How to Install WordPress with Apache on Ubuntu (2024)

sudo mysql_secure_installation

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit;

sudo mysql

Once you’ve submitted this information, WordPress will create the necessary database tables. You’ll then be prompted to set up your site title, admin username, and password.

1. A Server Running the Latest Version of Ubuntu: You’ll need a server deployed with the most recent Ubuntu release. You can set this up with any cloud provider of your choice. For this tutorial, we’ll be using UpCloud, known for its user-friendly interface and straightforward setup process.
2. Privileged Access to Your Linux Server: When deploying your server, be sure to securely note down the credentials for the root user (or the privileged sudo user). You must have either root access or the ability to use the sudo command to install applications on your server.

After installing MySQL, it’s important to configure it securely, especially for production environments. The mysql_secure_installation script helps you improve the security of your MySQL installation. To begin the configuration, run the following snippet:

Steps for Installing WordPress on Ubuntu

Setting up a WordPress website with RunCloud is refreshingly simple and straightforward. RunCloud’s user-friendly interface and automated processes take the complexity out of web hosting, allowing you to focus on what really matters – your content and your business.

Step 1 – Installing All Of The Required Packages (LAMP)

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName runcloud-example.com
    ServerAlias www.runcloud-example.com
    ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
    DocumentRoot /var/www/runcloud-example.com
    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>
<Directory /var/www/runcloud-example.com/>
    AllowOverride All
</Directory>

Start using RunCloud today!sudo ufw status

Having these prerequisites in place will ensure a smooth installation process as we move forward with setting up WordPress on your Ubuntu server using Apache.

This is why we recommend using RunCloud to manage your WordPress websites.sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/runcloud-example.com.conf

While this process gives you a fully functional WordPress site, it’s important to note that manual installation can be complex and time-consuming, especially for those new to server management. It’s prone to errors and requires ongoing maintenance to keep the server secure and up-to-date.

Step 2 – Configure MySQL 

sudo ufw allow in "Apache"

Having installed MySQL earlier, it’s now time to create a database for WordPress to store its content, including posts, pages, comments, and user information. To begin this process, open MySQL by running the following command:

1. Password Validation: You’ll be asked if you want to set up the VALIDATE PASSWORD component. For production sites, it’s recommended to answer ‘Y’ and choose a strong password policy (level 2 is the most secure). This ensures all MySQL passwords meet high-security standards.
2. Set Root Password: If you haven’t set a root password yet, you’ll be prompted to do so. Choose a strong, unique password for the MySQL root user.
3. Remove Anonymous Users: It’s advisable to remove anonymous users by answering ‘Y’. This prevents unauthorized database access.
4. Disallow Root Login Remotely: It’s safer to disallow root login from remote machines for single-server setups. Answer ‘Y’ to this prompt.
5. Remove Test Database: The test database is unnecessary for most installations. Removing it (by answering ‘Y’) reduces potential security risks.
6. Reload Privilege Tables: Answer ‘Y’ to this final prompt to ensure all changes take effect immediately.

RunCloud’s streamlined process eliminates the need for complex server configurations, database setups, or file transfers. It’s perfect for developers who want to save time, agencies managing multiple client sites, or anyone who prefers to focus on creating great web content rather than wrestling with server management.

Step 3 – Create MySQL Database & User for WordPress

As the world’s most popular content management system, powering just under half of all websites on the Internet, WordPress’s flexibility, extensive plugin ecosystem, and user-friendly interface make it ideal for everything from personal blogs to large-scale enterprise websites.This is where RunCloud truly shines, offering a streamlined solution that simplifies website management without sacrificing control or performance. Here’s why RunCloud is the ideal choice for both novice and experienced web developers:Moreover, RunCloud also provides features such as automatic updates, robust security measures, and easy scalability which not only simplifies the initial setup but also ensures your WordPress site remains secure with minimal effort on your part.    wget -O /tmp/wordpress.tar.gz https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
   sudo tar -xzvf /tmp/wordpress.tar.gz -C /var/www/runcloud-example.com
   sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/runcloud-example.com

And that’s it! In just a few minutes, RunCloud will have your WordPress site fully set up, secured, and ready for you to start customizing.sudo a2dissite 000-default
sudo a2ensite runcloud-example.com
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl reload apache2

After this step, you will be able to log in to your new WordPress site and start customizing it to your needs.CREATE USER 'wp_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_secure_password';

