How To Install Concrete On Ubuntu 24.04 and Newer

Welcome to the Greenhost.cloud blog! Today, we’re diving into the world of content management systems (CMS) by exploring how to install Concrete, a powerful and user-friendly CMS, on Ubuntu 24.04 and newer versions. Whether you’re setting up a personal blog, a portfolio, or a corporate website, Concrete offers an intuitive interface and robust features that make it a favorite among developers and site owners alike.

What is Concrete?

Concrete is an open-source CMS that allows users to create and manage websites effortlessly. Its drag-and-drop interface, built-in SEO tools, and extensive add-on capabilities make it an excellent choice for both beginners and experienced developers. With Concrete, you can easily build responsive and visually appealing websites without needing extensive coding knowledge.

System Requirements

Before we begin the installation process, it’s essential to ensure that your system meets the following requirements:

• PHP: Version 7.3 or newer
• MySQL: Version 5.7 or newer, or MariaDB
• Web Server: Apache, Nginx, or any server compatible with PHP
• Memory: Minimum 256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Update Your System

First, make sure your Ubuntu system is up to date. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Concrete requires some essential packages, including PHP, MySQL, and Apache. Use the following command to install them:

sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php php-mysql php-xml php-mbstring php-zip php-curl libapache2-mod-php

Step 3: Configure MySQL

After installing MySQL, you need to set up a database for Concrete. Log into the MySQL shell:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Once inside the MySQL shell, create a new database and user:

CREATE DATABASE concrete5;
CREATE USER 'concreteuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password_here';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON concrete5.* TO 'concreteuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Make sure to replace your_password_here with a strong password of your choice.

Step 4: Download Concrete

Navigate to the official Concrete website to download the latest version or use wget to fetch it directly from the terminal. At the time of writing, the latest version can be found here.

cd /var/www/html
sudo wget https://www.concretecms.org/download_file/-/view/12345/concrete5-x.x.x.zip

(Note: Replace 12345 and x.x.x with the actual download link and version number.)

Step 5: Extract the Files

Unzip the downloaded file and move the contents to the appropriate directory:

sudo apt install unzip
sudo unzip concrete5-x.x.x.zip -d concrete5
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data concrete5
sudo chmod -R 755 concrete5

Step 6: Configure Apache

To serve Concrete from the Apache web server, you need to create a new configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/concrete5.conf

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin [email protected]
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/concrete5
    ServerName your_domain.com

    <Directory /var/www/html/concrete5>
        AllowOverride All
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

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

Step 7: Enable the Site and Rewrite Module

Enable the new configuration and the rewrite module that Concrete requires:

sudo a2ensite concrete5.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite

Step 8: Restart Apache

For the changes to take effect, restart the Apache service:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 9: Complete the Installation via Web Interface

Open your web browser and navigate to http://your_domain.com. You should see the Concrete installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation:

1. Select your language.
2. Accept the license agreement.
3. Configure your database settings (use the database and user created earlier).
4. Complete the setup by creating an admin account.

Step 10: Final Touches

Once the installation is complete, it’s a good practice to secure your Concrete installation. Set the appropriate permissions for sensitive directories and files. You can refer to the Concrete documentation for more advanced security measures.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Concrete on your Ubuntu system.

At Greenhost.cloud, we are committed to providing you with the best resources to help you manage your online presence effectively. Stay tuned for more tutorials, tips, and tricks to enhance your web development journey!