Running Multiple PHP Instances with LAMP Stack on Ubuntu/Kubuntu 23.10 Linux 2024

02 January 2024

Developers often require the ability to run multiple PHP versions in their development environment. This article provides a step-by-step guide on setting up a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MariaDB, PHP) with multiple PHP instances on Ubuntu/Kubuntu 23.10 Linux in the year 2024.

In order to have multiple versions of PHP running simultaneously on Apache, you need the fcgid apache module, which helps us run PHP scripts using FASTCGI. At the same time, it can then run these scripts using different PHP versions. And we do this by creating a virtual host for each PHP version.

Install PHP 7.4, 8.2, 8.3

Prerequisites

Before beginning the installation process, ensure that your Ubuntu/Kubuntu system is up to date by running the following command:

sudo apt update

Installing Apache

Start by installing Apache version 2:

sudo apt install -y apache2 apache2-utils

Check if the Apache service is running:

systemctl status apache2

Verify in your browser:

Since we'll be doing development, we'll set the rights and ownership for the server root folder right away (user: jan, group: jan):

sudo chown jan:jan /var/www/ -R

Installing MariaDB

Proceed with the installation of MariaDB:

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client

As with Apache, we can check if the service is running:

systemctl status mariadb

Now we will perform the initial setup of MariaDB, mainly setting the password for the root user. Run the following command and follow the questions:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

For example:

Switch to unix_socket authentication? ... Y
Change the root password? ... Y
Remove anonymous users? ... Y
Disallow root login remotely? ... Y
Remove test database and access to it? ... Y
Reload privilege tables now? ... Y

Installing Multiple PHP Versions

And now we will install multiple instances of PHP. There will be two oddities:

1) to avoid conflicting PHP libraries, we will uninstall all the PHP libraries already installed.

sudo apt-get remove 'php*'
sudo apt-get purge 'php*'

2) Add a new specific repository to our system that will allow us to install the latest PHP versions

sudo apt install software-properties-common -y
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php -y
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

After that, let's move on, install the apache module fcgid:

sudo apt install libapache2-mod-fcgid

And proceed to install PHP versions (along with PHP we list various modules here, go through the list of modules and you can delete the modules that are listed here and you don't need them)

PHP 7.4

sudo apt install php7.4 libapache2-mod-php7.4 php7.4-common php7.4-mysql php7.4-cli php7.4-opcache php7.4-readline php7.4-phpdbg php7.4-fpm php7.4-cgi libphp7.4-embed php7.4-xml php7.4-xmlrpc php7.4-curl php7.4-gd php7.4-dev php7.4-imap php7.4-mbstring php7.4-soap php7.4-zip php7.4-intl php7.4-ssh2 -y

Open and edit following file: /etc/apt/sources.list.d/ondrej-ubuntu-php-mantic.sources

Change string "mantic" to "jammy"

then update the repository information:

sudo apt update

And then we can install version 7.4 or 8.3.

So we run the PHP 7.4 installation again (don't run it if everything was fine before).

And let's see an example of another problem, it may be that some library is in conflict, e.g:

The following packages have unmet dependencies: php7.4-intl : Depends on: libicu70 (>= 70.1-1~).

In such cases, you have to search the Internet for a solution and resolve the conflicts separately, in our case for the library: php7.4-intl we resolve them by reinstalling libicu70:

wget http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/ubuntu/pool/main/i/icu/libicu70_70.1-2_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i libicu70_70.1-2_amd64.deb

And now, for the third time, install PHP 7.4 (don't do it if you managed to install it successfully before).

