Thread:Project:Support desk/PHP version error when upgrading from 1.17 to 1.21/reply (8)

Apache isn't using the new version of PHP. It is still pointing to the old version of php which you can see on your Special:Version page. This is a server configuration problem.

The sysadmin is seeing 5.3 from the command line because both versions are installed but the PHP command line executable is pointing to the new PHP.

Apache's configuration doesn't rely on the command line version. In the Apache configuration there is a line like LoadModule php5_module /usr/lib/apache2/modules/libphp5.so that is pointing to the wrong version.

If the Special:Version page linked above isn't enough proof that this is a server configuration issue, you can prove this to yourself (and your sysadmin, if necessary) by putting a one line file named phpinfo.php on your webserver that contains the following line: <?php phpinfo;

That file will show you all sorts of information about your php version when you visit its url in your browser.