Beta Testing PHP 8.1 and Ioncube for Developers

[Hostinfacil.co]

Hello, 

Just to add to the previous posts, asked questions to Ioncube:

> Then, a PHP file encoded with v11 should be loaded with PHP 8.1
> (Ioncube v12) if the source code does not have any incompatibility
> with PHP 8.1, right?

No. Encoded files contain compiled code rather than source code, so the PHP 8.1 runtime would need to run code compiled for PHP 7.2 in this case. Compiled code for a new generation of PHP can be different even if the high-level PHP code were the same, and it usually isn't feasible or practical (i.e. it may be doable but would take too long). In general, it's viable for the Loader to run compiled code on newer minor versions of PHP, although our solution is the only one to offer even that. So, moving from PHP 7 to 8.1 and higher though would require compiling files specifically for PHP 8.1.

 

[Hostinfacil.co]

Hello, 

The headers of the files enconded with v11:

<?php //00507
// 11.0 74

Then, it reports encoder version (11.0) and PHP supported version (7.4), it should be able to detect such files in WHMCS 8.6 running PHP 7.4. Is this a bug of a feature requests?

[Hostinfacil.co]

1 hour ago, WHMCS John said:

Using cPanel EasyApache 4, we've tested with IonCube v11.0.1 loader on PHP 7.4.30 in a stock WHMCS v8.6 installation, and the tool is asserting the PHP 8.1 compatibility successfully:

 

PHP Version 7.4.30

Zend Engine v3.4.0, Copyright (c) Zend Technologies
    with the ionCube PHP Loader + ionCube24 v11.0.1, Copyright (c) 2002-2022, by ionCube Ltd.

I'd be interested to learn more about how you're compiling PHP and Ioncube on your server @Hostinfacil.co?

If you recompile PHP 7.4 with Ioncube Loaders v12.0.1, does it make any difference for you?

Hello, 

After testing everything I found the issue, if you scan for PHP compatibility, then update to WHMCS 8.6, then you check 8.1, you will see everything is in Incompatible Encoding, you need to rescan to get it working. Is not absolutely clear this step. Will be better if you invalide the last scan results after any update.

There are two files of WHMCS core reported as Incompatible encoding:

While modules (Developed by us) are show as Compatibility unknown, but such as files was enconded with Ioncube Online Encoder v11 for PHP 7.4:

Then it should detect as incompatible encoding

Questions:

1.  downloads.php and modules/gateways/callback/paymate.php are uncleaning files from WHMCS 8.5, right? Is it safe to delete? Can you ensure every file of previous versions that are not present in current version are deleted/cleaned?

2. Detection of files encoded with Ioncube Online Encoder are not supported by PHP version compatibility utility? The header looks like:

3. Ioncube doesn't want to provide Bundled encoding for the Online encoder, so we have to deliver zip modules for 7.4 and other for 8.1. Is there any ETA of when WHMCS supporting 8.1 will be production ready? In order to support only 8.1? I'm aware you used the desktop encoder with bundled encoding to support 7.4 and 8.1 with one base code.

 

Edited September 12, 2022 by Hostinfacil.co

[WHMCS David]

  Hi Hostinfacil.co

Quote

1.  downloads.php and modules/gateways/callback/paymate.php are uncleaning files from WHMCS 8.5, right? Is it safe to delete? Can you ensure every file of previous versions that are not present in current version are deleted/cleaned?

This file may be removed.  We have identified this and a few others like it following the beta release.  We will have a routine to clean these files on update to 8.6.0 RC.  While I can ensure every file we once distributed but is no longer distribute is safe to remove, we cannot guarantee that every file you find within your system was placed there by the WHMCS core product.  It is possible that unmanaged files in your installation may be from 3rd-party files (and sometimes in the case of modules, they might have the same base name).  Please review each file and retain a backup prior to removal.

Quote

2. Detection of files encoded with Ioncube Online Encoder are not supported by PHP version compatibility utility? The header looks like:

The PHP Version Compatibility Utility has limited support for the ionCube Online Encoder; we have seen several variants over the years.  We look to improve our support with each sample/iteration we receive.

Quote

3. Ioncube doesn't want to provide Bundled encoding for the Online encoder, so we have to deliver zip modules for 7.4 and other for 8.1. Is there any ETA of when WHMCS supporting 8.1 will be production ready? In order to support only 8.1? I'm aware you used the desktop encoder with bundled encoding to support 7.4 and 8.1 with one base code.

Normally the pre-production cycle for WHMCS is 4-6wks.  Given this, the expectation is that 8.6.0 GA will arrive by the end of October 2022.

Cheers

David

[Hal9000]

I updated from 8.3 to 8.6 final, and the downloads.php file was not updated, even though it is contained in the 8.6 zip. So I uploaded it manually...