What version of PHP are you using? What server software is your site host using? What version of MySQL do you have? What operating system does your site host use?

Top of PHP Info test file results

These are questions often asked by WordPress users as they prepare to install WordPress. Other times, these questions are asked while troubleshooting a problem with a WordPress installation. But don't spend at lot of time searching your site, or your host's site, for the answers--there's a very easy way to get that information.

The easiest way to collect the information is to make use of a pHp function called phpinfo(). The phpinfo() function will query your (or your host's) server and generate a report with a long list of data. Note: Remember to bookmark this page, because, in the future, a volunteer in the WordPress Support Forum may ask you to use this method to get information to assist them in troubleshooting a question you asked on the Support Forum.

In a text editor, copy and paste the following command:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Make sure there are no spaces before or after the command, just the command, and save the file as something like testinfo.php or phpinfotest.php. Use a name that reminds you of this file's purpose, because you may need to use it again.

Upload the file to the root directory of your site. Then type in the address to the file in your browser:

http://example.com/testphp.php

The result will be several pages long and it will contain a ton of information. Though your data may be in a different order, for the most part, you just need the summary items that lists things like this:

That's it. Again, keep the file where you can find it, because you might need this information again. That way, it can be run any time from your browser.