SMF2.0:Requirements and recommendations

In order to run an SMF forum, the server must meet the following requirements, and will run best on servers that also meet the recommendations below. This software has been tested and verified to work with the clients listed below, which are all internet browsers.

Basic Server Requirements
The following are required on any server intending to run SMF 2.0.


 * A webserver with approximately 20MB of available disk space. Much more is recommended so that other content can be uploaded over time.
 * A webserver that supports PHP, such as Apache or Internet Information Server (IIS).
 * PHP 4.1.0 or higher
 * Versions of SMF below 2.0.7 will not work on PHP 5.5. If you use PHP 5.5 it is necessary to use SMF 2.0.7 or greater.
 * Versions of SMF from 2.0.16 onwards require a version of PHP between 5.3 and 7.3. If you use PHP 5.3 or lower, it is necessary to use SMF 2.0.13 or lower or SMF 2.0.16 or higher. This is because 2.0.14 and 2.0.15 do not support PHP 5.3. PHP 7.4 is not supported by SMF at this time.
 * The following must be changed in the php.ini file:
 * The  directive must be set to On.
 * The  directive must be set to Off.
 * The  directive must be set to a valid directory or empty.
 * The  directive must be set to On.
 * The  directive must be set to a valid directory or empty.
 * One of the following databases must be installed:
 * MySQL 4.0.18 or higher (at least 4.1.0 would be better) and PHP MySQL client API 4.0.18 or higher.
 * PostgreSQL 8.0 or higher ( must be set to off, starting from PostgreSQL 9.1 default is on)
 * SQLite SQLite 2.x (SMF is not compatible with SQLite 3.x)
 * The following are requirements for the database:
 * For a clean SMF installation, at least 2 MB of storage space in the database. Please note that this is only enough for the installation.
 * The database user must have at least the following privileges:,  ,  ,  ,  , and.
 * The database user must have the  and   privileges during installation, conversion and some package installs.

Server Recommendations
These are not required, but may be beneficial to your SMF install and enable you to use more functions.


 * GNU Aspell 0.50 or higher (with appropriate dictionaries) for spell checking functionality.
 * Apache 2.0.x or above with AcceptPathInfo set to On for queryless URL support.


 * PHP with the following set in your php.ini file:
 * set to a value of at least 30.
 * and  set to the size of the largest attachments you wish to be able to upload.
 * set to at least 32M.
 * set to at least 15.
 * set to Off.
 * set to Off.
 * safe mode disabled, or PHP suExec enabled.
 * BCMath library enabled for using the OpenID registration method.
 * disabled (please see Mod security for more information).


 * GD Graphics Library 2.0 or higher.

Basic Client Requirements

 * Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher (7.0 or higher recommended).
 * Opera 7.0 or higher (9.5 or higher recommended).
 * Netscape 6.0 or higher.
 * Mozilla Suite 1.0.2 or higher.
 * Konqueror or Galeon.
 * Apple Safari 1.0 or higher (3.0 or higher recommended).
 * Mozilla Firefox 3.0 or higher (3.5 or higher recommended).