Highest PHP version for 3.8.5?

[bplinson]

Hello. What is the highest PHP version for 3.8.5 and if I want to upgrade to the latest version of 4 I assume I will need to wait to upgrade the PHP until after the forum upgrade is complete. Correct?

[Dave]

I would avoid vBulletin 3.8.5 if you can and just go for the latest vBulletin 3 version. As far as I know 3.8.5 only runs smoothly on the really early PHP versions, 5.2 maybe?

vBulletin 4.2.5 supports PHP 5.6/7.0/7.1. I recommend using PHP 7.1.

[bplinson]

Thanks. I guess I was not clear. My fault.

My forum currently runs VB 3.8.5. My current dedicated server is running PHP 5.1.6 and MySQL 5.0.95. Will the current version of VB 4 run on this? From your response I believe it is no.

I am trying to change hosting services and they are saying they can only go down to PHP 5.3 and the lowest MySQL is 5.6. So what I need to know is can 3.8.5 run on this??

My plan is to upgrade to the latest version of 4 once I get moved over to the new server.

[Dave]

vBulletin 4 will definitely not work on PHP 5.1.6 and MySQL 5.0.95.
As for vBulletin 3.8.5 on PHP 5.3/MySQL 5.6. It's hard to say, it might work but certain features could break.

[bplinson]

OK. So I guess my only choice is to upgrade to 3.8.11, upgrade the PHP and MySQL and then upgrade to 4? Once on 4 I can then upgrade PHP to 7.1.

[Dave]

vBulletin 3.8.11 also supports PHP 7.1 according to vBulletin.
Note that you don't have to upgrade to the latest version of vBulletin 3 and then to 4, you can go straight to vBulletin 4 from your current version.

Keep in mind that all your plugins and themes will stop working on vBulletin 4, and some plugins may break when you go to the latest vBulletin 3 version.