How to use ionCube Loader with different PHP versions

This article describes how to use ionCube Loader with different PHP versions. The ionCube Loader is a PHP extension that decodes and executes encoded PHP script files at run-time.

Using ionCube on CageFS servers

If your account is on a server that has CageFS enabled, ionCube is already loaded for the default PHP version (currently PHP 5.5). When you change the active PHP version for your account, the corresponding ionCube loader is automatically configured as well. You do not have to do any special steps to use ionCube with different PHP versions on your account.

Using ionCube on non-CageFS servers

If your account is on a server that does not have CageFS enabled, ionCube is already loaded for the default PHP version (currently 5.3.29). However, if you use a different PHP version, you must manually download and install the appropriate ionCube Loader.

To do this, follow these steps:

1. Use your web browser to go to http://www.ioncube.com/loaders.php.
2. Download the zip file for the stable release of the Linux (64 bits) platform to your local computer.
3. Using FTP or the cPanel File Manager, upload the zip file to the home directory of your A2 Hosting account.
4. Using the command line or the cPanel File Manager, extract the contents of the zip file. After the file is unzipped, there should be an ioncube directory that contains several files.
5. If you have not already done so, create a php.ini file in your public_html directory.
   For information about how to set up a custom php.ini file, please see this article.
6. Add the following line to the php.ini file. Replace username with your A2 Hosting account username, and replace X.Y with the PHP version you are using:

   zend_extension="/home/username/ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_X.Y.so"

   For example, if your username is example, and you are running PHP 5.5, you would type the following:

   zend_extension="/home/example/ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_5.5.so"
   

7. Save your changes to the php.ini file. The new configuration is now active.
   

   To verify the new configuration, you can create a PHP file that runs the phpinfo() function. Load the file in your web browser, and then search for the text ionCube Loader. It should appear in the Additional Modules section.