Chapter 14 · 14.4
PHP Settings in DirectAdmin or Select PHP version: what's the difference?
In the DirectAdmin menu, there are two sections for PHP: PHP Settings under Account Manager and Select PHP version under Extra Features. They look similar, but work differently.
| Select PHP version | PHP Settings | |
|---|---|---|
| Where in the menu? | Extra Features | Account Manager |
| What's it for? | Your whole package, per PHP version | One domain (choose the domain at the top right) |
| Choosing a PHP version | Yes | No |
| Turning extensions on and off | Yes | No |
| Options such as upload_max_filesize | Yes, all the important options | A limited list, as an exception for one domain |
| When do you use it? | Almost always | Only if one domain needs a different value than the rest of your package |
Using PHP Settings
With PHP Settings, you add an override for one domain: a setting that's different for that domain than what you've set in Select PHP version.
- Choose the domain at the top right (see Working with multiple domains: the domain selector).
- Under Account Manager, click PHP Settings.
- Under Add New Override (1), choose the setting under Setting, for example display_errors.
- Choose or type the value under Value and click Add.
The override then appears at the top of the list, with the setting and the value. To change the value, choose a different value and click SAVE. Use Delete to remove it again. A change takes effect after about a minute.
You can see which settings you can choose in the list under Setting. These include display_errors, error_reporting, file_uploads, include_path and log_errors.
Which one takes priority?
If there's an override for a domain in PHP Settings, that applies to that domain, whatever Select PHP version says. We tested this: with display_errors turned off in Select PHP version and an override of On in PHP Settings, display_errors is turned on for that domain. This is useful as an exception, but it can also be confusing: you increase a value in Select PHP version and nothing happens. If that occurs, always check PHP Settings to see if there's an old override there.
Tip: Keep it simple. Set everything in Select PHP version and only use PHP Settings if you really need to. That way, you'll always know where to look.
What about the PHP version for a domain?
You can only choose the PHP version in Select PHP version, for your whole package. If you want to give one folder or one subdomain a different version, you can do this with a line in .htaccess (see PHP settings per directory and via .htaccess).