Whether you’re a developer looking to understand the intricacies of WordPress hosting, a system administrator expanding your skill set, or simply an enthusiast wanting to take control of your web presence, this guide will equip you with the knowledge to set up a robust WordPress installation on your own Ubuntu server.
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To begin this process, you’ll need to access your server via SSH (Secure Shell) using a terminal or command line interface. Once connected, you can execute the following command to update your server’s package manager cache to ensure you’re installing the most recent versions of the software and install the necessary packages:CREATE DATABASE wordpress_db DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8 COLLATE utf8_unicode_ci;

For a test or development environment, you can be less stringent and skip the password validation setup, use a simpler root password, and potentially keep the test database. However, even for test sites, it’s generally good practice to remove anonymous users and disallow remote root login. These settings can be changed later if needed, but starting with a secure configuration is always recommended, even for test environments.sudo mkdir -p /var/www/runcloud-example.com
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/runcloud-example.com

While there are many ways to host WordPress, including managed solutions and one-click installers, understanding the manual installation process can provide valuable insights into the underlying technology stack and give you greater control over your web environment.

Step 5 – Installing WordPress

Now, you need to enable the new virtual host and disable the default one by executing the following commands:© 2024 RunCloud Sdn Bhd

If you haven’t already, remember to update your domain’s DNS settings to point to your server’s IP address. This ensures that when someone visits your domain, they’re directed to your Apache server.Apache’s virtual host functionality is a powerful feature that allows a single server to host multiple websites or applications, each with its own domain name. This concept is similar to NGINX’s server blocks.

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress_db.* TO 'wp_user'@'localhost';

After successfully installing the packages, it’s important to configure your server’s firewall to allow incoming HTTP traffic. This step is necessary if you want your website to be accessible on the internet. Simply run the following command to enable it:

Effortless WordPress Setup with RunCloud

Before we explain how to install WordPress, let’s ensure you have everything necessary to successfully follow this tutorial step-by-step:Whether you’re a solo developer, part of an agency, or managing enterprise-level websites, RunCloud offers the tools and simplicity you need to succeed.

1. Enter Website Details: Simply provide a name for your new website. This name is for your reference within RunCloud and doesn’t have to be your final domain name.
2. Set Site Title: Enter the title for your website. Don’t worry, you can always change this later from within WordPress.
3. Create User Credentials: Choose a username and password for your WordPress admin account. These will be used to log in to your WordPress dashboard once the site is set up.
4. Configure Domain: RunCloud provides you with two different options:

• Configure your own domain name if you have one ready to use.
• Opt for RunCloud’s test domain, which allows you to start developing your site immediately and switch to your own domain later.

1. Deploy WordPress: With all details entered, simply click the “Deploy” button and let RunCloud work its magic.

Here’s how easy it is to get your WordPress site up and running with RunCloud:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php-curl php-gd php-mbstring php-xml php-xmlrpc php-soap php-intl php-zip php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql -y

First, let’s create the necessary directory structure and set the appropriate permissions by executing the following commands:

Final Thoughts: Simplify Your WordPress Management with RunCloud

While the manual process we’ve outlined provides a solid foundation for understanding WordPress hosting, RunCloud automates this knowledge, allowing you to focus on what truly matters – creating and managing outstanding websites.In this section, we’ll set up a virtual host for our WordPress site, using ‘runcloud-example.com’ as our domain name. Remember to replace this with your actual domain throughout the process.

1. Effortless Multi-Site Management – easily oversee multiple WordPress websites from a single, intuitive dashboard.
2. Enhanced Security – benefit from automated firewall configuration and updates to keep your sites protected.
3. Automated Backups – ensure your data is always safe with scheduled, hassle-free backups.
4. WordPress Staging Environments – test changes and updates in a safe environment before pushing them live.
5. Integrated DNS Management – simplify your workflow by managing your domains directly within the RunCloud interface.
6. Versatility Beyond WordPress – seamlessly works with other popular applications such as Nextcloud, Ghost CMS, WHMCS, Laravel, and more.
7. Performance Optimization – leverage built-in caching and optimization tools to keep your sites running at peak performance.

In this guide, we’ve provided a comprehensive walkthrough for manually installing and configuring WordPress on an Ubuntu server with Apache. While this process offers valuable insights into the inner workings of web hosting, it’s clear that managing multiple websites across various servers can quickly become a complex and time-consuming task.The first step to setting up WordPress on your Ubuntu server is to install the necessary components of the LAMP stack: Apache, PHP, and MySQL. In this section, we will provide you with the instructions for installing and configuring WordPress on a fresh Ubuntu server.