I run an NC server on Ubuntu, currently version 25 (Linux 5.4.0-189-generic x86_64, MariaDB 10.6, PHP7.4, apache2.4.41) and have updated from v24 to v25 using the web updater. It reported problems with an app (backup) and the overview indicates errors in the system configuration. The details show that these are the files of the backup app. I tried to delete this app, but that doesn’t work, neither via the web front end nor in the command line. The command is executed without an error message, but nothing happens. In the end, the app is still there.
NC also reports that I should update PHP. I did that, from 7.4 to 8.2. Then NC told me that it is not compatible with 8.2! (???), so I went back again. Then I looked on the website and found that NC v25 is outdated and no longer supported (although it’s not even a year old…). The web front end says that my version (25) is up to date and doesn’t offer me an update. And the command line updater just gives an error (PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function NC\Updater\curl_init() in phar:///var/www/nextcloud/updater/updater.phar/lib/Updater.php:472).
My NC installation has been running without problems for about 2 years. What haven’t I understood? And does anyone know how I can get further here? I’ve already tried updating Ubuntu, which worked, but then NC stopped working at all (http 500). That’s why my idea was to update NC first and then Ubuntu. But I’m stuck and don’t know what to do next and I’m grateful for any advice that shows me where my mistake is.
Since Nextcloud is a particularly exposed software, it must be ensured that it continuously meets the newest security requirements. The same applies to PHP itself. PHP has a lifecycle for the same reason:
If you host such a server yourself, you have to take care of updates much more frequently. It is not a software to run for 2 years without updating!
NC also reports that I should update PHP. I did that, from 7.4 to 8.2.
Always check the Admin Manual for the version of Nextcloud Server you’re running (and upgrading to) to review system requirement changes: https://docs.nextcloud.com.
Then NC told me that it is not compatible with 8.2! (???), so I went back again.
PHP 8.2.0 was released after Nc v25 was released, so, yes that’s correct.
Sounds like the main challenge you ran into was upgrading to PHP 8.2 rather than, say, 8.1 while still running Nc v25. Fortunately, that’s easily addressable once you realize that’s all that is going on.
And the command line updater just gives an error (PHP Fatal error: Uncaught Error: Call to undefined function NC\Updater\curl_init() in phar:///var/www/nextcloud/updater/updater.phar/lib/Updater.php:472).
Sounds like when you upgraded PHP you didn’t install all the required extensions.
Then I looked on the website and found that NC v25 is outdated and no longer supported (although it’s not even a year old…).
If you’ve already upgraded Ubuntu and want to use some earlier PHP releases to facilitate an upgrade path (also works the other way around if you haven’t upgraded Ubuntu in some cases), you can use the Sury PHP packages: https://deb.sury.org/
They’re built/maintained by the same maintainer as the officially distributed ones in Ubuntu.
Thank you for your help! You were right, my actual mistake was updating PHP to 8.2 instead of 8.1. And then I messed up everything trying to figure out a way around the errors. I should have figured that out, but at a certain point you lose sight of the forest for the trees…
I’ve now gone back to 8.1 (involved a bit of manual installation…) and things have improved from there. I’m now on v29.0.4, I was also able to delete the backup app after changing the owner of the files (no idea why they were set to root, I’ve only activated or installed apps via the web frontend so far). And that also made the error messages disappear. I’m going to try updating Ubuntu now and hope that everything will still work after that.
Two days of headaches, but I’ve also learned a lot… Thank you for your support!
All majors are supported for 12 months from their release: 