How to Host WordPress Website on Linux Server

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:

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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.