How to change PHP handlers from the command line

Introduction

You may need to set a specific PHP handler for a particular version of PHP or multiple versions of PHP in certain circumstances.

Procedure

1. Access the server's command line as the 'root' user via SSH or "Terminal" in WHM.
2. Use the rebuild_phpconf script with the --current option to list the PHP version installed on the server and their current PHP handlers.

   [root@server ~]cPs# /usr/local/cpanel/bin/rebuild_phpconf --current
   DEFAULT PHP: ea-php81
   ea-php74 SAPI: suphp
   ea-php80 SAPI: suphp
   ea-php81 SAPI: suphp
   ea-php82 SAPI: suphp
   [root@server ~]cPs#

3. Use the rebuild_phpconf script with the --available option to list the PHP handlers available for each PHP version.

   [root@server ~]cPs# /usr/local/cpanel/bin/rebuild_phpconf --available
   ea-php74: cgi lsapi none suphp
   ea-php80: cgi lsapi none suphp
   ea-php81: cgi lsapi none suphp
   ea-php82: cgi lsapi none suphp
   [root@server ~]cPs#

4. Run the following command to set the PHP handler for the PHP version.

   /usr/local/cpanel/bin/rebuild_phpconf --$version=$handler

   Please note, "$version" must be replaced with the PHP version (i.e. ea-php74, ea-php80, etc.) and "$handler" must be replaced with an available PHP handler (i.e. lsapi, suphp, etc.)

   root@server ~]cPs# /usr/local/cpanel/bin/rebuild_phpconf --ea-php74=cgi
   root@server ~]cPs# 

Additional resources

The rebuild_phpconf Script