of you that are already aware of the changes, we ask that you bare with us. The time table and key dates for the scheduled maintenance will be as follows.
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* General maintenance commences: Monday, January 07, 2008
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* Monday, January 07 - Maintenance to be preformed on all shared and reseller servers (shared hosting accounts and reseller accounts)
Located below is more in-depth information specific to each individual update that is to be preformed. Along with each update we will provide the answers to frequently asked questions already raised by clients on this.
specific information
Update to cPanel v11
The update to cPanel and WHM 11 brings an extensive update with upgrades in nearly every section of the control panel. Along with a ton of new features the update brings enhanced security, an improved design and enhanced usability. For more detailed information, release notes or data sheets please see the official cPanel website.
Update to Apache 2.2
As of now all servers have been utilizing the Apache 1.3 web server and we now ready to make the upgrade to Apache 2.2. Although the update does not include many new features, it does include a new code base which is faster overall.
PHP 5.2.5 configured as the PRIMARY PHP version
In May 2006 we installed PHP v5 in a testing environment in addition to the primary version 4 install. Since February 2007, all new servers have had v5 as the primary install with no secondary and we're happy to report that there have been no issues reported or compatibility problems for anyone on this PHP version.
Due to the above, we now will be upgrading all of our shared/reseller servers to PHP version 5 as the primary version. I know many have been waiting patiently for this and some have hoped it would never happen; but with PHP announcing the end of official support for PHP4 at the end of this year, its inevitable that all hosting providers (including us) need to upgrade.
To confirm, if any clients are knowingly using scripts/applications that are not compatible with PHP5, please upgrade them soon to save any problems after the PHP5 upgrade.
Please see the links below which provide additional detail on PHP5, script migrations, etc:
http://gophp5.org/
http://www.php.net/manual/en/migration5.php
http://www.php.net/manual/en/migration5.functions.php
http://www.php.net/manual/en/migrati...compatible.php
http://www.faqts.com/knowledge_base/...22154/fid/1150
PHP 4.4.7 configured as the SECONDARY PHP version
During the above work, PHP v4 will be put into place as a secondary install but it must be remembered that this is a temporary measure and must not be relied upon. We do not have a set date for when the secondary PHP4 will be removed but it will no longer be maintained or supported after the PHP5 install so all clients need to do whatever necessary to use PHP5 (in most cases, nothing special is needed).
Update of Eaccelerator
Update of Zend Optimizer
Update of IonCube
Eaccelerator is a PHP accelerator, optimizer and dynamic content cache. It increases the performance of PHP scripts by caching them in their compiled state, so that the overhead of compiling is almost completely eliminated. Additionally, it also optimizes scripts to speed up their execution times. After the maintenance is complete will be posting graphs of our servers showing the significant effect that Eaccelerator, combined with our custom server configurations and optimizations, have resulted in. Along with this software, both Zend Optimizer and IonCube will be updated to the latest stable versions.
Frontpage EOL (end of life)
In mid 2006 Microsoft announced the discontinuation of FrontPage server extensions. The official end of life was reached on June 30th of 2006. Because of these circumstances we will no longer be supporting FrontPage extensions as they are no longer maintained by Microsoft. Any client that uses FrontPage extensions will need to find an alternative method to update their website(s). Options include, but are not limited to: continue using FrontPage but upload files via an FTP program, use a web design program other then FrontPage, use a CMS system or Microsoft's new Expression Web Design software.
Exim ACL updates
Lastly, we will be doing our regular update of spam filters to help combat spam and lower the amount that is received to your inbox.
frequently asked questions
Below are the answers to some questions already raised by clients on this topic:
Will we still be able to control the register_globals setting via a .htaccess rule in PHP5?
Yes. Although we have no plans to change this, PHP are planning to get rid of the setting in PHP6 so clients are advised to fix whatever is causing this setting to be required at some point. In addition, unless there is absolutely no way around it, we ask that this is used as a temporary measure (eg a few weeks) while scripts are fixed. By "no way around it" I refer to third party scripts that are encrypted with no update available.
Will we still be able to control the register_long_arrays setting via a .htaccess rule in PHP5?
Yes.
How long will PHP v4 be installed as the secondary version?
We have no set time line but it will be at least until the end of 2007 which is when official support for it ends. Beyond this, anyone using PHP4 does so at their own risk knowing that it may need to be removed at any time if for example a security issue comes up with no update released by the makers.
Can <x> module now be installed which is only available in PHP5?
All PHP5 installs will have the same modules compiled in as the existing PHP4 install on that server. Any other module requests should be made as a separate support request (ideally after the initial upgrade).
My self-coded scripts won't work with PHP5!
Sorry to sound harsh but in this case you will need to either fix them or replace them. It's inevitable that all hosting providers will be changing to PHP5 so there is no choice but to fix/replace the scripts or stop using them. In the same way as anyone would stuggle to find a host providing PHP3, this will soon be the case for PHP4.
I have third party scripts installed that are not compatible with PHP5 and no updates available!
If any script vendors are not yet supporting PHP5 with their releases after 3 years of being released I personally would question whether scripts from that vendor are worth using. However, if any third party scripts are in use with no compatibility for PHP5, clients need to work on changing to a different script or getting up to date info from the vendor for compatibility.
I don't know anything about PHP - is this upgrade really that large scale?
In a word, no! We have used PHP5 on new servers for months with no reports of problems and quite a number of clients moved from PHP4 servers to PHP5 without even noticing. I think many clients will be surprised by how cross compatible the versions are and how few scripts there are reliant on one of the few functions only available in PHP4 and therefore not compatible.
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