Host Shopify on Your Own Server – A Guide for Devs

Greetings Dev, are you tired of relying on Shopify’s servers for your online store? Do you want greater control and customization options? Well, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll explore how you can host Shopify on your own server and take your e-commerce website to the next level.

Why Host Shopify on Your Own Server?

Before we dive into the technical details, let’s first examine why you might want to host Shopify on your own server.

Advantages
Disadvantages
Greater control and customization options
Requires technical expertise
Improved website speed and performance
Higher costs for server maintenance and upgrades
Better security and data privacy
No automatic updates and backups

As you can see, there are both advantages and disadvantages to hosting Shopify on your own server. It’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons and decide what’s best for your business.

Step 1: Choose Your Server

The first step in hosting Shopify on your own server is to choose the right server. You’ll need a server that meets the minimum requirements for running Shopify, including:

  • PHP version 7.3 or later
  • MySQL version 5.6 or later
  • Apache or Nginx web server
  • SSH access

You can choose to host Shopify on a physical server or a cloud server. Popular cloud server options include Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, and Microsoft Azure.

Physical Server

If you choose to host Shopify on a physical server, you’ll need to purchase the server hardware and set it up yourself. This can be a good option if you have the technical expertise and want complete control over your server.

Cloud Server

If you choose to host Shopify on a cloud server, you’ll need to sign up for a cloud hosting provider and create a virtual server instance. This can be a good option if you want scalability and flexibility, as you can easily upgrade or downgrade your server resources as needed.

Step 2: Install Required Software

Once you’ve chosen your server, you’ll need to install the required software to run Shopify. This includes:

  • PHP
  • MySQL
  • Web server software (Apache or Nginx)
  • Git

PHP

You’ll need to install PHP version 7.3 or later on your server. You can do this using your server’s package manager, such as apt-get or yum.

MySQL

You’ll also need to install MySQL version 5.6 or later on your server. Again, you can do this using your server’s package manager.

Web Server Software

You’ll need to install either Apache or Nginx web server software on your server. Both are popular options for hosting web applications like Shopify.

Git

You’ll need to install Git on your server to clone your Shopify store’s code from the Shopify server.

Step 3: Clone Your Shopify Store’s Code

Now that you’ve installed the required software, you can clone your Shopify store’s code from the Shopify server. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Log in to your Shopify store’s admin dashboard.
  2. Navigate to the Settings > Account page.
  3. Scroll down to the Store Status section and click the “Manage private apps” link.
  4. Click the “Create a new private app” button.
  5. Enter a name for your private app and click the “Create app” button.
  6. On the next page, scroll down to the “Admin API” section and enable the “Read and write” permissions for “Themes” and “Script tags”.
  7. Save your changes and note the API key and password that are generated.
  8. Log in to your server using SSH.
  9. Clone your Shopify store’s code using the following command:
    git clone https://{API key}:{API password}@{your-store-name}.myshopify.com/admin/api/2021-07/themes.json
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Step 4: Configure Your Server

Now that you’ve cloned your Shopify store’s code, you’ll need to configure your server to run it. This includes:

  • Creating a virtual host
  • Setting up SSL
  • Configuring PHP and MySQL

Creating a Virtual Host

To create a virtual host for your Shopify store, follow these steps:

  1. Create a new configuration file for your virtual host using the following command:
    sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/{your-domain-name}.conf
  2. Add the following code to the file:
    <VirtualHost *:80>
      ServerName {your-domain-name}
      DocumentRoot /var/www/html/{your-shopify-store-name}
      ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
      CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
    </VirtualHost>

Setting Up SSL

If you want to use SSL to secure your Shopify store, you’ll need to install an SSL certificate on your server. You can do this using a service like Let’s Encrypt.

Configuring PHP and MySQL

You’ll need to configure PHP and MySQL to work together on your server. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Edit the PHP configuration file using the following command:
    sudo nano /etc/php/{your-php-version}/apache2/php.ini
  2. Update the following settings:
    max_execution_time = 600
    max_input_vars = 10000
    memory_limit = 256M
    post_max_size = 100M
    upload_max_filesize = 100M
  3. Save your changes and restart the Apache web server using the following command:
    sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 5: Test Your Setup

Once you’ve configured your server, you’re ready to test your setup. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Navigate to your Shopify store’s cloned code directory on your server.
  2. Run the following command to install the necessary dependencies:
    composer install
  3. Run the following command to start the PHP built-in web server:
    php -S localhost:8000
  4. Open your web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8000 to view your Shopify store on your own server.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I switch back to Shopify’s servers if I encounter issues?

Yes, you can switch back to using Shopify’s servers at any time. However, you may need to make changes to your store’s code to ensure compatibility with Shopify’s servers.

Do I need to purchase a separate SSL certificate for my server?

If you’re using a cloud server provider like AWS, you may be able to use a free SSL certificate from Let’s Encrypt. If you’re using a physical server, you’ll need to purchase an SSL certificate from a certificate authority.

Can I still use Shopify apps with my self-hosted store?

Yes, you can still use Shopify apps with your self-hosted store. However, you’ll need to ensure that the app is compatible with self-hosted setups and make any necessary changes to your store’s code.

Will hosting Shopify on my own server improve my search engine ranking?

While hosting Shopify on your own server may improve your website speed and performance, it’s unlikely to have a significant impact on your search engine ranking. Other factors, such as quality content and backlinks, have a greater impact on search engine ranking.

What technical expertise do I need to host Shopify on my own server?

You’ll need to have some technical expertise in server administration, web development, and Shopify theme customization to host Shopify on your own server. However, there are plenty of tutorials and resources available to help you get started.

Conclusion

Hosting Shopify on your own server can be a great way to gain greater control and customization options for your e-commerce website. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully host Shopify on your own server and take your online store to the next level.

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