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Introducing Craft CMS 5: Server Requirements and Setup Guide

Shape April 2022 HR 58
Updated on 25 Sept 2024

Introducing Craft CMS 5!

Craft CMS is an adaptable and intuitive content management system designed for creating customised, powerful websites. It is a PHP-based platform that uses a relational database to store content, offering a seamless experience for both developers and end-users. The transition from Craft CMS 4 to Craft CMS 5 brings several updates and changes that impact system requirements, recommended environments, and compatibility. In this blog, we’ll look at the server requirements for running Craft CMS 5. So, let’s get into it!

Minimum System Specifications

To run Craft CMS 5, your hosting environment should meet the following minimum requirements:

  • PHP: Version 8.2 or higher.

  • Database: MySQL 8.0.17+ using InnoDB, MariaDB 10.4.6+, or PostgreSQL 13+.

  • Memory: At least 256MB allocated to PHP.

  • Disk Space: Minimum of 200MB free.

  • Composer: Version 2.0 or higher.

Recommended System Specifications

For optimal performance, particularly on sites with many users or large volumes of content, the following specifications are recommended:

  • PHP: Version 8.2 or higher.

  • Database: MySQL 8.0.36+ using InnoDB or PostgreSQL 16+.

  • Memory: 512MB+ allocated to PHP.

Note: Due to differences in handling complex queries, MariaDB is no longer recommended for large sites in Craft CMS 5.

Required PHP Extensions

Craft CMS 5 requires several PHP extensions to function correctly:

Shape April 2022 HR 53

Optional PHP Configurations

To fully leverage Craft CMS's features, certain PHP settings should be enabled:

File Permissions

To ensure Craft CMS functions without hiccups, it is key that PHP has the necessary write permissions for several critical files and directories:

  • Persistent Write Access Required For:
    • storage/*

    • config/license.key

    • web/cpresources/*

  • Write Access Needed During Installation, Updates, or Plugin Installations:
    • .env

    • config/project/*

    • composer.json and composer.lock

    • vendor/*

The specific permissions settings should be adjusted based on how the system user, under which PHP operates, relates to the file and folder owners:

  • Identical User and Owner: Assign permissions with 744 (rwxr--r--), allowing full control for the owner and read-only for others.

  • Same Group: Set permissions to 774 (rwxrwxr--), providing full access to the user and group, but read-only access to others.

If your current setup does not align with either of the above scenarios, there could be a configuration error. In this case, consult with your system administrator to ensure the settings are correctly applied.

Avoid setting permissions to 777 in shared environments or on live sites, as this allows full read, write, and execute permissions to everyone. Additionally, avoid running your HTTP server (or PHP) with root privileges to maintain security integrity.

These guidelines help maintain the security and functionality of your Craft CMS installation, ensuring that it operates smoothly and remains secure against unauthorised access.

Database User Privileges

The database user configured for Craft must have comprehensive privileges:

MySQL/MariaDB:

  • SELECT

  • INSERT

  • DELETE

  • UPDATE

  • CREATE

  • ALTER

  • INDEX

  • DROP

  • REFERENCES

  • LOCK TABLES

For PostgreSQL:

  • SELECT

  • INSERT

  • UPDATE

  • CREATE

  • DELETE

  • REFERENCES

  • CONNECT


Control Panel Browser Requirements

Craft’s control panel requires modern browsers that support JavaScript modules:

Windows & macOS:

  • Firefox 67+

  • Chrome 63+

  • Safari 11.1+

  • Edge 79+.

Mobile:

  • iOS Safari 11+

  • Android Chrome 81+

  • Firefox 68+.

Using these supported browsers ensures that all features and functionalities of the Craft CMS control panel are accessible and function correctly, allowing for efficient site management and content updates. Make sure your browser is up to date to take full advantage of the control panel's capabilities.

These specifications ensure that Craft CMS 5 will run efficiently and securely, providing a robust platform for website development and management. For additional information, utilise the official server check script to confirm your server's compatibility with Craft CMS 5 requirements. 


Our opinion at MadeByShape is that you can't get better than Craft CMS. Got any Craft CMS questions? Talk to us!

Hey! I'm Kerry. Content writer at MadeByShape.