Overview:
ionCube Loader is a PHP extension that enables the use of PHP files encoded with ionCube. This widely-used tool protects PHP source code from unauthorized viewing, theft, and modification by compiling it to bytecode.
This tutorial is designed for self-managed virtual private servers using the "VestaCP with CentOS 6" template.
Preliminary Requirements:
- Ensure the "VestaCP with CentOS 6" template is installed on your server.
Step 1: Download and Extract ionCube Loader
First, download ionCube Loader:
wget http://downloads3.ioncube.com/loader_downloads/ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz
Once downloaded, extract the archive and navigate into the folder:
tar xzvf ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz
cd ioncube
Step 2: Install ionCube Loader
Copy the ioncube_loader_lin_5.5.so file to the PHP directory:
cp ioncube_loader_lin_5.5.so /usr/lib64/php
Next, create a new .ini file and add the following content:
nano /etc/php.d/ioncube.ini
Add this line to the file:
zend_extension = /usr/lib64/php/ioncube_loader_lin_5.5.so
Final Step:
Restart Apache to apply the changes:
service httpd restart
And that’s it! Your ionCube Loader should now be installed and active.
