UBB.threads PHP Forum Software Community Forums UBB.threads Installation and Upgrade Support Questions about updating PHP to latest version...

We are running UBBThreads version 7.7.4 on BlueHost. It's currently using PHP 5.6 but BlueHost will be dropping support for such an old version shortly. I understand UBBThreads 7.7.4 prefers to run on PHP 7.4. So here are the stupid/novice questions:

- Is there a guide for changing the PHP version on an existing forum? If so, where would I find it?
- Is the process as simple as closing the forum, selecting PHP 7.4 in cPanel, then re-opening the forum?
- Is this a one-way trip, or can we fall back to PHP 5.6 to keep the forum running, correct any errors, then try again?

Thanks in advance for your help.

The version of UBB.threads that's recommended would be "newest possible", things are updated and streamlined in PHP with new builds. UBB.threads v7.7.5 will run on PHP7+ but nothing currently works with PHP8. All builds of PHP7 should be supported.

This is a setting in your webserver settings, UBB.threads doesn't really give a crap what it runs on, so long as it's supported.

Yes, again UBB.threads just wants a fully functioning webserver.

As it's a webserver setting, it doens't matter; if you were to upgrade UBB.threads then that upgrade cannot fall back (once a db update pushes through theres no reversing it). But this is all webserver changes.


No matter what happens, web server settings have to line up with requirements of UBB.threads; this is what the UBB.threads System Requirements Test was developed for, it'll check some common webserver issues and is developed by myself completely independant of UBB.threads Development which is contracted through UBBDevelopers Network which is a partnership of Isaac and myself.

as a current dev of ubbthreads, i will switch between php 7.1 and newer versions constantly, to test different features for any compatibility issues.

i also use bluehost to host a test forum and several of my live forums.

switching php version can be done on the fly with bluehost. no need to close your forum at all.

visit the multi-php option in your bluehost control panel and select to use their default php version, or anything from php 7.1 and newer.

the current public version of ubbthreads is 7.7.5 and does not support php 8. the developer version of ubbthreads (not yet released) supports php 8, and will be available for download soon in the ubbcentral members area.