What are the php.ini default values set for Nexcess customers?
Sites hosted on Nexcess will already have very high PHP defaults (php.ini default values) without having to override those values via a .user.ini file in most cases.
However, one should be well versed on how those values are configured, including the required formats for specifying gigabytes, megabytes, and kilobytes.
Please note that the required formats for the PHP values documented in this article apply when configuring the values documented in both php.ini and .user.ini files.
What is the php.ini file?
Your Apache web server’s php.ini file is the standard configuration file used in your PHP-based applications. This settings file is used to set upload sizes, display errors, resource limits, file timeouts, and many other things. There is a default PHP settings (php.ini) file installed on your server.
Where is the php.ini file located?
Your Apache web server’s php.ini file is the default configuration file for applications that require PHP. It is used to manage values such as upload sizes, file timeouts, and resource limits. The php.ini file is located on your server in the /public_html folder.
Modifying PHP limits in general at Nexcess
We do not permit our clients with managed hosting plans to modify their php.ini files or the php.ini timeout settings in them. However, making a .user.ini file in the website’s document root is another approach to change the PHP restrictions on any type of website hosted on a Nexcess server.
The html directory serves as the document root for the majority of hosted websites. Either the pub directory or the domain-named directory will serve as the document root for Magento sites.
About the default php.ini values used at Nexcess
With regard to the php.ini default values at Nexcess, the following common PHP values are set as follows:
max_execution_time 600
max_file_uploads 1024M
max_input_vars 16384
memory_limit 2048M
post_max_size 1536M
upload_max_filesize 1536M
Those commonly requested values on your site for plugins and themes do not need to be changed. This is because the default values for PHP memory and post max and upload max file sizes are already more than high enough.
Some plugins and themes might recommend setting the PHP memory to at least 256 MB in size but the PHP memory by default is already going to be higher. The same is true for upload file size limits that are already high enough in most cases.
Take the time to reference the default PHP values already set before making any custom PHP default changes using the .user.ini file.
Conclusion
Understanding the default php.ini values at Nexcess is essential for efficient site management. Because Nexcess provides high default limits for critical settings like memory_limit and upload_max_filesize, manual overrides using a .user.ini file are rarely necessary. Always verify your current configuration before attempting to modify PHP settings to avoid unnecessary customizations and ensure your managed hosting plan remains optimized for performance.