Outdated SQL Server Warning – Is this okay?
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Hi,
Looking for someone who knows whether an outdated SQL server can cause any WordPress problems etc?
Had a warning appear in Tools – Site Health:
Outdated SQL Server: The SQL server is a required piece of software for the database WordPress uses to store all your site’s content and settings. For optimal performance and security reasons, you should consider running MySQL version 8.0 or higher. Contact your web hosting company to correct this.
I’m on shared hosting, they are unable to commit to upgrading the SQL server, it’s currently at 5.7.23. They say it should be fine, but would greatly appreciate an opinion outside the company on whether an Outdated SQL can cause issues? Thank you
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I received the same alert from Wordfence regarding a site I manage on Bluehost, which is running MySQL 5.7.23-23 (this is not even the last version of 5.7, which was 5.7.44). 5.7 reached end of life in October 2023, almost a year ago. Despite pointing this out, repeated queries about when they planned to update the server to a secure and current version (which they didn’t answer), and requests to speak to a supervisor (which they also ignored), the Bluehost chatbot told me we would have to update to a VPS plan to get a current version of MySQL!
Note that Bluehost and Hostgator are both owned by Newfold Digital (formerly known as EIG, Endurance Group International) a notorious megahost company that buys up reputable hosts, fires all staff, keeps the label, discontinues support above the chat level, raises prices, and doesn’t tell you that the host you flee to for better service will probably also be owned by them. Their business plan is to lower expectations with these practices so that customers will come to believe nothing better is available. Here is a list of companies owned by Newfold Digital so you can avoid stepping right back into the same situation if you decide to change hosts: https://researchasahobby.com/full-list-eig-hosting-companies-brands/
I also encountered a refusal to run a maintained and current version of MySQL unless I upgraded to a more expensive plan with a site I managed on GoDaddy. They told me the plan would have to be upgraded if I wanted to run a version of MySQL that was not past EOL (End Of Life = no longer receiving support or updates of any kind from the server software publisher, including security updates). the version they were running was not only two years past EOL, it was below the minimum version required to run WordPress. I recommended that the site owner change hosts immediately to preserve the security of the site. He declined to do so, and as I was unwilling to maintain a site with a high risk of being hacked, we parted ways. Two months later he informed me his site had been hacked.
On WPEngine. 3 months before EOL of PHP 8.0, they still hadn’t provided the option to upgrade to 8.1, claiming that it was so similar to 8.0 they had decided to skip it (!). When I asked if they planned to make PHP 8.2 available before 8.0 went EOL, they unapologetically refused to commit to that (as it turned out, they did, barely).
Site managers must not put up with this. There needs to be some kind of hosting industry regulation that requires a minimum of server software that is still being supported by its manufacturer for ALL hosting plans, and that prohibits blackmailing people into upgrading to more expensive plans to get the basics. This practice exploits the fact that a lot of people who manage websites, particularly WordPress websites, don’t know what any of this stuff is, so they don’t understand how outrageous that is.
Here is my chat with Bluehost today. Note that Newfold Digital support does not escalate past the AI-bot. I requested a supervisor three times. Also note the long pauses before each response from them. This chat took half an hour. The chat begins at the bottom and reads up. There was no response for 15 minutes after my last message. Then, an “are you still there – we don’t want to lose you” message, followed by the link to upgrade to VPS again flashed on the chat for about a second, and when I replied with yet another request to speak to a supervisor, the chatbox reset to open a new chat, and the previous messages were all erased. However, having some experience with this kind of tactic, I had already copied them to a file ?? Please feel free to share this chat far and wide.
You said
I want to speak to a supervisor.
5:54 PM
Business said
Please know as I mentioned the plan feature can’t be changed by any persons
please once refer this article : https://www.bluehost.com/help/article/shared-hosting-prices
5:54 PM
You said
I want to speak to a supervisor.
5:52 PM
Business said
Have a nice day
5:52 PM
Business said
if not
5:52 PM
Business said
That is not possible in the shared hosting plan I’m so sorry
Apart from this Is there anything else I can assist you today?
5:52 PM
You said
We are not going to buy VPS to get basic software in a safe, currently supported version. That is the minimum you must provide for ALL hosting plans.
5:50 PM
Business said
Access this link for there plan : https://www.bluehost.com/hosting/vps
5:49 PM
You said
Escalate. This is unacceptable.
5:49 PM
Business said
You aren’t even running the latest version of the expired software ?? >>>> for latest version go for VPS/DED hosting plan
5:49 PM
You said
You also didn’t answer my question about when you plan to update your server to software that is actively supported. That is the absolute minimum you must offer for ANY hosting plan.
5:49 PM
You said
You aren’t even running the latest version of the expired software ??
5:48 PM
You said
You still didn’t answer my question. How do you justify charging for ANY plan on a server with outdated and insecure software?
5:46 PM
Business said
Please know the price which you are paying is for the shared hosting in which we have certain feature, so if you want to get more updated version you need to purchase VPS/DED hosting
5:45 PM
You said
You didn’t answer my question. How do you justify charging us for a hosting account on a server with crucial software that hasn’t been updated in more than 6 years, and for which support ceased a year ago?
5:44 PM
Business said
MySQL Version 5.7.23-23
This is the current version you have
and that can’t be changed in shared hosting
5:43 PM
You said
MySQL 8.0 has been out for 6 years….
5:41 PM
You said
Support for 5.7 ended almost a year ago, which apparently means you are running an insecure version of MySql on a shared server with hundreds of customers. When do you plan to bring your server current?
5:40 PM
Business said
I’m sorry as I mentioned in shared hosting we can’t update that
5:38 PM
You said
That can’t be right. 5.7 is past EOL.
5:36 PM
Business said
in order to do that you need to purchase VPS/DED
5:35 PM
Business said
Upon checking I can see that you have shared hosting account : WordPress Choice Plus Hosting
In which the MySQL can’t be upgraded or changed
5:35 PM
You said
How do I upgrade our MySQL from 5.7 to 8.0?
5:34 PMAnd yet, Bluehost is still listed as a “best provider” on https://www.ads-software.com/hosting/
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