How to Install Joomla on a Virtual Server Running CentOS 9

Welcome to the Greenhost.Cloud blog! Today, we’re diving into the world of content management systems (CMS) by exploring how to install Joomla on a virtual server running CentOS 9. Whether you’re setting up a personal blog, a corporate website, or an online portfolio, Joomla is a versatile platform that can cater to your needs. Let’s get started!

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following in place:

1. Access to a VPS: You need a virtual private server (VPS) running CentOS 9.
2. Root Access: Ensure you have root or sudo privileges to install packages.
3. Basic Knowledge: Familiarity with command-line operations and SSH.

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any packages, it’s crucial to update your system to ensure all existing packages are up-to-date. Connect to your server via SSH and run the following commands:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Joomla is built on PHP, and you need a web server and a database to run it. For this tutorial, we will use Apache, MySQL (MariaDB), and PHP. Start by installing these dependencies:

sudo dnf install httpd php php-cli php-mysqlnd php-xml php-mbstring php-zip php-json -y

Next, install the MariaDB server:

sudo dnf install mariadb-server -y

Step 3: Start and Enable Services

After the installations are complete, you need to start the Apache and MariaDB services, and then enable them to automatically start on boot:

sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Step 4: Secure MariaDB Installation

For security reasons, it’s advisable to run the MariaDB security script to set a root password and disable remote root login:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

You’ll be prompted with a series of questions. You can generally answer “Y” (yes) to most, but make sure to set a strong root password.

Step 5: Create a Database for Joomla

Log in to the MariaDB console:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Once logged in, create a new database for Joomla and a user with privileges:

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

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

Step 6: Download Joomla

Navigate to the web root directory and download Joomla using wget:

cd /var/www/html
wget https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla3/3-10-0/Joomla_3.10.0-Stable-Full_Package.zip

Note: Always check the official Joomla website for the latest version.

Next, install unzip if not already installed:

sudo dnf install unzip -y

Now, unzip the downloaded file and set the appropriate permissions:

unzip Joomla_3.10.0-Stable-Full_Package.zip
sudo chown -R apache:apache /var/www/html/joomla
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/joomla

Step 7: Configure Apache

To access your Joomla installation, you need to create a new virtual host file for Apache. Create a new configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/joomla.conf

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin [email protected]
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/joomla
    ServerName yourdomain.com
    <Directory /var/www/html/joomla>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name. Save and close the file.

Next, restart the Apache service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Step 8: Complete Joomla Installation Through the Web Interface

Open your web browser and navigate to http://yourdomain.com. You should see the Joomla installation page. Follow these steps:

1. Select Language: Choose your preferred language and click “Next.”
2. License: Agree to the Joomla license and click “Next.”
3. Site Settings: Fill in your site information and admin account details.
4. Database Configuration: Select “MySQLi” as the database type. Enter the database name (joomla_db), username (joomla_user), and the password you set earlier.
5. Finalize Installation: Proceed through the remaining steps until the installation is complete.

Step 9: Remove Installation Files

Once Joomla is installed, for security reasons, remove the installation folder:

sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/joomla/installation

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Joomla on a virtual server running CentOS 9. With its extensive features and flexibility, Joomla allows you to develop a wide range of websites. Explore its capabilities and customize your site to meet your goals.

For further inquiries or assistance, feel free to reach out to our support team at Greenhost.Cloud. Happy Joomla-ing!

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