Debian 9 update breaks PHP

janderk · May 18, 2022, 5:42pm

SYSTEM INFORMATION
OS type and version	Debian 9
Webmin version	1.991
Virtualmin version	7.0-4
Related packages	mod

For anyone running into the same issue:

An apt upgrade just broke php on debian 9. The problem was that mod-php8.1 was enabled by the process forcing all websites to run on PHP8.1 with mod-php, breaking a lot of sites that depend on other php versions.

From the log:

Setting up libapache2-mod-php8.1 (8.1.6-1+0~20220517.17+debian9~1.gbp6b3bd1) ...
apache2_invoke: Enable module php8.1

Solution: Disable apache2 PHP 8.1. module:
Webmin > Service > Apache Webserver > Global Configuration tab > Configure Apache Modules.
Deselect php8.1 > click “Enable Selected Modules” button

Nico94 · May 18, 2022, 6:40pm

I ran into the exact same issue this afternoon and was about to post a similar post on the forum … but you saved me the trouble, thanks

janderk · May 18, 2022, 6:55pm

Question for virtualmin:
How to prevent this from happening again? What is the cleanest way to completely remove mod-php from the system.

apt remove leaves the entry still visible in the settings due to settings still there in /etc/apache2/mods-available

apt purge libapache2-mod-php7.3

seems to do the job, but I would appreciate some confirmation.

Joe · May 18, 2022, 7:40pm

The best idea is to never install mod_php.

And, if you have installed mod_php, the best thing you can do is uninstall it. Virtualmin will have put in mod_php directives for all of your sites to disable mod_php for those sites, though, so you’ll need to clean that up (mod_php is very disruptive, breaking all other execution modes in a variety of ways if it is not accommodated in the Apache config).

Nico94 · May 19, 2022, 7:43am

I think it is important to point out that we never (willingly and directly) did. We are talking here about (old) Debian 9 systems that have been (back in the days) installed the usual way and with no significant modification … with one notable exception: the addition of Sury’s repositories in order to install different PHP versions. And this is probably where the shoe pinches…

janderk · May 20, 2022, 3:16pm

Same here: I am not aware of deliberately adding mod-php to my systems. On both Debian 9 and 10 it was installed after installing a clean Debian and then running the virtualmin setup script and restoring 1 or a few websites.

Anyway I am removing them now. Thanks.

DrIlhama · May 20, 2022, 3:52pm

Anyone knows who how to enable website disabled by Virtulamin?

janderk · May 21, 2022, 3:42pm

Double checked by installing Debian 10 with Virtualmin from scratch and no mod-php is installed.

mod-php was probably installed after enabling multiple PHP versions from the sury.org repository. Not totally sure, but it looks like sury.org PHP packages used to install libapache2-mod-php. The good news: today it did not do that anymore. That or I just messed up by copy & pasting instructions and not taking notice.

I plead innocence, as I had no idea that mod-php was evil. For quite some time Virtualmin seemed to be able to cope with it, but as a fellow programmer I totally understand that you want to rip out the code that costs you a lot of time to maintain.

Joe · May 23, 2022, 6:31am

If you install a package named php (or php<VERSION>-php you will get mod_php). That’s a stupidity in the packaging, as it intuitively seems like maybe you’d want a package named “php” if you’re trying to install PHP, but if you’re following our docs for installing additional PHP versions that won’t happen.

Back before Virtualmin 6, we installed mod_php as part of the default install (I tried to get rid of it much earlier but got shouted down by about half of our users…I ran a poll and everything…if was almost evenly split, I should have just made the executive decision to kill it even then, and provide instructions for adding it, for users that want it). There was a bug in the Ubuntu metapackages up until a year and a half ago, though, where it was still getting pulled in, and I feel miserable about that because mod_php is just so toxic and people don’t notice it until it breaks things. Maybe that same bug was in the Debian 9 metapackages…I don’t recall fixing it there, but it’s plausible.

DarkAllMan · May 25, 2022, 11:34am

Had the same issue. Thanks for this. Should be pinned!

charlesworks · July 19, 2022, 11:22pm

Joe, is there a quick way or command to know if I had inadvertently installed mod_php on my Debian 10 system?

Thanks,
Charles

Ilia · July 20, 2022, 10:42am

Check on the list of installed PHP related packages:

dpkg -l | grep -E "libapache2-mod-php|php"

… and packages like libapache2-mod-php* and php, php7.3 or php7.4 must be deleted and Apache config adjusted accordingly.

