Table of contents of the article:
Why host old versions of PrestaShop?
PrestaShop is one of the most used e-commerce platforms in the world, thanks to its flexibility, large ecosystem of modules and themes, and large support community. However, like any software, PrestaShop has also gone through different phases of evolution, with versions that have followed one another over the years. Despite the arrival of newer versions such as 1.7 and 8, many companies and developers still find themselves in the need to use older versions such as 1.5 or 1.6.
There can be many reasons why you continue to host older versions:
- Stability and reliability: Some e-commerce sites based on PrestaShop 1.5 or 1.6 have been working stably for years, and an update could introduce risks and service interruptions. In these cases, it is understandable to choose to keep the existing version until it is possible to guarantee that the new version does not cause problems.
- Module and theme compatibility: Some custom modules and themes have not yet been updated to work properly with the latest versions of PrestaShop. Updating these components can take time, and in the meantime, e-commerce sites must continue to operate smoothly.
- Complex migration processes: Upgrading an e-commerce from an old version of PrestaShop to a new one can be a long and complex process, especially when it comes to large stores with a lot of data, products, customers and orders. During the migration, you may need to continue using an old version to maintain operations.
- Cost and resources: Not all companies have the resources to perform ongoing updates. Some prefer to invest in business operations rather than dedicate resources to an immediate technical update.
The challenges of backwards compatibility
Despite the need for many users to maintain older versions of PrestaShop, the main problem lies in backwards compatibility. Many hosting providers, in an effort to stay up-to-date and secure, tend to only support the latest versions of PHP and MySQL. This can cause difficulties for those using PrestaShop 1.5 or 1.6, as these versions require PHP versions that are now deprecated.
For example, PrestaShop 1.5 and 1.6 work best with PHP versions such as 5.6, 7.0, and 7.1, all of which are now considered obsolete. At the time of writing, PHP 7.4 is officially deprecated and no longer actively maintained. Many hosting control panels such as Plesk, cPanel, or DirectAdmin no longer offer the ability to select PHP versions older than PHP 7.4, making it difficult to host older versions of PrestaShop without a custom configuration.
Additionally, many Linux distributions and control panel updates tend to stop supporting outdated versions of PHP or MySQL. This can jeopardize the proper functioning of e-commerce sites based on PrestaShop 1.5 or 1.6, which may not be compatible with newer versions of PHP.
The Need for Backwards Compatible Hosting
Given the above context, it is clear that businesses and developers working on older versions of PrestaShop need hosting solutions that specifically support these versions. However, finding a hosting provider that offers the ability to use outdated versions of PHP and MySQL can be a challenge. Many hosting providers are constantly updating their infrastructure to keep up with the latest software releases, reducing the availability of environments that are compatible with older versions.
This situation becomes especially critical during migration processes. For example, suppose a company is working to upgrade its e-commerce from PrestaShop 1.6 to 1.7. The migration process could take several months, during which it is necessary to keep the site operational on a version compatible with PHP 5.6 or 7.1. A hosting that does not support these versions of PHP could block the entire process, causing interruptions and economic losses for the company.
The Challenge of Continuously Updating Hosting Providers
One of the main difficulties that companies face is that as hosting providers update their control panels or Linux distributions, they tend to stop supporting older versions of PHP, MySQL, and other essential server components. This creates a dilemma for those using older software such as PrestaShop 1.5 or 1.6: on the one hand, it is important to stay up to date for security and performance, but on the other hand, a forced update can cause malfunctions or incompatibilities.
Hosting providers that do not offer backwards compatibility solutions risk alienating a portion of their customers, especially those who run e-commerce or applications that require obsolete software versions to function properly. The lack of backwards compatibility can jeopardize the proper functioning of PrestaShop on these platforms, especially in terms of compatibility with new versions of PHP or MySQL.
Plesk and cPanel do not support older versions of PHP
By 2024, both Plesk is cPanel have drastically reduced support for older versions of PHP, such as PHP 5.6, 7.0 and 7.1, in response to security vulnerabilities and the end of the official support cycle by php.net. According to the official Plesk documentation, the currently supported PHP versions include PHP 7.4, 8.0, 8.1, and 8.2, while older versions are no longer included in the repositories or offered as configurable options. Similarly, cPanel, starting in 2024, only offers compatibility starting from PHP 7.4 and strongly encourages migration to newer versions to ensure security and stability.
This situation is a problem for those who use old versions of PrestaShop, which require outdated versions of PHP to function properly. Users who find themselves in this situation often cannot rely on the standard configuration options of these control panels and must resort to custom solutions. In these cases, the only viable option is to rely on a specialized system consulting service, such as the one offered by MANAGED SERVER SRL, able to configure and manage environments optimized for PHP versions no longer supported by traditional hosting providers. This type of consultancy ensures the backwards compatibility needed to keep PrestaShop-based e-commerce sites up and running without compromising system stability or security.
Backwards compatible hosting for PrestaShop
we at MANAGED SERVER SRL We understand these needs and have developed specific hosting solutions for those who need to maintain old versions of PrestaShop, ensuring backward compatibility and reliability. In addition to offering specific and optimized hosting for the most recent versions of PrestaShop 1.7 and 8, we also offer the possibility of hosting older versions such as PrestaShop 1.4, 1.5 and 1.6.
Our approach is based on the creation of custom system environments, specifically designed to ensure full compatibility with obsolete versions of PHP and MySQL. This means that we can configure our servers to support PHP 5.6, 7.0, 7.1 and other versions necessary for the correct functioning of PrestaShop 1.5 or 1.6.
The benefits of our backwards compatible hosting
Choosing MANAGED SERVER SRL for hosting old versions of PrestaShop offers a number of advantages:
- Guaranteed compatibility: Thanks to our experience and customized solutions, we guarantee compatibility with obsolete versions of PHP and MySQL, ensuring that your e-commerce continues to function smoothly.
- Stability and safety: Even if you are using older versions of PrestaShop, our servers are configured to ensure a safe and stable environment. We constantly monitor performance and security, ensuring that your site remains protected.
- Support during migration: If you are planning to migrate to a newer version of PrestaShop, we can offer you a temporary hosting environment compatible with your current version, allowing you to work on the upgrade without interruption.
- Personalized solutions: We can adapt our hosting to your specific needs, configuring the server environment based on the software versions required by your e-commerce.
Conclusion
Hosting older versions of PrestaShop can be a challenge, especially when it comes to managing backwards compatibility with outdated versions of PHP and MySQL. However, maintaining the operation of an e-commerce site based on older versions of PrestaShop is essential for many businesses, who are faced with compatibility issues and high migration costs.
we at MANAGED SERVER SRL we offer specific hosting solutions for these needs, ensuring full compatibility with PrestaShop 1.4, 1.5, 1.6 and 1.7. Thanks to our system environments developed ad hoc, we can ensure that your e-commerce continues to function in a stable and secure way, even during migration phases or in situations that require the support of obsolete versions of PHP.
If your site is also obsolete but you need to leave it running on a backwards compatible Hosting, contact us for a turnkey and worry-free migration to our PrestaShop Hosting.
