Title: The old SQL server error
Last modified: May 29, 2021

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# The old SQL server error

 *  [meerkmen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/meerkmen/)
 * (@meerkmen)
 * [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-old-sql-server-error/)
 * My site is giving this error. Will it be a problem for the future?
 * SQL server is the database software that WordPress uses to store the content 
   and settings of your entire site.
 * For optimal performance and security reasons, we recommend that you use MariaDB
   version 10.0 and higher. Fix this by contacting your web hosting service provider.
 * The page I need help with: _[[log in](https://login.wordpress.org/?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fwordpress.org%2Fsupport%2Ftopic%2Fthe-old-sql-server-error%2F%3Foutput_format%3Dmd&locale=en_US)
   to see the link]_

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

 *  [aidenturner](https://wordpress.org/support/users/aidenturner/)
 * (@aidenturner)
 * [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-old-sql-server-error/#post-14496785)
 * Hi [@meerkmen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/meerkmen/) ,
 * Which MariaDB version are you using now?
 * By the way, it’s better to use the latest (stable) version to ensure that hackers
   will not take advantage of the security holes in the older versions.
 * You can also discuss the problem with your hosting provider.
 * Hope it makes sense to you.
 *  Thread Starter [meerkmen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/meerkmen/)
 * (@meerkmen)
 * [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-old-sql-server-error/#post-14496788)
 * I don’t know frankly. My hosting provider said it wouldn’t be a problem. :/
 *  [Dion](https://wordpress.org/support/users/diondesigns/)
 * (@diondesigns)
 * [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-old-sql-server-error/#post-14496833)
 * What follows applies to MySQL/MariaDB 5.5. If you’re using MySQL 5.1 or earlier,
   please update to a newer version!
 * MySQL is perhaps the best example of where the overall “sky is falling” wording
   in WP Site Health borders on fear-mongering.
 * MySQL/MariaDB 5.5 is extremely stable and secure, and it has a noticeably lower
   memory/CPU footprint than MySQL 5.6+ or MariaDB 10.0+.
 * The only security issues in MariaDB have been in 10.2 or later, and there have
   been a couple serious security issues in the more recent versions.
 * Due to the large number of people continuing to use MariaDB 5.5 (myself included,
   on low-memory installations), it is unlikely WordPress will drop support for 
   it in the forseeable future. So if you are using MariaDB 5.5, my suggestion is
   to ignore the message in Site Health.
 *  Thread Starter [meerkmen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/meerkmen/)
 * (@meerkmen)
 * [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-old-sql-server-error/#post-14496887)
 * Thank you 🙂

Viewing 4 replies - 1 through 4 (of 4 total)

The topic ‘The old SQL server error’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Fixing WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/how-to-and-troubleshooting/)
 * 4 replies
 * 3 participants
 * Last reply from: [meerkmen](https://wordpress.org/support/users/meerkmen/)
 * Last activity: [4 years, 10 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/the-old-sql-server-error/#post-14496887)
 * Status: not resolved

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