Another way of doing it is to make sure that you’re existing websites don’t use mod_php on PHP Options page and when this done, there will be a popup displayed on the Dashboard to disable mod_php for the system.

charlesworks · July 20, 2022, 5:03pm

I did that command and got this output:

> dpkg -l | grep -E "libapache2-mod-php|php"
ii  php-cgi                               2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (CGI binary) (default)
ii  php-cli                               2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          command-line interpreter for the PHP scripting language (default)
ii  php-common                            2:92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                    all          Common files for PHP packages
ii  php-curl                              2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          CURL module for PHP [default]
ii  php-fpm                               2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (FPM-CGI binary) (default)
ii  php-imagick                           3.6.0-4+0~20220117.35+debian10~1.gbp149f82                                 amd64        Provides a wrapper to the ImageMagick library
ii  php-intl                              2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          Internationalisation module for PHP [default]
ii  php-mbstring                          2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          MBSTRING module for PHP [default]
ii  php-mysql                             2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          MySQL module for PHP [default]
ii  php-pear                              1:1.10.13+submodules+notgz+2022032202-2+0~20220330.37+debian10~1.gbpfd4c1d all          PEAR Base System
ii  php-ssh2                              1.3.1+0.13-6+0~20220117.24+debian10~1.gbpe1a643                            amd64        Bindings for the libssh2 library
ii  php-xml                               2:8.1+92+0~20220117.43+debian10~1.gbpe0d14e                                all          DOM, SimpleXML, WDDX, XML, and XSL module for PHP [default]
ii  php5.6-cgi                            5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (CGI binary)
ii  php5.6-cli                            5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        command-line interpreter for the PHP scripting language
ii  php5.6-common                         5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        documentation, examples and common module for PHP
ii  php5.6-curl                           5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        CURL module for PHP
ii  php5.6-fpm                            5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (FPM-CGI binary)
ii  php5.6-gd                             5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        GD module for PHP
ii  php5.6-imagick                        3.6.0-4+0~20220117.35+debian10~1.gbp149f82                                 amd64        Provides a wrapper to the ImageMagick library
ii  php5.6-intl                           5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        Internationalisation module for PHP
ii  php5.6-json                           5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        JSON module for PHP
ii  php5.6-mbstring                       5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        MBSTRING module for PHP
ii  php5.6-mysql                          5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        MySQL module for PHP
ii  php5.6-opcache                        5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        Zend OpCache module for PHP
ii  php5.6-readline                       5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        readline module for PHP
ii  php5.6-ssh2                           1.3.1+0.13-6+0~20220117.24+debian10~1.gbpe1a643                            amd64        Bindings for the libssh2 library
ii  php5.6-xml                            5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        DOM, SimpleXML, WDDX, XML, and XSL module for PHP
ii  php5.6-zip                            5.6.40-60+0~20220627.67+debian10~1.gbp1f7ffd                               amd64        Zip module for PHP
ii  php7.3-cgi                            7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (CGI binary)
ii  php7.3-cli                            7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        command-line interpreter for the PHP scripting language
ii  php7.3-common                         7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        documentation, examples and common module for PHP
ii  php7.3-curl                           7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        CURL module for PHP
ii  php7.3-fpm                            7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (FPM-CGI binary)
ii  php7.3-imagick                        3.6.0-4+0~20220117.35+debian10~1.gbp149f82                                 amd64        Provides a wrapper to the ImageMagick library
ii  php7.3-intl                           7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        Internationalisation module for PHP
ii  php7.3-json                           7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        JSON module for PHP
ii  php7.3-mbstring                       7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        MBSTRING module for PHP
rc  php7.3-mysql                          7.3.33-1+0~20211119.91+debian10~1.gbp618351                                amd64        MySQL module for PHP
ii  php7.3-opcache                        7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        Zend OpCache module for PHP
ii  php7.3-readline                       7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        readline module for PHP
ii  php7.3-ssh2                           1.3.1+0.13-6+0~20220117.24+debian10~1.gbpe1a643                            amd64        Bindings for the libssh2 library
ii  php7.3-xml                            7.3.33-4+0~20220627.98+debian10~1.gbp40b3e4                                amd64        DOM, SimpleXML, WDDX, XML, and XSL module for PHP
ii  php7.4-cgi                            1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (CGI binary)
ii  php7.4-cli                            1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        command-line interpreter for the PHP scripting language
ii  php7.4-common                         1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        documentation, examples and common module for PHP
ii  php7.4-curl                           1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        CURL module for PHP
