Ubuntu 14.04 LTS PHP module missing after upgrade

📖 ~1 min read

Table of contents

1. Symptom & Impact
2. Environment & Reproduction
3. Root Cause Analysis
4. Quick Triage
5. Step-by-Step Diagnosis
6. Solution – Primary Fix
7. Solution – Alternative Approaches
8. Verification & Acceptance Criteria
9. Rollback Plan
10. Prevention & Hardening
11. Related Errors & Cross-Refs
12. References & Further Reading

Symptom & Impact

Web application features fail due to absent runtime extensions.

Environment & Reproduction

Ubuntu 14.04 with Apache/PHP stack after package update.

Root Cause Analysis

Extension package removed, disabled, or not loaded in active PHP SAPI.

Quick Triage

Compare php -m output with application required module list.

Step-by-Step Diagnosis

Check installed packages, ini symlinks, and Apache PHP binding.

Solution – Primary Fix

Install/enable missing extension and restart PHP runtime services.

Solution – Alternative Approaches

Adjust app configuration to supported module alternatives when possible.

Verification & Acceptance Criteria

Application checks pass and module appears in active runtime list.

Rollback Plan

Restore prior PHP package set and extension configuration backups.

Prevention & Hardening

Track dependency manifests and run post-upgrade health checks.

Related Errors & Cross-Refs

Cross-reference Apache 500 and composer dependency platform mismatches.

Related tutorial: View the step-by-step tutorial for Ubuntu 14.04 LTS.

View all Ubuntu 14.04 LTS tutorials on the Tutorials Hub →

Browse all common problems & solutions on the Tutorials Hub.

References & Further Reading

PHP module management and Ubuntu package docs.