Installation Manual

Step 4 - Database Configuration
We now enter the final, and you could say, most important stages of the browser installation. This step
establishes the information Joomla! requires in order to communicate with your database.
The Database Configuration Stage Screen
You now require the information you (hopefully) secured earlier in this guide.
Select the database type from the drop down list, which includes mysql and mysqli by default. Typically you
will select mysql for your database choice. There may be subsequent changes that require the use of
mysqli but such speculation is outside the scope of this document.
Further Information: If you would like to read more about the difference between the two types visit
http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/connector/php/ where you will find some basic details.
Thereafter, enter the Host Name, User Name, Password, and Database Name for your database.
The Additional Settings fields allow for further definition of your database. If, for example, you have had a
previous, but no longer required, database of the same name as you have entered in the field above, you
have the options to either drop (delete) the tables within the existing database or create full backups of the
tables and therefore retain the information just in case you need to step back from the current installation
utilising this backup.
You can also change the Table Prefix that Joomla! will use for all the tables in your database. You may want
this facility if you are running more than one Joomla! Web site from within the same database.
Warning!: Never use the prefix bak_ as this is used by Joomla! specifically for back-ups of tables within the
database.
Always ensure the inclusion of the single underscore character following the prefix you choose otherwise the
prefix will simply “run into” the table name. The default prefix is jos_.
The Joomla! User Documentation Team 19 The Joomla! v1.5 Installation Manual