Question

Which SQL mode values to use for WordPress?

Posted on January 18, 2020
DigitalOcean Managed MySQL Database
Asked by Bob Flora

I have a WordPress site running on a DO droplet and WordPress uses a localhost MySQL db. I want to migrate the db to a DO managed MySQL db. I have created the new db and completed migrating the db data, however, I have run into a problem… I found a warning in the DO documentation (the warning is in a red box near the bottom of page https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-wordpress-managed-database-ubuntu-18-04) that basically states WordPress will not work with a DO managed MySQL db unless changes are made to the global SQL mode setting. Unfortunately, the warning does not state what changes are needed. It provides links to MySQL documentation that provides details about SQL modes, but the MySQL documentation says nothing about which SQL mode values are incompatible with WordPress.

So, my question is: What is a typical, safe set of values to use for a DO managed MySQL db’s global SQL mode setting to ensure it will work properly with WordPress?

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Hubert Nguyen • January 18, 2020

Accepted Answer

DO managed DBs do work with WP, I ran many tests with them. You might bump into a couple of issues:

In the DO GUI DB settings, you need to set STRICT_TRANS_TABLES

You might want to check this: https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/sql_mode-only_full_group_by?answer=54522

giggs • August 2, 2020

I’ve managed to connect to the remote MySql but the connection is way too slow…someone with the same issue?

Hubert Nguyen • January 29, 2020

businessbcbdbe0eab0de5765a, thanks for the update. Much appreciated ^^