How to Install Multiple PHP Versions Ubuntu

Why Install Multiple PHP Versions?

• Some applications still require older PHP versions like PHP 5.6 or PHP 7.0.
• Modern apps need PHP 7.4, PHP 8, or PHP 8.1+.
• With Ubuntu, you can easily set up a PHP server to run different sites with different PHP versions.

Whether you’re learning how to install PHP 7 on Ubuntu or want to run the latest Ubuntu PHP 8.2, this guide will help.

Steps to Install Multiple PHP Versions

Step 1: Update Your System

First, make sure your Ubuntu system is up to date:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

Step 2: Add PHP Repository

The Sury.org repository provides multiple PHP versions for Ubuntu servers.

apt-get install apt-transport-https lsb-release ca-certificates
add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
apt-get update
apt-get upgrade

Step 3: Install Different PHP Versions

You can now install the PHP versions you need.

1. Install PHP 5.6

apt-get -y install php5.6 php5.6-fpm php5.6-cli php5.6-mysql php5.6-xml php5.6-mbstring

2. Install PHP 7.0 / 7.1 / 7.2 / 7.3 / 7.4

apt-get -y install php7.0 php7.0-fpm php7.0-cli php7.0-mysql
apt-get -y install php7.1 php7.1-fpm php7.1-cli php7.1-mysql
apt-get -y install php7.2 php7.2-fpm php7.2-cli php7.2-mysql
apt-get -y install php7.3 php7.3-fpm php7.3-cli php7.3-mysql
apt-get -y install php7.4 php7.4-fpm php7.4-cli php7.4-mysql

3. Install PHP 8.0 / 8.1 / 8.2

For modern projects, install the latest versions:

apt-get -y install php8.0 php8.0-fpm php8.0-cli php8.0-mysql
apt-get -y install php8.1 php8.1-fpm php8.1-cli php8.1-mysql
apt-get -y install php8.2 php8.2-fpm php8.2-cli php8.2-mysql

Now you have multiple PHP versions ready in Ubuntu.

Step 4: Configure PHP in ISPConfig

If you’re using ISPConfig for hosting, you can add the new PHP versions:

1. Go to System → Additional PHP Versions. Choose Add new PHP version
   
2. Select the server and input the PHP server name here. Then click Save
   
3. Enter details:
   • FastCGI Settings
     • Path to PHP FastCGI Binary: /usr/bin/php5.6-cgi
     • php.ini directory: /etc/php/5.6/cgi/php.ini

* PHP-FPM Settings
* Path to PHP-FPM init Script: php5.6-fpm
* php.ini directory: /etc/php/5.6/fpm/php.ini
* Pool directory: /etc/php/5.6/fpm/pool.d

Repeat for PHP 7.0, PHP 7.2, PHP 8.1, etc.

Step 5: Restart PHP and Apache

After installation, restart services so your changes take effect:

systemctl restart php5.6-fpm
systemctl restart php7.0-fpm
systemctl restart php7.1-fpm
systemctl restart php7.2-fpm
systemctl restart php7.3-fpm
systemctl restart php7.4-fpm
systemctl restart php8.0-fpm
systemctl restart php8.1-fpm
systemctl restart php8.2-fpm
systemctl restart apache2

Step 6: Enable Auto-Start for PHP-FPM

Ensure PHP-FPM runs automatically after a reboot:

systemctl enable php5.6-fpm
systemctl enable php7.0-fpm
systemctl enable php7.1-fpm
systemctl enable php7.2-fpm
systemctl enable php7.3-fpm
systemctl enable php7.4-fpm
systemctl enable php8.0-fpm
systemctl enable php8.1-fpm
systemctl enable php8.2-fpm

Conclusion

You’ve successfully learned how to:

• Install multiple PHP versions on Ubuntu 18.04 (PHP 5.6, PHP 7.x, PHP 8.x).
• Configure PHP for ISPConfig with FastCGI and FPM.
• Restart and enable PHP services for smooth operation.

With this setup, you can run legacy apps with PHP 5.6 and modern frameworks with PHP 8.2 on the same Ubuntu server.