How to update ionCube Loader to the latest version for 7.3 and 7.4 shipped by Plesk?

Question

How to update ionCube Loader to the latest version for PHP 7.3 and 7.4 shipped by Plesk?

Answer

Note: For PHP version by OS vendor, refer to the following article:
How to install ioncube loader in Ubuntu 16.04

1. Connect to the server via SSH.

2. Download the latest version of the loader:

   # cd /root/
   # wget https://downloads.ioncube.com/loader_downloads/ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz

3. Unpack it:

   # tar -xvf ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz

4. Install It:

   For Debian and Ubuntu:

   • Backup the old loader:
     For PHP 7.3:

      

     # cp -av /opt/plesk/php/7.3/lib/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.3.so{,.old}

     For PHP 7.4:

     # cp -av /opt/plesk/php/7.4/lib/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.4.so{,.old}

   • Install a new one:
     For PHP 7.3:

     # cp -av ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_7.3.so /opt/plesk/php/7.3/lib/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.3.so

     For PHP 7.4:

     # cp -av ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_7.4.so /opt/plesk/php/7.4/lib/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.4.so

   For RHEL, CentOS and CloudLinux:

   • Backup the old loader:

     For PHP 7.3:

     # cp -a /opt/plesk/php/7.3/lib64/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.3.so{,.old}

     For PHP 7.4:

     # cp -a /opt/plesk/php/7.4/lib64/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.4.so{,.old}

   • Install a new one (confirm file overwriting when asked):

     For PHP 7.3:

     # cp -a ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_7.3.so /opt/plesk/php/7.3/lib64/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.3.so

     For PHP 7.4:

     # cp -a ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_7.4.so /opt/plesk/php/7.4/lib64/php/modules/ioncube_loader_lin_7.4.so

5. Restart Apache Web Server in order to apply the change:

   • For Debian and Ubuntu:

     # service apache2 restart

   • For RHEL-based operating systems:

     # service httpd restart

6. Check the version by executing php -v command for the corresponding PHP version. For example, for PHP 7.3:

   # /opt/plesk/php/7.3/bin/php -v | grep -i ioncube
   With the ionCube PHP Loader (enabled) + Intrusion Protection from ioncube24.com v10.2.0, Copyright (c) 2002-2018, by ionCube Ltd.