📋 System Requirements

Pavilion runs on a normal WordPress hosting setup. This page lists exactly what your server needs. To check your own server against all of it, open Admin Tools → Health Check — it tests every item below and flags anything to fix.

PHP version

The minimum is PHP 7.4. We recommend PHP 8.1 or newer for better speed and security. Most hosts let you change the PHP version from your hosting control panel (often under “PHP”, “MultiPHP Manager”, or similar); if you’re unsure, your host can switch it for you. Pavilion also works on PHP 8.0, 8.2 and 8.3.

WordPress & database

• WordPress 6.0 or newer.
• MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.3+.
• 128 MB PHP memory limit or higher.
• HTTPS with a valid certificate — required for taking payments and recommended for everything else.

Required PHP extensions

These must be installed and enabled: mysqli (database), curl (payments, webhooks, news feed), json, mbstring (international names), and openssl (secure signatures and encryption). Most WordPress hosts have all of these as standard.

Required PHP functions

A few PHP functions must be available (occasionally a host blocks them with a disable_functions rule): openssl_encrypt, openssl_sign, hash_hmac, random_bytes, password_verify, mb_strlen/mb_strtoupper, json_encode/json_decode and intdiv. If the Health Check flags one of these, ask your host to allow it.

Recommended (optional) extensions

gd or imagick (QR codes and photo thumbnails), zip (export bundles), intl (locale-aware dates/numbers), xml (RSS news) and fileinfo (upload checks). The plugin still runs without these, but the related features need them.

Common questions

What is the minimum PHP version?

PHP 7.4. We recommend PHP 8.1 or newer. You can see your current version, and whether it meets the requirement, on the Health Check page (Admin Tools → Health Check).

How do I change my PHP version?

From your hosting control panel — look for a “PHP” or “PHP version” tool (on cPanel it is often “MultiPHP Manager” or “Select PHP Version”). If you can’t find it, your host’s support team can change it for you. Take a backup first, then re-run the Health Check afterwards.

The Health Check says a PHP function is disabled — what do I do?

Your host has blocked that function with a disable_functions setting. Contact them and ask them to re-enable the named function (for example random_bytes or openssl_sign). These are standard, safe PHP functions that Pavilion needs for security features.

Do I really need HTTPS?

For online payments, yes — a valid HTTPS certificate is required. For the rest of the plugin it is strongly recommended so member data and logins are protected. Most hosts provide a free certificate (Let’s Encrypt).

Where can I check all of this at once?

Admin Tools → Health Check runs through WordPress, PHP, extensions, functions, database, file permissions and integrations, and tells you in plain English what (if anything) needs attention.