ii  php7.4-fpm                            1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (FPM-CGI binary)
ii  php7.4-gd                             1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        GD module for PHP
ii  php7.4-imagick                        3.6.0-4+0~20220117.35+debian10~1.gbp149f82                                 amd64        Provides a wrapper to the ImageMagick library
ii  php7.4-intl                           1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        Internationalisation module for PHP
ii  php7.4-json                           1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        JSON module for PHP
ii  php7.4-mbstring                       1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        MBSTRING module for PHP
ii  php7.4-mysql                          1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        MySQL module for PHP
ii  php7.4-opcache                        1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        Zend OpCache module for PHP
ii  php7.4-readline                       1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        readline module for PHP
ii  php7.4-ssh2                           1.3.1+0.13-6+0~20220117.24+debian10~1.gbpe1a643                            amd64        Bindings for the libssh2 library
ii  php7.4-xml                            1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        DOM, SimpleXML, XML, and XSL module for PHP
ii  php7.4-zip                            1:7.4.30-3+0~20220627.69+debian10~1.gbpf2b381                              amd64        Zip module for PHP
ii  php8.0-cgi                            1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (CGI binary)
ii  php8.0-cli                            1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        command-line interpreter for the PHP scripting language
ii  php8.0-common                         1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        documentation, examples and common module for PHP
ii  php8.0-curl                           1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        CURL module for PHP
ii  php8.0-fpm                            1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (FPM-CGI binary)
ii  php8.0-gd                             1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        GD module for PHP
ii  php8.0-imagick                        3.6.0-4+0~20220117.35+debian10~1.gbp149f82                                 amd64        Provides a wrapper to the ImageMagick library
ii  php8.0-intl                           1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        Internationalisation module for PHP
ii  php8.0-mbstring                       1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        MBSTRING module for PHP
ii  php8.0-mysql                          1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        MySQL module for PHP
ii  php8.0-opcache                        1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        Zend OpCache module for PHP
ii  php8.0-readline                       1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        readline module for PHP
ii  php8.0-ssh2                           1.3.1+0.13-6+0~20220117.24+debian10~1.gbpe1a643                            amd64        Bindings for the libssh2 library
ii  php8.0-xml                            1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        DOM, SimpleXML, XML, and XSL module for PHP
ii  php8.0-zip                            1:8.0.21-1+0~20220713.39+debian10~1.gbpf1402f                              amd64        Zip module for PHP
ii  php8.1-cgi                            8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (CGI binary)
ii  php8.1-cli                            8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        command-line interpreter for the PHP scripting language
ii  php8.1-common                         8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        documentation, examples and common module for PHP
ii  php8.1-curl                           8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        CURL module for PHP
ii  php8.1-fpm                            8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language (FPM-CGI binary)
ii  php8.1-imagick                        3.6.0-4+0~20220117.35+debian10~1.gbp149f82                                 amd64        Provides a wrapper to the ImageMagick library
ii  php8.1-intl                           8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        Internationalisation module for PHP
ii  php8.1-mbstring                       8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        MBSTRING module for PHP
ii  php8.1-mysql                          8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        MySQL module for PHP
ii  php8.1-opcache                        8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        Zend OpCache module for PHP
ii  php8.1-readline                       8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        readline module for PHP
ii  php8.1-ssh2                           1.3.1+0.13-6+0~20220117.24+debian10~1.gbpe1a643                            amd64        Bindings for the libssh2 library
ii  php8.1-xml                            8.1.8-1+0~20220711.23+debian10~1.gbp5e9cbc                                 amd64        DOM, SimpleXML, XML, and XSL module for PHP
ii  webmin-php-pear                       1.5                                                                        all          Webmin module for 'PHP Pear Modules'

Ilia · July 20, 2022, 8:51pm

There is no mod_php installed on your system.

charlesworks · July 20, 2022, 9:05pm

Thanks Ilia.

I also ran a system recheck which told me that:
The following PHP execution modes are available : cgi fcgid fpm

I am used to using FPM from other systems I have running DirectAdmin and found the sites on the box set to FCGID and changed them to FPM and they still all appear to operate.

I am also used to having chroot jails for the users on my other systems. I enabled a chroot jail for an existing site on my system by navigating to:
Administrative Options > Edit Owner Limits > Other Restrictions
and once there, I set “Chroot jail domain Unix user?” to “Yes”.

Once I did that, and the site stopped working, only displaying a notice indicating it could no longer connect to its database.

I went back in and turned it off and the site worked once again.

Any guidance available for this situation?

Thanks again,
Charles

Ilia · July 20, 2022, 9:37pm

Are you using latest Virtualmin 7.1? Also, does PHP version gets changed when you enable jail for the domain?

Joe · July 22, 2022, 4:54pm

Please open new topics for new problems.

system · September 20, 2022, 5:10pm

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