How to Install IonCube Loader in DirectAdmin

IonCube Loader allows encoded PHP applications to run securely on your DirectAdmin server. Here’s a straightforward setup that works on CentOS, AlmaLinux, or Rocky 9 servers running DirectAdmin.

Step 1: Connect to the Server via SSH

ssh root@your-server-ip

Step 2: Update Your System

Before doing anything else, make sure your system packages are current:

dnf update -y

Step 3: Check Your PHP Version

DirectAdmin usually installs multiple PHP versions. To find the one you’re using:

php -v

Or check available versions via CustomBuild:

cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild
./build versions

Step 4: Download IonCube Loader

Move to the temporary directory and grab the latest IonCube package:

cd /usr/local
wget https://downloads.ioncube.com/loader_downloads/ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz
tar xvf ioncube_loaders_lin_x86-64.tar.gz

Step 5: Locate PHP Extension Directory

Check the PHP extension directory path for your current version:

php -i | grep extension_dir

It usually looks like:

/usr/local/php81/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20220829

Step 6: Copy the IonCube Loader File

Copy the correct IonCube file for your PHP version into the extension directory:

cp ioncube/ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.so /usr/local/php81/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20220829/

(Adjust for your PHP version.)

Step 7: Enable IonCube Loader in PHP Configuration

Edit or create a new .ini file inside your PHP configuration folder.

Example for PHP 8.1:

nano /usr/local/php81/lib/php.conf.d/00-ioncube.ini

Add this line:

zend_extension = /usr/local/php81/lib/php/extensions/no-debug-non-zts-20220829/ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.so

Save and exit (Ctrl + O, Ctrl + X).

Step 8: Restart Services

Restart PHP and Apache (or Litespeed/OpenLiteSpeed, depending on your DirectAdmin setup):

service httpd restart

or :

systemctl restart php-fpm81

(Change the service name based on your active PHP version.)

Step 9: Verify Installation

Check if IonCube is active:

php -v

You should see a line like:

with the ionCube PHP Loader (enabled)

Optional Step: Enable IonCube for All PHP Versions

If you’re using multiple PHP versions via CustomBuild:

cd /usr/local/directadmin/custombuild
./build set ioncube yes
./build ioncube
./build php n

This ensures IonCube Loader is installed globally across all versions.

After upgrading PHP through DirectAdmin, rerun the IonCube setup or rebuild PHP to keep compatibility with your new PHP version.