PHPMailer support

_Jim_ · 12-10-2021, 09:34 AM

I am currently running PHP
5.3.29
for using PHPMailer for a website contact form.

I get the idea that this is probably very out of date- and may be a reason why I miss certain emails (...) so I would like to upgrade the Mailer and I guess also the php version.
So my questions are:
1. If I upgrade the php version (there is a button next to the php version on the control panel to upgrade/change the version but I have not pressed it as I do not want to break anything), will it affect the current script at all or will it keep working ok?
2. In a brief review of updating PHPMailer they mention needing a "Composer" installation to run along with PHP. Does this already exist on the FQ server, or do I need to upload something else to have the new version work?
3. If someone knows how to do this upgrade and could do so (I think it could be very quick if someone kjnows how to do it) could you inform of contact?

Thanks for any help on this.

**Kevin** · 12-10-2021, 05:56 PM

You are currently on the oldest PHP that we support. In fact it is so old that the CNC won't let you switch back to it once you upgrade. I would not suggest upgrading to PHP 5.4.x as it is also pretty ancient. If your PHP stuff needs PHP 5 then it has been obsolete for years.

First off, check and see if PHP Mailer is the only thing you use PHP for. If so then either it should be able to handle PHP 7.3 or it should be upgraded/replaced. If you have other PHP stuff then the same can be said for it unless you have something written in-house or abandoned so you can't just ask Google if it works.

Note that when you upgrade from PHP 5 to 7 there is an extra step within the version selector popup. It is automatic but you do have to click the link to check if it is needed.

_Jim_ · 12-10-2021, 08:21 PM

Kevin,

Thank you for your observations. I think besides the site code, I also may have become obsolete over the last decades...
The main site I use this on has very limited php- the only "library" it uses is the php-mailer- all the other pages have basic php which should be ok in any version (I think), although it is my own coding for the most part (I only know enough php to do basic stuff on the pages, with dreamweaver, as I use to do mainly back-end java programming many years ago), so I think the only issue will be in making sure that form mailer does not break.
I know you are busy (from your other site post, hope all gets better) , but if you know anyone who could do this for me please let me know (or perhaps general steps), as mentioned my programming skills in php are very basic, and do not want to break the site for any period of time- I know I can probably find a developer on a freelance site probably easily but would prefer someone already familiar with FQ server set up. Or I may try to understand the current mailer program better and upgrade over the holidays (I dont think it is urgent, though probably best to do)...
Thanks,

**Kevin** · 12-10-2021, 09:48 PM

OK, since you have a bunch of stuff you wrote yourself I am going to have to retract my previous statement. I am going to suggest that you email the service desk to workout a time frame where one of our techs will be available to switch you back to 5.3 if necessary and then upgrade to 5.4. Once you verify that everything works in 5.4 you will be free to upgrade and downgrade as you need.

Also, I didn't look up your account. If you have yet to setup https/ssl/tls access you can order that from us. This would give you separate engines that can be on different versions of PHP. If you don't have https service with us yet then nobody would be trying to talk to it so you could consider it a test bed and then switch to it (as in redirect http visitors to https) once you know everything works.

_Jim_ · 12-10-2021, 11:16 PM

ok- I will try to figure out all that will be needed to be changed for the upgrade(s). I do have ssl set up on on the site- I think the main thing will be getting any new dependencies ('composer') connected to the mailer script. Will then set up a time with the service desk to place in production, as needed, in case any reversions are needed, per your suggestion.
Thanks for all your help.