WordPress has been updated to version 3.2 and many of you who have WordPress websites are probably seeing the notice about needing to upgrade when you log in. However, WordPress version 3.2 brings some pretty big changes (don’t worry, they are all great in the long run), and you will need to make sure that the web hosting account your website is on will support the latest changes before you upgrade.
In short, WordPress is dropping support for PHP 5.4.1 or earlier and MySQL version 5.0.14 or earlier. PHP is the scripting language WordPress is written in, and MySQL is the database it runs on. Unfortunately, there are still many web servers running older versions of these two essential pieces of software. If you upgrade WordPress and don’t have the supported versions of PHP and/or MySQL installed on your web server, you will find yourself with a broken website. Not good!
To check and see if you are safe to make the upgrade and enjoy the cool new features of WordPress 3.2, you have a few options.
- Call your webhost and ask to make sure the versions of PHP and MySQL are sufficient on your hosting account.
- Install the WordPress Health Check plugin, run it, and let it report the versions of PHP and MySQL that it finds. If all is well, you can upgrade WordPress.
- Let corecubed help! We will make a full backup of your website before doing anything to be safe. Then we will determine whether or not it is safe to make the WordPress upgrade. We will also update any plugins as needed.
Whichever option you choose, it’s important to keep your WordPress installation and plugins updated in order to get all the latest features and security enhancements. If you’d like to see a full list of the new additions and enhancements to WordPress 3.2, check this out. You will find that 3.2 is faster and lighter and sports a sleek new admin interface. Exciting!
If you do find that your web server doesn’t support the required version of PHP and/or MySQL, you need to find a new web host, pronto!
One final note, WordPress has officially dropped support for Internet Explorer 6, so if you are still running an old version of this web browser, you will not be able to use the WordPress admin area in 3.2.