Fix Intermittent GCP PHP Crashes

I run a small PHP-based app on a single Google Cloud Platform VM. Until recently the service was stable, but now the server crashes randomly and, when it comes back up, the external IP sometimes changes as well. I have yet to catch any clear error messages or logs that explain why, so the root cause is still unknown.

I need someone comfortable with GCP, Linux, Apache/Nginx and PHP to dive in, trace the failure, and leave the instance in a steady, production-ready state. This includes inspecting system and application logs (journalctl, syslog, Stackdriver), enabling any missing logging, and confirming whether the issue is resource exhaustion, a misconfiguration, a failing startup script, or something deeper in the OS or network layer. If the fix requires assigning a static IP, adjusting firewall rules, patching software, or tweaking instance settings, please handle that and document every change.

Deliverables
• Evidence-based explanation of the crash root cause.
• All configuration or code changes applied and documented.
• Verification that the server remains stable after the fix (soak test).
• Short preventive checklist for future monitoring and backups.

SSH access will be provided via an ephemeral key, and I’m available for a quick call or screen-share during the first diagnostic pass. I’d like to get this resolved promptly.