Installing PHP 5.3 on Ubuntu server
Solution 1:
I've had success with these packages :)
Hope it helps!
Solution 2:
well - most stable way is to stay with what distro provides.
2nd safest would be to use official backports, but it seems php 5.3 is not there.
otherwise you have to rely on your own [if you compile and build package by yourself or 3rd party contributors. quick googling returns this as one of repositories [ x86 only ] of php 5.3 for ubuntu 8.10 : http://tekla.art.pl/php-5.3-debian-ubuntu/
Solution 3:
dotdeb.org packages (as linked in the best answer) are now up to PHP 5.3.5 - worth checking the PHP posts on the dotdeb site for the latest info. Have just installed 5.3.5 on Ubuntu 8.04 LTS and looking ok so far.
Solution 4:
Ubuntu 8.10 is not supported any more so i would recormend upgrading it if you are still using it (since original question originates from jul-09). Ubuntu 8.04 (LTS) however is still supported 2 more year on server environment and couple more months on desktop.