PHP 8.2

sudo apt install php8.2 libapache2-mod-php8.2 php8.2-common php8.2-mysql php8.2-cli php8.2-opcache php8.2-readline php8.2-phpdbg php8.2-fpm php8.2-cgi libphp8.2-embed php8.2-xml php8.2-xmlrpc php8.2-curl php8.2-gd php8.2-dev php8.2-imap php8.2-mbstring php8.2-soap php8.2-zip php8.2-intl php8.2-ssh2 -y

PHP 8.3

sudo apt install php8.3 libapache2-mod-php8.3 php8.3-common php8.3-mysql php8.3-cli php8.3-opcache php8.3-readline php8.3-phpdbg php8.3-fpm php8.3-cgi libphp8.3-embed php8.3-xml php8.3-xmlrpc php8.3-curl php8.3-gd php8.3-dev php8.3-imap php8.3-mbstring php8.3-soap php8.3-zip php8.3-intl php8.3-ssh2 -y

We can check if all PHP instances are installed:

ls -la /var/run/php/

The fpm service takes care of running all PHP instances. Before we start it or check its status, let's modify the user so that PHP scripts have the ownership and rights of the same user who creates folders on the server and uploads files to them.

Open and edit the following files, replace all occurrences of "www-data" in these files with the user (and group) name, in our case it is "jan":

/etc/php/7.4/fpm/pool.d/www.conf
/etc/php/8.2/fpm/pool.d/www.conf
/etc/php/8.3/fpm/pool.d/www.conf

Now start the fpm services (restart them if they are running):

sudo systemctl restart php7.4-fpm
sudo systemctl restart php8.2-fpm
sudo systemctl restart php8.3-fpm

By running the following command we can check the status of the service (e.g. for PHP 8.3)

sudo systemctl status php8.3-fpm

Let's enable some necessary apache modules:

sudo a2enmod actions fcgid alias proxy_fcgi rewrite

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Create Virtual Hosts

Now we will create virtual hosts, for all PHP versions we will create our own file in the folder:

/etc/apache2/sites-available/

we create the following files:

site74.test.conf
site82.test.conf
site83.test.conf

Each of them will contain the following instructions (PHP 8.3 example):

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin Site
    ServerName  site83.test
    ServerAlias www.site83.test
    DocumentRoot /var/www/site83.test
    <Directory /var/www/site83.test/>
            Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
            AllowOverride All
            Order allow,deny
            allow from all
            Require all granted
    </Directory>
    <FilesMatch \.php>
        SetHandler "proxy:unix:/var/run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock|fcgi://localhost/"
    </FilesMatch>
</VirtualHost>

Once we have these files created and saved, then we enable all the pages:

sudo a2ensite site74.test.conf
sudo a2ensite site82.test.conf
sudo a2ensite site83.test.conf

And reload apache:

sudo systemctl reload apache2

To make sure that our system knows the names of our test pages, we will modify

/etc/hosts

and add this line:

127.0.0.1 localhost site74.test site82.test site83.test

In /var/www/ folder

create the following subfolders for our test domains:

mkdir /var/www/site74.test
mkdir /var/www/site82.test
mkdir /var/www/site83.test

We create them without sudo, using a user that also runs PHP scripts, in our case jan and insert a PHP file index.php into each of them, which will contain:

<?php
echo phpinfo();
?>

Every time we make a change to the settings (e.g. php.ini, etc.) we restart both apache and fpm

sudo systemctl restart php8.3-fpm
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Then enter the following URLs into the address bar one by one:

site74.test

site82.test

site83.test

Conclusion

By following these steps, you can successfully set up a LAMP stack with multiple PHP instances on Ubuntu/Kubuntu 23.10 Linux in 2024. This configuration allows developers to work on different PHP versions simultaneously for their development needs.

Phoca Cart and YOOtheme PRO Integration: Seamless Ecommerce for Joomla

05 October 2023

In the ever-evolving world of Joomla content management system (CMS), having a robust and versatile ecommerce solution is imperative to cater to the diverse needs of website owners. Phoca Cart, a modern ecommerce suite deeply ingrained in the Joomla CMS framework, emerges as a powerful and feature-rich option for online stores. On the other side of the spectrum, YOOtheme, renowned for its Joomla support, is a highly regarded theme and template provider that seamlessly integrates with Joomla, empowering users to create visually stunning websites. The recent integration of Phoca Cart with YOOtheme has brought about a synergy that further enhances ecommerce capabilities within the Joomla environment.

