Joomla and PHP 5.X

[MatthewSchenker]

Hello,
I am running a Joomla site (www.dwaa.org) on my BlueHost account.

I notice that BlueHost is still using PHP version 4.4.9. This is an outdated PHP version, and it will be causing a lot of problems for Joomla users soon.

Already, some applications do not run well in PHP 4. But Joomla 1.6 -- which is on the way -- will not run on anything lower than PHP 5.2.

I'm trying to test Joomla 1.6 now, but I can't even get the program to install on my BlueHost account.

When is BlueHost planning to update its PHP version?

Thanks,
Matt

[Early Out]

PHP 5.2.9 is available on every BH server. Go to Control Panel, PHP Config, and choose it.

(In fact, on most of the boxes, PHP 4 hasn't even been available for many, many months - it's still kicking around on a few of the older boxes.)

[MatthewSchenker]

Early Out,
OK, thanks. I hadn't seen that before.

One more thing -- I don't quite understand the difference between these three options:
- PHP5
- PHP5 (Single php.ini)
- PHP5 (FastCGI)

Thanks again,
Matt

[Early Out]

Normally, your php.ini file applies only to the directory in which it's sitting. If you want your public_html/php.ini to be applied to all of your directories/subdirectories, choose "Single php.ini." That's easier than manually copying the php.ini file to every place where it might be needed.

FastCGI uses a single php.ini by default, and can also speed up your PHP applications. There are some applications that have trouble with it, however (I don't remember which ones, offhand). Knowledgebase article: http://helpdesk.bluehost.com/kb/index.php/kb/article/000406

[Early Out]

Two that don't like FastCGI: phpBB and Magento.

[MatthewSchenker]

Early Out,
OK, I just activated the single php.ini option.
Thanks,
Matthew