---
url: /relyagent-whmcs/requirements.md
description: >-
  What your server and WHMCS install need before you run Relyagent — PHP, WHMCS,
  admin access, the ionCube Loader, mod_rewrite, PHP extensions, HTTPS and an
  active license, with how to check each one.
---

# Requirements

Confirm your server meets these before you install Relyagent. Most WHMCS hosts already do — the **ionCube Loader** is the one worth checking first, because Relyagent will not run without it.

## Server and software

| Requirement | Details |
| --- | --- |
| **PHP** | 8.2 or newer (runs on 8.2, 8.3, 8.4 and 8.5) |
| **WHMCS** | 8.13 or newer, or 9.x |
| **Admin access** | A **Full Administrator** account; the addon must be granted access to your admin role |
| **ionCube Loader** | 13.0.2 or newer (see below) |
| **PHP extensions** | `curl`, `openssl`, `json`, `zip`, `mbstring` |
| **Web server** | Apache or nginx with `mod_rewrite` (or equivalent rewrite support) |
| **SSL certificate** | Required — AI clients connect over HTTPS |
| **License** | An active Relyagent license |

## The ionCube Loader

Relyagent ships as an ionCube-encoded build, so your server needs the **ionCube Loader** — the *same* loader WHMCS itself requires, so a server already running WHMCS almost always has it.

You need **ionCube Loader 13.0.2 or newer**. The exact version tracks your PHP version — PHP 8.2 uses 13.0.2, PHP 8.3 uses 14.4.0, and newer 15.x loaders work too. One encoded build runs on every supported version.

::: danger Relyagent will not run without ionCube
If the loader is missing or too old, the page shows `ionCube Loader required. Contact support@relyweb.co`. Ask your host to enable **ionCube Loader 13.0.2 or newer** for your PHP version, then reload.
:::

## Why mod\_rewrite and HTTPS

Relyagent serves OAuth and MCP discovery documents at `.well-known` paths:

* **mod\_rewrite:** required to route discovery and endpoint URLs cleanly.
* **HTTPS:** required for OAuth 2.0 authorization and secure client communication.

AI clients connect to the persistent MCP endpoint:

```
https://<your-whmcs>/modules/addons/relyagent/public/mcp/endpoint.php
```

## Why Full Administrator access

WHMCS restricts addon module access by role:

* **Activation requirement:** grant access to **Full Administrator** (or designated admin roles) during activation.
* **Access issues:** missing role permissions cause **Access Denied** errors or hide Relyagent pages.
* **Role settings:** configure permissions under **Configuration → System Settings → Administrator Roles**.

## Why a license

The MCP server is license-gated; endpoints reject connections without an active license:

* **Configuration:** enter your key during setup (see [Installation](/relyagent-whmcs/installation)).
* **Management:** update keys under **Addons → Relyagent → Settings → License Information** (see [Licensing](/relyagent-whmcs/licensing)).

## How to check

* **PHP and extensions:** check **Utilities → System → PHP Info** for PHP 8.2+ and loaded extensions (`curl`, `openssl`, `json`, `zip`, `mbstring`).
* **ionCube Loader:** confirm version 13.0.2+ in **PHP Info**.
* **WHMCS version:** check the admin footer or **Help → System Health Status** for WHMCS 8.13+ or 9.x.
* **HTTPS:** verify the admin URL loads over a valid SSL certificate.
* **mod\_rewrite:** verify that friendly URLs resolve properly.

::: tip Ready to install?
Once your server checks out, head to [Installation](/relyagent-whmcs/installation).
:::