How to Install WordPress on a VPS Running AlmaLinux 9

Installing WordPress on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) running AlmaLinux 9 is an excellent choice for creating a flexible and powerful website. This tutorial will walk you through the entire process from setting up your server to installing WordPress.

Prerequisites

Before you start, ensure you have the following:

1. A VPS running AlmaLinux 9 with root access.
2. Basic knowledge of Linux commands.
3. A domain name pointed to your server’s IP address (optional but recommended).

Step 1: Update Your System

First, it’s essential to ensure that your system is up to date. Connect to your server using SSH:

ssh root@your_vps_ip

Once connected, update the package index and upgrade installed packages:

dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Required Packages

To install WordPress, you will need to install a web server (Apache), PHP, and a database server (MySQL or MariaDB). You can install these using the following command:

Install Apache

dnf install httpd -y

Install MariaDB

dnf install mariadb-server -y

Install PHP and Extensions

Next, install PHP along with necessary extensions:

dnf install php php-mysqlnd php-fpm php-xml php-gd php-curl php-mbstring -y

Start and Enable Services

Enable and start the Apache and MariaDB services:

systemctl start httpd
systemctl enable httpd

systemctl start mariadb
systemctl enable mariadb

Configure the Firewall

Allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic through the firewall:

dnf install firewalld -y
systemctl start firewalld
systemctl enable firewalld

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --reload

Step 3: Secure MariaDB

After starting MariaDB, run the security script to improve the security of your installation:

mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts, which will allow you to set a root password, remove anonymous users, disallow remote root login, and remove test databases.

Log into MariaDB

Now, log in to MariaDB:

mysql -u root -p

Step 4: Create a Database and User for WordPress

Create a new database and user for your WordPress installation:

CREATE DATABASE wordpress;
CREATE USER 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Make sure to replace 'your_password' with a secure password.

Step 5: Download WordPress

Change to the /var/www/html directory (the default document root for Apache) and download WordPress:

cd /var/www/html
wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
tar -zxvf latest.tar.gz
mv wordpress/* ./
rmdir wordpress
rm -f latest.tar.gz

Step 6: Configure WordPress

Copy the sample configuration file and edit it:

cp wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php
nano wp-config.php

Update the database settings in the wp-config.php file to match what you created earlier:

define('DB_NAME', 'wordpress');
define('DB_USER', 'wpuser');
define('DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password');
define('DB_HOST', 'localhost');

Save the file and exit the editor.

Step 7: Set Permissions

Set the correct permissions for the WordPress files:

chown -R apache:apache /var/www/html/*
chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/*

Step 8: Configure Apache for WordPress

Create a new Apache configuration file for your WordPress site:

nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/wordpress.conf

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html
    ServerName your_domain.com
    <Directory /var/www/html>
        AllowOverride All
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Replace your_domain.com with your actual domain name. Save and exit the editor.

Test the Apache Configuration

Make sure that the configuration is correct:

httpd -t

If there are no errors, restart Apache to apply the changes:

systemctl restart httpd

Step 9: Install WordPress Through the Web Browser

Now that everything is set up, navigate to your domain in your web browser:

http://your_domain.com

You should see the WordPress installation wizard. Follow the prompts to select your language, provide your site title, username, password, and email, and finish the installation process.

Step 10: Complete the Installation

Once the installation is complete, you can log in to the WordPress admin dashboard at:

http://your_domain.com/wp-admin

Enter the username and password you set during the installation process.