How to change PHP version for webmail in Plesk for Linux

Question

How to change PHP version for webmail in Plesk for Linux?

Answer

Note: In Plesk Obsidian, webmail uses PHP 7.3 that comes with Plesk.

1. Connect to a Plesk server via SSH.

2. Create a directory for custom configuration templates:

   # mkdir -p /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/webmail

3. Copy the original files roundcube.php and horde.php to the created directory:

   • Roundcube:

     # cp /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/default/webmail/roundcube.php /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/webmail/

   • Horde:

     # cp /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/default/webmail/horde.php /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/webmail/

4. Run the command below to list all available PHP versions. If a required PHP version is not listed, install it using the steps from this KB article.

   # plesk bin php_handler –list | grep fastcgi

   id:                    display name:
   
   fastcgi                5.4.16 by OS vendor
   plesk-php72-fastcgi    7.2.23
   plesk-php73-fastcgi    7.3.10

5. Modify the configuration file of Roundcube:

   5.1. Open the roundcube.php file in a text editor. In this example, we are using the vi editor:

   # vi /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/webmail/roundcube.php

   5.2. Change the PHP handler from ‘fastcgi’ to any other id from step 4. In this example, we are setting PHP version 7.2:

   • Before

     FcgidInitialEnv PP_CUSTOM_PHP_CGI_INDEX fastcgi

   • After

     FcgidInitialEnv PP_CUSTOM_PHP_CGI_INDEX plesk-php73-fastcgi

   5.3. Save the changes and close the file.

6. Modify the configuration file of Horde:

   6.1. Open the horde.php file in a text editor:

   # vi /usr/local/psa/admin/conf/templates/custom/webmail/horde.php

   6.2. Change the PHP handler from ‘fastcgi’ to any other id from step 4. In this example, we are setting PHP version 7.2:

   • Before

     FcgidInitialEnv PP_CUSTOM_PHP_CGI_INDEX fastcgi

   • After

     FcgidInitialEnv PP_CUSTOM_PHP_CGI_INDEX plesk-php73-fastcgi

   6.3. Save the changes and close the file.

7. Regenerate configuration files to apply the changes:

   # plesk repair web -server