Hello Dev,
Are you planning to host your WordPress website on a Linux server? Well, you have made a wise decision. Not only is it cost-effective, but it also provides greater flexibility and control over your website. However, setting up a website on a Linux server can be challenging, especially if you are new to the game. But fret not, in this article, we will guide you through the process of hosting WordPress on a Linux server, step-by-step.
Step 1: Choose a Linux Distribution
The first step in hosting a WordPress website on a Linux server is to choose a Linux distribution that you want to use. Some popular Linux distributions are – Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian. Each distribution has its own pros and cons, so make sure you choose one that meets your requirements.
Some of the factors to consider while choosing a Linux distribution are:
Stability: If you want a stable and long-term distribution, you can go with CentOS.
Support: Ubuntu has great community support.
Security: Debian is renowned for its security features.
Once you have chosen the distribution, you need to launch your Linux server on a cloud hosting platform like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or Microsoft Azure.
Step 2: Set up a LAMP Stack
The next step is to set up a LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack on your Linux server. LAMP stack is a collection of open-source software that is used to host dynamic websites and web applications.
Here’s how you can set up a LAMP stack:
Install Apache:
Apache is a popular open-source web server that is used to serve web pages. To install Apache, run the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo apt-get update |
Updates the package list |
sudo apt-get install apache2 |
Installs Apache |
Once the installation is complete, you can check if Apache is running by typing in the IP address of your Linux server on a web browser. If you see the Apache default page, then Apache is running.
Install MySQL:
MySQL is a popular open-source database management system that is used to store and manage data. To install MySQL, run the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo apt-get install mysql-server |
Installs MySQL |
sudo mysql_secure_installation |
Secures your MySQL installation |
After the installation is complete, you can check your MySQL installation by typing in the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
mysql -u root -p |
Logs into MySQL |
Install PHP:
PHP is a popular scripting language that is used to create dynamic web pages. To install PHP, run the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo apt-get install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql |
Installs PHP and PHP modules |
sudo systemctl restart apache2 |
Restarts Apache |
After the installation is complete, you can check your PHP installation by creating a PHP file in your Apache web directory with the following code:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php |
Creates a PHP file |
Add the following code to the new file:
Code |
Description |
|---|---|
<?php phpinfo(); ?> |
Displays the PHP configuration |
Save and exit the file. Then visit the following URL in your browser: http://[your IP address]/info.php. You should see the PHP information page.
Step 3: Install WordPress
Once you have set up the LAMP stack, you can proceed to install WordPress on your Linux server. Here’s how you can do it:
Download and extract WordPress:
You can download the latest version of WordPress from the official WordPress website. After downloading, extract the WordPress files to the Apache web directory with the following command:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
cd /tmp && wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz |
Downloads the latest version of WordPress |
tar -zxvf latest.tar.gz |
Extracts the WordPress files |
sudo mv wordpress/* /var/www/html/ |
Moves WordPress files to the Apache web directory |
Make sure that the Apache web directory has the correct permissions to allow WordPress to function properly:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/ |
Changes ownership of the Apache web directory to the Apache user |
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/ |
Changes the permissions of the Apache web directory |
Create a MySQL database and user for WordPress:
WordPress requires a MySQL database and user to store its data. Here’s how you can create one:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
mysql -u root -p |
Logs into MySQL |
CREATE DATABASE wordpress; |
Creates a new MySQL database for WordPress |
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO 'wordpressuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password'; |
Creates a new MySQL user for WordPress and grants it privileges on the WordPress database |
FLUSH PRIVILEGES; |
Refreshes the MySQL privileges |
exit; |
Exits MySQL |
Configure WordPress:
After creating the MySQL database and user, you can proceed to configure WordPress. Here’s how you can do it:
Copy the default configuration file:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo cp /var/www/html/wp-config-sample.php /var/www/html/wp-config.php |
Copies the default configuration file |
Open the WordPress configuration file using a text editor:
Command |
Description |
|---|---|
sudo nano /var/www/html/wp-config.php |
Opens the configuration file in nano text editor |
Update the following lines with the MySQL database and user details:
Code |
Description |
|---|---|
define( 'DB_NAME', 'wordpress' ); |
Name of the MySQL database |
define( 'DB_USER', 'wordpressuser' ); |
MySQL user for WordPress |
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'password' ); |
Password for the MySQL user |
Save and close the file.
Access WordPress:
After completing the above steps, WordPress should be accessible on your Linux server’s IP address. Open a web browser and visit the following URL:
URL |
Description |
|---|---|
http://[your IP address]/wordpress |
WordPress installation page |
Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your WordPress website.
FAQs
1. What is a Linux server?
A Linux server is a computer running the Linux operating system that is used to host websites and web applications.
2. Why should I choose a Linux server to host my website?
Linux servers are cost-effective, flexible and provide greater control over your website. They are also highly stable and secure.
3. What is a LAMP stack?
A LAMP stack is a collection of open-source software that is used to host dynamic websites and web applications. It includes Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP.
4. Can I install WordPress on a Windows server?
Yes, you can install WordPress on a Windows server. However, it is not as popular as hosting WordPress on a Linux server.
5. What is a MySQL database?
A MySQL database is a structured collection of data that is used to store and manage website data.
That’s it, Dev! You have successfully learned how to host WordPress on a Linux server. We hope this article helped you in setting up your website.