Overview
In our efforts to provide a better web hosting experience, we will be upgrading PHP from version 8.2 to PHP 8.3, and migrating our MySQL servers from MySQL 8.4 to MariaDB 11.4. This upgrade is tenatively scheduled for Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 8:00am HST.
Current Web Environment
PHP 8.2 |
New Web Environment
PHP 8.3 |
Current MySQL Environment
MySQL 8.4 |
New MySQL Environment
MariaDB 11.4 |
The minor-version PHP update from 8.2 to 8.3 have differences that may cause your website to cease to function or not be fully functional if your site is not checked for compatibility.
Updating your code to test
To test your site, you will first have to update the code on your test site and have it point to your test database.
Test Server Environment:
- Test Fileserver (webedit): wbt9d.its.hawaii.edu
- Test MySQL Server: deptapps-test.pvt.hawaii.edu
- Test Webservers: web9d.its.hawaii.edu / web9e.its.hawaii.edu
To do this, please connect via sFTP to the test fileserver at: wbt9d.its.hawaii.edu using the same authentication information you use to connect to webedit. In your site's code, change any reference for your database from deptapps.pvt.hawaii.edu (mdb41.pvt.hawaii.edu) to the test database server at deptapps-test.pvt.hawaii.edu
Standalone Wordpress Example: download the wp-config.php file from your site on wbt9d.its.hawaii.edu, and modify the following line:
define('DB_HOST', 'mdb41.pvt.hawaii.edu');
pointing it to the new database server
define('DB_HOST', 'deptapps-test.pvt.hawaii.edu');
Save, and reupload the wp-config.php file to your test fileserver at wbt9d.its.hawaii.edu
Standalone Drupal Example: download the settings.php file from your site on wbt9d.its.hawaii.edu, and modify the following line:
'host' => 'mdb41.pvt.hawaii.edu',
pointing it to the new database server
'host' => 'deptapps-test.pvt.hawaii.edu',
Save, and reupload the settings.php file to your test fileserver at wbt9d.its.hawaii.edu
Direct access to test MySQL database
For direct access to the test MySQL database, please visit: https://depts.its.hawaii.edu/dwb/phpMyAdmin-dev/ (You will need to add the sixth line to your hosts file to access this phpMyAdmin installation, refer to hosts file changes below)
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Setting up your computer to test the new PHP environment
The first step is to point your computer's hosts file to the test webserver directly. This is accomplished differently depending on which Operating System you are using.
Windows Setup
Mac Setup
Linux Setup
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Windows Setup
Open your favorite text editor such as Notepad as an administrator (right-click, run as administrator).
From your text editor, open up your computer's hosts file. You will find your hosts file here: %systemroot%\system32\drivers\etc\hosts (%systemroot% is usually c:\windows\ but may be somewhere else if your Windows was set up differently.)
If your website is hosted on one of the top 4 domains shown below, add the line as shown. If not, please add the fifth line, and change your.domain.name to your domain name. If you need to use phpMyAdmin, please add the sixth line.
128.171.149.231 www.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.232 manoa.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.233 hawaii.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.234 maui.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.235 your.domain.name
128.171.149.235 depts.its.hawaii.edu
Save the file (for Notepad: from the menu, File -> Save or ctrl+s), and when you open your browser to your website, it will now point to the test webservers running in the enterprise Linux environment.
You can test compatibility by going to your website, and doing what you regularly do on your website and seeing if any errors arise. If everything works fine, you're all set.
After you complete testing, remember to remove the line from your hosts file that you added in step three to have your browsers point back to the production websites.
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Mac Setup
Open your Terminal app. For most users, this is under Applications Folder -> Utilities Folder
In Terminal, your first step is to open your hosts file with your console's text editor as Super User. This can be done by typing the following into the Terminal app: sudo nano /private/etc/hosts
Next, you will need to update your hosts file by adding your website's domain to it.
If your website is hosted on one of the top 4 domains shown below, add the line as shown. If not, please add the fifth line, and change your.domain.name to your domain name. If you need to use phpMyAdmin, please add the sixth line.
128.171.149.231 www.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.232 manoa.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.233 hawaii.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.234 maui.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.235 your.domain.name
128.171.149.235 depts.its.hawaii.edu
Add the appropriate line above to your hosts file then to save the file, Hit ctrl+x, type 'y', and press enter.
After the file has been saved, the next time you open your browser and visit your website, it will now point to the test webservers running the newer version of PHP.
You can test compatibility by going to your website, and doing what you regularly do on your website and seeing if any errors arise. If everything works fine, you're all set.
After you complete testing, remember to remove the line from your hosts file that you added in Terminal to stop your browsers from pointing at the test webserver.
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Linux Setup
Open up your favorite text editor with Super User (root) access.
From your text editor, open up your computer's hosts file. You will typically find your hosts file here: /etc/hosts
If your website is hosted on one of the top 4 domains shown below, add the line as shown. If not, please add the fifth line, and change your.domain.name to your domain name. If you need to use dev phpMyAdmin, please add the sixth line.
128.171.149.231 www.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.232 manoa.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.233 hawaii.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.234 maui.hawaii.edu
128.171.149.235 your.domain.name
128.171.149.235 depts.its.hawaii.edu
Save the file, and when you open your browser to your website, it will now point to the test webservers running in the enterprise Linux environment.
You can test compatibility by going to your website, and doing what you regularly do on your website and seeing if any errors arise. If everything works fine, you're all set.
After you complete testing, make sure you remember to remove the line from your hosts file and save to have your browsers point back to the production websites.
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Notes for application developers about the PHP upgrade
Notable change(s):
For detailed information about the php upgrade, please check out this PHP migration guide, with particular focus on 'Backward Incompatible Changes' and 'Removed Extensions' :
If you are experiencing errors with your site, please email us at web-support-l@lists.hawaii.edu with the date and time of your error and a copy of the error messages you may have received.
Also for any comments, concerns, or questions, please email us at web-support-l@lists.hawaii.edu
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