Understanding Phoca Cart

Phoca Cart is an innovative and feature-packed ecommerce extension designed for Joomla. It stands out by aligning itself with the Joomla CMS framework, ensuring a seamless and intuitive user experience. This modern ecommerce suite boasts a comprehensive array of features, making it an ideal choice for online businesses looking for a powerful ecommerce solution within the Joomla ecosystem.

YOOtheme: Enhancing Joomla with Style and Functionality

YOOtheme, a leading theme and template provider, offers exceptional support for Joomla. With a focus on both style and functionality, YOOtheme provides beautifully designed templates that cater to the aesthetic demands of modern websites. Its unique approach to design and intuitive user interface have garnered a significant user base within the Joomla community. YOOtheme’s templates are built on the foundation of UIkit, a lightweight and modular front-end framework, aligning perfectly with modern web development practices.

Phoca Cart and YOOtheme: A Perfect Match

The integration of Phoca Cart with YOOtheme paves the way for a seamless and harmonious ecommerce experience. Phoca Cart is designed to generate output in either Bootstrap or UIkit, making it inherently compatible with YOOtheme, which is based on the UIkit framework.

1) Basic Support with UIkit Rendering

Phoca Cart seamlessly integrates with YOOtheme by rendering its output in UIkit. This foundational level of support ensures that the ecommerce functionalities of Phoca Cart align with the design aesthetics of YOOtheme.

2) Tailored CSS Display

Phoca Cart offers users the ability to configure additional CSS options that specifically cater to YOOtheme templates. This customization allows for a more cohesive and integrated look when integrating Phoca Cart with YOOtheme-based websites.

3) Flexible Icon Display

Icons within Phoca Cart can be customized to match the design preferences of YOOtheme-based websites. Users have the option to choose between font or SVG icons, providing flexibility in design and visual representation. SVG icon set can be easily changed by template override. See: Changing SVG icons using template override.

Extensions for Seamless Integration:

Phoca Cart extends its capabilities for YOOtheme integration through two dedicated extensions:

4) PCuikit Extension

PCuikit is an extension tailored for Phoca Cart in Joomla. It is designed to seamlessly integrate with Phoca Cart, aligning with the UIkit framework and ensuring a flawless ecommerce experience. 

PCuikit integrates the powerful Phoca Cart ecommerce platform for Joomla with the versatile YOOtheme Pro framework. With this integration, web designers and agencies can now leverage YOOtheme Builder's full potential to create visually stunning templates for various Phoca Cart views.

PCuikit supports templating for the following Phoca Cart views:

• Categories view
• Category view
• Product view.

This integration is a game-changer for businesses looking to elevate their online stores' appearance and functionality.

See: PCuikit

5) Yootheme PhocaCart Bridge

Yootheme PhocaCart Bridge is a bridge that links YOOtheme Pro Page Builder with PhocaCart. This integration offers a front-end, 'drag and drop' layout builder for PhocaCart entities, facilitating a dynamic and customizable ecommerce experience within the YOOtheme Pro environment.

See: Yootheme PhocaCart Bridge

6) Template Overrides for Enhanced Display

Phoca Cart includes template overrides for various modules, such as:

• Phoca Cart Cart module
• Phoca Cart Currency module
• Phoca Cart Wishlist module
• Phoca Cart Compare module
• Phoca Cart Search module.

These overrides ensure seamless integration and optimal display, enhancing user experience and functionality. These modules' content can be displayed in dropdown or offcanvas menus, providing versatile options for showcasing ecommerce elements.

