Moodle 4.2 requires higher version of PHP and MySQL

When attempting to upgrade Moodle via git, upgrading from 401_STABLE to 402_STABLE caused the error message ! Exception - syntax error, unexpected '|', expecting variable (T_VARIABLE) !

Googling led to this post, https://moodle.org/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=446208 

"

is usually an issue with having a moodle version trying to run under a version of PHP that is too high or low.

See the chart @

http://www.syndrega.ch/blog/#php-and-dbms-compatibility-of-major-moodle-releases

"

so probably we will upgrade the OS and then upgrade Moodle from 4.1 to 4.2 - 4.1 has security support till 2025.