You can see a summary of the applications being used by your website, including PHP and MySQL, when you select the System Information link from the Information Panel in the System Dashboard.
Whilst you will see a warning on the Home Dashboard when your website's Joomla! CMS is out of date, you won't see a similar such warning about PHP or MySQL. 1
And for this reason, you should frequently check which versions of these important web applications are being used by your server, and whether they are the latest version and release compatible with your Joomla! CMS.
You could visit the Hosting Control Panel providing by your hosting provider to check which versions, but it is arguably quicker and easier to check this screen instead.
1 This guide assumes your website is being hosted on a Linux server.
We tell you how to check what is the latest available release in our Web Hosting Environment article.
And post updates in JOOMLERS.UK News when new releases are published.
Read more: Web Hosting Environment.
System Information Screen
When you open the System Information screen you will see several tabs - shown here.
And under the System Information tab, a summary of the web applications (and their versions).
We have highlighted the ones you should keep a close eye on.
A Useful Glossary of Terms
PHP Built on
Provides details of the principle operating system which the web server that Joomla is running on.
Database Version
Provides the current version of the MySQL database being used by the installation of Joomla.
Database Collation
How the MySQL database is structured for the information used by Joomla!.
PHP Version
Provides the current version of PHP server side script that is being used for this installation of Joomla.
Web Server
Provides the current type and version of web server which the installation of Joomla! is running on.
Web Server to PHP Interface
The script that permits interaction between the web server (in most cases, Apache) and the PHP scripting language.
Joomla! Version
Provides the current version of Joomla!. It is recommended that it is always up-to-date and using the current stable release.
Joomla! Platform Version
Provides the current version of the Joomla! Framework. It is recommended that it is always up-to-date and using the current stable release.
User Agent
The summary of the current user's local machine's operating system and browser information which is used to create an unique session ID for access and functionality within the Joomla! website.
Useful Links
These links will help you compare the listed version of Joomla! CMS, PHP and MySQL 1 with the known latest available release.
1 This guide assumes you are hosting your website on a Linux server.
Joomla! CMS
Always use the latest available release of Joomla! CMS.
If you see a warning at the top of your dashboard then you should update your Joomla! CMS.
PHP
See what is the current PHP version being used by the server hosting your website.
Look up what is the latest available release.
Is the server hosting your website using the latest available release?
If not then contact your hosting provider to request an update.
We tell you how to check what is the latest published release in our related article.
MySQL
See what is the current MySQL version being used by the server hosting your website.
Look up what is the latest available release.
Is the server hosting your website using the latest available release?
If not then contact your hosting provider to request an update.
System Information Help Screen
Make Joomla! CMS Security your #1 Priority
We help and support managers responsible for Joomla! CMS websites in UK business, academy school and third sector organisations across Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Merseyside and North West England.
Contact WYNCHCO Solutions for personal Joomla! CMS Help and Support.