See: Phoca Cart template overrides
See: Phoca Cart template overrides documentation

The seamless integration of Phoca Cart with YOOtheme underscores the commitment to providing users with a cohesive ecommerce solution within the Joomla CMS. By aligning design elements and functionality, this integration aims to enhance the ecommerce experience, enabling website owners to create visually appealing online stores while leveraging the extensive features of Phoca Cart. With the combined power of Phoca Cart and YOOtheme, Joomla users can now elevate their online businesses to new heights, achieving a perfect harmony of aesthetics and ecommerce capabilities.

See: YOOtheme Pro

Quick instructions

1) Install Joomla CMS
2) Install Phoca Cart (component, module package, etc.)
3) Install Phoca Cart template overrides - e.g. Overrides - YOOtheme OffCanvas
4) Install YOOtheme PRO
5) Set YOOtheme as the default template
6) In Phoca Cart options, set the parameters Theme: UIkit, Icon Type: SVG, Load Specific CSS: YOOtheme
7) Set the position of Phoca Cart modules (Cart, Search, Compare, Wishlist, Currency) e.g. to "header" position
8) Create categories, products, etc. in Phoca Cart
9) Create a menu link to Phoca Cart (preferably to Categories view).

If you are not sure about something or need more detailed information, check the documentation pages or ask in the Phoca forum.

Phoca Cart - YOOtheme - categories view:

Phoca Cart - YOOtheme - category view:

Phoca Cart - YOOtheme - product view (mobile)

Phoca Cart - YOOtheme - checkout view:

Why Your Google Ads Are Not Displayed on Your Website

25 September 2023

There are many possible reasons why Google ads are not displayed on the website. Some of them are related to the website settings, some to the Google policies, and some to the technical issues. Here are some of the most common causes and how to fix them:

• The website is not verified by Google. To display Google ads, the website owner needs to verify their site with Google Search Console and request a review from Google AdSense. This process can take up to 48 hours.
• The website violates the Google AdSense program policies. Google has strict rules about the content, design, and behavior of the websites that use its ads. If the website contains prohibited content, such as adult, violent, or illegal material, or if it uses deceptive or intrusive practices, such as pop-ups, auto-play videos, or malware, Google may disable the ads or suspend the account.
• The ad code is not implemented correctly. The website owner needs to copy and paste the ad code from Google AdSense to their website without modifying it. If the code is altered, incomplete, or placed in the wrong location, the ads may not show up. The website owner can use the Google AdSense code inspector tool to check for errors and fix them.
• The ad unit is not responsive or adaptive. Google recommends using responsive or adaptive ad units that automatically adjust to the size and layout of the website and the device. If the ad unit is fixed or custom-sized, it may not fit the available space on the website or the screen resolution of the user. This can cause the ads to be cropped, distorted, or hidden.
• The width of the potential ads box is not known. Sometimes, the website may use a dynamic layout that changes depending on the content or user interaction. In this case, the width of the potential ads box may not be known in advance or may vary during the page load. This can prevent Google from serving relevant and well-fitting ads. To solve this problem, the website owner can use a placeholder element with a fixed width and height to reserve space for the ads, or use a responsive ad unit that adapts to the available space.

If you are using the Phoca Google AdSense Easy module and suspect that your ads are not displaying because of the last mentioned point, try specifying some width to the ad box.

In the module settings, navigate to the Advanced tab and fill in the CSS Style parameter. For example, for a vertical ad, enter the following value: min-width:25vw;

Save and check if the ad has started to display.

Phoca Restaurant Menu: Joomla vs. WordPress - Choosing the Right CMS for Your Restaurant's Needs

12 September 2023

In today's digital age, having an online presence for your restaurant is crucial. To effectively showcase your culinary offerings and engage with potential customers, you need a reliable content management system (CMS) that suits your needs. Two popular options for creating restaurant menus and managing content are:

• Phoca Restaurant Menu for Joomla - a Joomla component
• and Phoca Restaurant Menu WP Edition - a WordPress Gutenberg plugin.

