Installation Manual

Minimum System Requirements
To successfully install and use Joomla! you must have a fully operational Web server (Apache is the
optimum), a database (MySQL is the optimum) and the server side scripting language PHP together with
specific modules that are activated within PHP for MySQL, XML, and Zlib functionality amongst others.
Note: Joomla! is developed and tested primarily on the Apache Web server versions 1.3.x + and 2.x +.
Whilst there is every chance that it will work with other systems, such as Windows IIS, these are not
necessarily supported as fully/at all within the technical support community.
The same has to be said unfortunately for the database where MySQL is the principle choice but other types
of database may work with the necessary configuration but are less well supported at the present time. This
is a situation that it is hoped will be turned around with time but for this to happen the community requires
people with the appropriate skills to step forward and assist.
The minimum versions of the various constituent parts of these server components that are required are as
follows:
Software Min
Version
Recommended Optimum Latest
Release
Web Site
PHP 4.3.x 4.4.7 5.0.x
series
5.2.4 http//php.net
MySQL 3.23.x or
above
4.1.22 5.0.x
series
5.0.45 http://dev.mysql.com/downloads/mysql/5.0.
html
Apache 1.3 or
above
1.3.9 2.0.61 2.2.6 http://httpd.apache.org
mod_mysql
mod_xml
mod_zlib
You must ensure that you have the MySQL, XML, and Zlib functionality enabled within your PHP installation.
This is controlled within the php.ini file.
Caution: Do not use PHP 4.3.9, PHP 4.4.2 or PHP 5.0.4; these releases have known bugs that will interfere
with the installation of Joomla! There was also an issue with the Zend Optimizer Version 2.5.10 for PHP
4.4.x. You should ask your host to upgrade to a later release as soon as possible where applicable.
Note: There are currently ongoing discussions as to whether there are additional issues with the whole 4.3.x.
series of releases of PHP and it has been found that the best and most consistent results are achieved with
the PHP 5.x series.
Joomla! has been successfully tested on many variants within the main three OS for Windows, Linux, Apple
Mac OSX. It may well work on other platforms but this is less well documented.
Joomla! is also regularly used and tested through the main Web browsers available such as IE6 +, Firefox
1.5 +, Safari, and Opera but it may also work with others.
The Joomla! User Documentation Team 2 The Joomla! v1.5 Installation Manual