This article shows how to resolve the requirement checks issues that appear in step 1 of the build process. It also helps determine and resolve dependency problems for certain features in Duplicator.

How to resolve Requirements Checks

A requirements check will show you the status of your system before creating a new backup. The following are system checks that are performed before the backup is created.

PHP Support

• Duplicator requires PHP 5.3.8+ or higher. Contact your host to upgrade to a stable, secure version of PHP.
• To create a zip file, the plugin requires the PHP extension ZipArchive or the PHP function shell_exec with zip support enabled. Contact your host to enable it, alternatively, you can use the DupArchive format from Duplicator » Settings » Backups » Archive Engine.

Permissions

• The paths listed in the Permissions section should have permissions of 755 for directories and 644 for files. On some hosts, the permission set requires 777. Setting items to 777 is a security issue and should only be temporary. However, please avoid any hosting company that requires this kind of setup.
• Also, be sure to check the Owner/Group settings and validate they are correct and match other successful directories/files that are accessible. For more details, contact your host or visit their help pages for more information on how they implement permissions and group settings.

Server Support

• WEB SERVER: The Duplicator currently works with these web servers: Apache, LiteSpeed, Nginx, Lighttpd, IIS, and WebServerX. However, the best success we have seen is with Apache.
• DATABASE SERVER: To complete an installation, the mysqli extension for PHP is required. If you are on a hosted server, please contact your host and request enabling the mysqli extension. For more information, visit http://php.net/manual/en/mysqli.installation.php

Installation Files

If this check fails, then a reserved file was found in the WordPress root directory. See the following FAQ for instructions on how to resolve this issue:Which files need to be removed after an install?

How to resolve Dependencies Checks

Duplicator requires certain PHP and server level dependencies in order to work.

MySQLDump

PHP functions such as shell_exec are required to generate the database SQL script with MySQLDump. Below is a list of ways to enable disabled functions on your host.

• Contact your host and ask them to enable the PHP function in question.
• Some hosts have an interface that allows you to disable/enable features through a control panel such as this.
• Open your php.ini file and look for disable_functions and remove the function you want enabled.