In this article, we'll explore the key differences between these two solutions and help you decide which one is the right choice for your restaurant's online presence.

Joomla vs. WordPress: The CMS Landscape

Before diving into the specifics of Phoca Restaurant Menu extensions, let's briefly compare Joomla and WordPress. Joomla is known for its robust and feature-rich platform, making it an ideal choice for complex websites with diverse needs. It offers a wide array of options and customization possibilities.

On the other hand, WordPress is renowned for its simplicity and ease of use. It's a go-to choice for individuals and businesses looking to quickly set up a website and produce straightforward content. WordPress excels in delivering user-friendly experiences, but it may lack some advanced features compared to Joomla.

Phoca Restaurant Menu for Joomla

Phoca Restaurant Menu for Joomla is a comprehensive extension designed to cater to various food-related businesses, including restaurants, cafeterias, fast-food joints, and more. Here are some of the key features and functionalities that Joomla users can enjoy with this extension:

• Versatile Display Options: Joomla users can display their restaurant menus in multiple formats, including HTML, PDF, and RSS. This versatility ensures that your menu can reach your customers through various channels.
• Email Integration: You can send menu updates directly to your customers via email, keeping them informed about your offerings and promotions.
• Screenshot Generation: Automatically create menu screenshots, perfect for sharing on social media platforms to entice potential diners.
• Multilanguage Support: Phoca Restaurant Menu is ready for multilanguage support, making it suitable for restaurants targeting diverse customer bases.
• Administration Methods: Joomla users can choose from various administration methods, including step-by-step item addition, bulk import, or raw text entry using Markdown.
• Various View Types: The Joomla version offers a variety of view types, such as Daily Menu, Weekly Menu, Bill of Fare, Beverage List, Wine List, Breakfast Menu, Lunch Menu, and Dinner Menu.

Download: Phoca Restaurant Menu (Joomla) download site.

Demo: Phoca Restaurant Menu Joomla demo site.

Phoca Restaurant Menu WP Edition (WordPress Gutenberg Plugin)

The WordPress Gutenberg plugin edition of Phoca Restaurant Menu is designed for simplicity and ease of use. It caters primarily to users who require straightforward menu display options for their restaurant websites. The key features of the WordPress edition include:

• User-Friendly: WordPress is known for its user-friendly interface, making it an excellent choice for individuals and businesses seeking a hassle-free website setup.
• Menu Display: Just like its Joomla counterpart, the WordPress edition allows you to display menus for your restaurant with ease.
• View Types: The WordPress edition offers following menu types: Daily Menu, Weekly Menu, Bill of Fare, Beverage List, Wine List.

Download: Phoca Restaurant Menu WP Edition (WordPress) download site.

Demo: Phoca Restaurant Menu WP Edition demo site.

Choosing the Right Version for Your Restaurant

In summary, when it comes to selecting the right version of Phoca Restaurant Menu for your restaurant, consider your specific needs and your familiarity with the CMS platforms. For users looking to create a simple restaurant website with straightforward menu display, the WordPress Gutenberg plugin edition is an excellent choice. Its user-friendly interface and menu display options make it a convenient solution.

However, if you have more complex requirements, such as multilingual support, advanced administration methods, and diverse display options, Joomla's Phoca Restaurant Menu is the better fit. Joomla's flexibility and extensive feature set make it ideal for restaurants with intricate needs.

In the end, the choice between Joomla and WordPress versions of Phoca Restaurant Menu depends on your restaurant's specific requirements. Both options offer powerful tools to enhance your online presence, ensuring that your culinary creations reach your target audience effectively. When making your decision, remember that Joomla suits complex websites, while WordPress shines for simplicity, catering to users who prioritize ease of use.

In conclusion, the Phoca Restaurant Menu extension offers versatile solutions for restaurant websites, catering to both Joomla and WordPress users. Evaluate your needs and CMS preferences to make an informed choice and elevate your restaurant's online presence.