> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://tech.keeganturner.co.za/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://tech.keeganturner.co.za/how-to-guides/wordpress-+-lamp-self-hosted-cms.md).

# WordPress + LAMP - Self Hosted CMS

*WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems and today we will deploy this famous open-source program on our very own cloud instance*

First, create your virtual cloud instance. I will be making use of Ubuntu on xneelo.

Create an instance: How to guides

[xneelo Cloud](https://xneelo.co.za/help-centre/cloud/create-an-instance)\
[AWS EC2](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/efs/latest/ug/gs-step-one-create-ec2-resources.html)\
[MS Azure VM](https://cloud.google.com/compute/docs/instances/create-start-instance)

Step 1

Update repositories

```
sudo apt update -y
```

```
sudo apt upgrade -y
```

Step 2

Install the [Apache web server](https://httpd.apache.org/)

```
sudo apt install apache2
```

Start and enable Apache

```
sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
```

Step 3

Install [MariaDB database server](https://mariadb.org/)

```
sudo apt install mariadb-server
```

Secure the database (Follow the instructions after running the command)

```
sudo mysql_secure_installation
```

Copy the following code into a bash file.

This script will allow you to create a database, username, and password without the need to manually configure this.

Create the file

```
sudo nano adduser.sh
```

Paste the below code in the file and save the file by pressing *Ctrl + x*, *Y* & *Enter*

```
#!/bin/bash

# Prompt the user for database details
read -p "Enter the desired database name: " db_name
read -p "Enter the desired username: " username
read -s -p "Enter the desired password: " password
echo

# Access the MariaDB server
mysql -u root -p <<EOF
# Create the database
CREATE DATABASE $db_name;

# Create the user and set the password
CREATE USER '$username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY '$password';

# Grant privileges to the user on the database
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON $db_name.* TO '$username'@'localhost';

# Flush privileges
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

EOF

# Inform the user about the success
echo "Database, username, and password created successfully."
```

Run the script and set your database credentials

```
sudo bash adduser.sh
```

Step 4

Install PHP

```
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql
```

Step 5

Navigate to the *html* directory

```
cd /var/www/html
```

Download and install WordPress

```
sudo wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
```

Unpack the Tar file

```
sudo tar -xzvf latest.tar.gz
```

Move the WordPress files

```
sudo mv wordpress/* .
```

Remove the empty directory & tar.gz file

```
sudo rmdir wordpress
```

```
sudo rm latest.tar.gz
```

Set the permissions

```
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/
```

Copy the WP-Config file

```
sudo cp wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php
```

Configure the wp-config file with the MySQL database credentials

```
sudo nano wp-config.php
```

Update the lines as indicated below:

```
define('DB_NAME', 'yourdbname');
define('DB_USER', 'yourdbuser');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'yourdbpassword');
```

Remove the default *index.html* page

```
sudo rm index.html
```

Create the *.htaccess* file

```
sudo touch .htaccess
```

*Complete the installation*

Open your web browser of choice and navigate to your instance IP address. The WordPress installation wizard should appear.

You can follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

Your WordPress website will be accessible on your instance server IP address. You can connect a custom domain name to the website by pointing your DNS A '@' & 'www' records to the instance server IP address

You need to update the 000-default.conf file with your domain name. This file controls the default virtual host settings for your web server. To update the file, type the following command:

```
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/000-default.conf
```

This will open the file in the nano text editor. Look for the **ServerName** directive and replace the default value with your domain name. Save the file (*Ctrl + x*, *Y* & *Enter*) and exit the editor.

Thats it! You have installed WordPress and can continue to develop your website!