Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Rebecca McAllister -
Number of replies: 11

Obviously, the 17 moodle applications on my server are running 3.5.7 just fine under PHP 7.4.  Suggestions?  Do I need to downgrade my PHP?  I don't have that option in my server settings so I want to be sure before I contact customer service.


Current release information

Moodle 3.6.10 (Build: 20200511)

For information about this version of Moodle, please see the online Release Notes

Server checks

Name Information Report Plugin Status
php

PHP version 7.4 is not supported.

 Restricted
moodle OK

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In reply to Rebecca McAllister

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
Facts:
- Moodle 3.5
minimum PHP 7.0.0 Note: minimum PHP version has increased since Moodle 3.3. PHP 7.1.x and 7.2.x are supported too. 
https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Moodle_3.5_release_notes#Server_requirements

- Moodle 3.6
minimum PHP 7.0.0 Note: minimum PHP version has increased since Moodle 3.3. PHP 7.1.x, 7.2.x and 7.3.x (since Moodle 3.6.4) are supported too
https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Moodle_3.6_release_notes#Server_requirements

The question is, where do you want to go? If you want to march the site to a supported version, 3.5 (LTS) > 3.9 (LTS) in one long jump is possible. See http://www.syndrega.ch/blog/#php-and-dbms-compatibility-of-major-moodle-releases.
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In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Rebecca McAllister -
I am hoping to get it up closer to current, if possible (as long as plugins work). The last upgrades were a number of years ago. Thanks for the help. I didn't even see the 3.9 as an option. I will give that a try and see if I can avoid downgrading the PHP.
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In reply to Rebecca McAllister

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

For your planning consideration ...

Go to Admin, Server, Environment - update the component.
Step through each higher version of moodle from the drop down pick list and note the requirements - PHP/PHP extensions/DB version/DB settings might be needed for the next hop version of Moodle chosen

Plugins - Go to Site Admin Plugins Plugins overview Additional Plugins
For every additional plugin check https://moodle.org/plugins/ for compatible versions upwards - highest 4.0 right now.   Themes are plugins.

Any custom plugin you can't find in plugins site, check with programmer of the plugin.

Dates:
https://docs.moodle.org/dev/Releases
3.5
Bug fixes for general core bugs in 3.5.x ended May 2019 (12 months).
Bug fixes for security issues in 3.5.x ended 10 May 2021 (36 months).

3.9 (LTS)
Bug fixes for general core bugs in 3.9.x ended 10 May 2021 (12 months).
Bug fixes for security issues in 3.9.x will end 13 Nov 2023 (36 months plus 6 months extension).

4.0 not LTS
Bug fixes for general core bugs in 4.0.x will end 8 May 2023 (12 months).
Bug fixes for security issues in 4.0.x will end 13 November 2023 (18 months).

note: 13 Nov 2023 for 3.9 and 13 November 2023 for 4.0 (same date) - so a 4.1, when released, isn't that far away.

4.1 is supposed to be the next LTS version.

Most folks clone their production server environment then use that clone to test updates/upgrades.   Since you seem to emphasize 'as long as plugins work' a test environment probably best approach.

If Linux based, could be looking at entire server depending upon OS version and LTS or not.   That's true even if you remotely host, BTW.

'SoS', Ken


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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Visvanath Ratnaweera -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers Picture of Translators
+1

@Rebecca, you wrote "the 17 moodle applications on my server are running 3.5.7 just fine under PHP 7.4". Are you just lucky? (Moodle 3.5 is NOT PHP 7.4 compatible.)

You could just march the Moodle code to 3.9. That'll trigger a long jump upgrade to 3.9 (LTS), which is currently supported. Caution: You might be stretching your luck. Double check the max. versions of other system software. Ref. the chart I gave earlier. Take a site backup first!

Yes, plug-ins can break the whole thing. How many plug-ins are you talking about: two or two hundred? You have to go to the homepage of each plug-in in https://moodle.org/plugins/ and check whether it has a version for 3.9.

You haven't mentioned the server platform. If Windows, I'll leave the discussion.
wink
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In reply to Visvanath Ratnaweera

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Rebecca McAllister -
Linux... and yes, all 3 plugins work in 3.9 so I am moving forward. I double checked and yes, I am running PHP7.4 with Moodle 3.5.7. I don't believe I made that change on the server, but it is what it is and didn't break anything, thankfully.



Thanks for your help!
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In reply to Rebecca McAllister

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

Can you set the drop down for moodle version to anything higher than what your image shows?

Update the component.

Then see if 3.9.x or higher versions show.

Think you are due for a MySQL upgrade during your upgrade path.

'SoS', Ken


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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Rebecca McAllister -
Got the upgrade to 3.9 with no issues, all plugins work, and just a couple of tweaks to the theme. I will check MySQL upgrade as well.  A few more tests and the rest will be upgraded next week. 

I think I will stop there for now as one of the plugins doesn't go any higher yet and I prefer not to rock the boat at this point.  Less than tech-savvy safety managers, really don't appreciate changes in the system.

Thanks, and have a great day!
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In reply to Rebecca McAllister

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Ken Task -
Picture of Particularly helpful Moodlers

+1 Mr. V's suggestion about DB version (maybe even settings).

"Less than tech-savvy safety managers, really don't appreciate changes in the system."

What?  ... 'don't appreciate change ...?!!!   Well, you might want to give them plenty of time to preview a 4 - unless they are good at 'who moved my cheese'!  That goes for admin as well! smile

'SoS', Ken


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In reply to Ken Task

Re: Upgrade to 3.6 from 3.5 and getting PHP7.4 not supported?

by Rebecca McAllister -
Thank you, Ken. Yes, I am testing the upgrades with a clone/staging before I do the others. Not going to gamble like that. I'm just rusty... last updates were in 2018. A theme and one or two additional plugins, nothing too complicated. I'm thinking 3.9 is my best option to start. I was just thinking to get to 4.0, I had to get to 3.6. Didn't think about going higher.
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