sudo a2enmod php5.6, php -v still shows php 7.01 conflict

Question

I'm trying to switch php versions, get following response. I tried dismounting mpm_prefork and mpm_worker still no joy, any ideas please.

on Ubuntu 16.04

sudo a2enmod php5.6   Considering dependency mpm_prefork for php5.6:  Considering conflict mpm_event for mpm_prefork:  Considering conflict mpm_worker for mpm_prefork:  Enabling module mpm_prefork.  Considering conflict php5 for php5.6:  Enabling module php5.6.  To activate the new configuration, you need to run:  service apache2 restart 

Answer 1

Your commands looks correct. Did you restart apache before testing?

sudo service apache2 restart 

The PHP module php5.6 made by Ondřej Surý can only be enabled by:

sudo a2dismod php7.0 sudo a2dismod php7.1 sudo a2dismod php7.2 sudo a2dismod php7.3 sudo a2dismod php7.4 sudo a2enmod php5.6 sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php5.6 sudo service apache2 restart 

I have found that this setup isn't compatible with any other MPM modules other that PREFORK. You have to make sure you disable ALL other MPM modules first, before enabling the php5.6 mod.

If the mod won't enable you might have to try to disable the other MPM's.

sudo a2dismod mpm_prefork sudo a2dismod mpm_worker sudo a2dismod mpm_event 

Then try to enable the mod again as it should auto enable the correct MPM.

$ sudo a2enmod php5.6 Considering dependency mpm_prefork for php5.6: Considering conflict mpm_event for mpm_prefork: Considering conflict mpm_worker for mpm_prefork: Module mpm_prefork already enabled Considering conflict php5 for php5.6: Enabling module php5.6. To activate the new configuration, you need to run:   service apache2 restart 

FYI, I like to put these commands into my '.bash_aliases' so I always have them handy for DEV work.

# Aliases - PHP alias php.info='php -i' alias php5.6='sudo a2dismod php7.0 && sudo a2dismod php7.1 && sudo a2dismod php7.2 && sudo a2dismod php7.3 && sudo a2dismod php7.4 && sudo a2enmod php5.6 && sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php5.6 && sudo service apache2 restart' alias php7.0='sudo a2dismod php5.6 && sudo a2dismod php7.1 && sudo a2dismod php7.2 && sudo a2dismod php7.3 && sudo a2dismod php7.4 && sudo a2enmod php7.0 && sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php7.0 && sudo service apache2 restart' alias php7.1='sudo a2dismod php5.6 && sudo a2dismod php7.0 && sudo a2dismod php7.2 && sudo a2dismod php7.3 && sudo a2dismod php7.4 && sudo a2enmod php7.1 && sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php7.1 && sudo service apache2 restart' alias php7.2='sudo a2dismod php5.6 && sudo a2dismod php7.0 && sudo a2dismod php7.1 && sudo a2dismod php7.3 && sudo a2dismod php7.4 && sudo a2enmod php7.2 && sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php7.2 && sudo service apache2 restart' alias php7.3='sudo a2dismod php5.6 && sudo a2dismod php7.0 && sudo a2dismod php7.1 && sudo a2dismod php7.2 && sudo a2dismod php7.4 && sudo a2enmod php7.3 && sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php7.3 && sudo service apache2 restart' alias php7.4='sudo a2dismod php5.6 && sudo a2dismod php7.0 && sudo a2dismod php7.1 && sudo a2dismod php7.2 && sudo a2dismod php7.3 && sudo a2enmod php7.4 && sudo update-alternatives --set php /usr/bin/php7.4 && sudo service apache2 restart' 

GIST: https://gist.github.com/djravine/376e81a018ba2b980750a5578deb3935