Master LEMP on Ubuntu 18.04: Your Step-by-Step Setup Guide
This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to setting up a LEMP stack on an Ubuntu 18.04 server. It will walk you through the installation and configuration of each component, including Linux, Nginx, MySQL, and PHP, enabling you to host dynamic web applications and websites.
Launching Ubuntu 18.04 Instance
Setting up a LEMP stack, a powerful combination of open-source technologies, is a common task for developers looking to deploy web applications. Before diving into the installation process, it’s essential to have a solid foundation. This begins with launching an Ubuntu 18.04 instance, the operating system of choice for our LEMP setup.
There are multiple paths you can take to launch your instance, each catering to different needs and preferences. One popular option is utilizing a cloud provider like AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud. These platforms offer a streamlined experience, allowing you to quickly spin up virtual machines with Ubuntu 18.04 pre-installed.
To get started, you would typically navigate to your chosen provider’s console, select the appropriate options for your instance (such as region, instance type, and storage), and configure security settings. Once these details are finalized, you can launch your instance and connect to it using SSH.
Alternatively, if you prefer a more hands-on approach or are working in a local development environment, you can install Ubuntu 18.04 directly on your machine. This method requires downloading the Ubuntu 18.04 ISO image from the official website and creating a bootable USB drive or CD.
Afterward, you would need to adjust your computer’s boot order to prioritize the installation media and follow the on-screen instructions to install Ubuntu 18.04. This approach provides greater control over your environment but demands a deeper understanding of system administration.
Regardless of your chosen method, once your Ubuntu 18.04 instance is up and running, you’ll need to connect to it. For cloud instances, this typically involves using an SSH client and the provided public IP address. For local installations, you can access the system directly through the graphical interface or via SSH from within the same network.
With a successful connection established, you’re now ready to embark on the next stage of setting up your LEMP stack. This crucial first step of launching your Ubuntu 18.04 instance lays the groundwork for a robust and efficient web server environment.
Nginx Installation And Configuration
Now that we have our Ubuntu 18.04 server ready, we can proceed with the installation of Nginx, the robust web server that will be the backbone of our LEMP stack. To begin, we’ll leverage Ubuntu’s package manager, apt. First, it’s always a good practice to ensure our package lists are up-to-date. We can do this by running the command `sudo apt update`. This command fetches the latest package information from the repositories, ensuring we download the most recent versions.
With our package lists updated, we can now install Nginx. Execute the command `sudo apt install nginx`. The system will prompt you for confirmation before proceeding with the installation. Once confirmed, apt will download and install Nginx along with any necessary dependencies. After the installation completes, Nginx should be up and running.
To verify that Nginx is indeed running as expected, we can use a simple yet effective method. Open a web browser on your local machine and navigate to your server’s public IP address. If you see the default Nginx welcome page, congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Nginx. This page serves as confirmation that Nginx is installed correctly and actively serving web pages.
However, serving a static welcome page is just the first step. To make our setup truly dynamic, we need to configure Nginx to serve our applications. Nginx configuration files are located in the `/etc/nginx` directory. The main configuration file is `nginx.conf`, but for better organization, we’ll create a separate configuration file for our application.
Let’s create a new file named `your_domain.com.conf` in the `/etc/nginx/sites-available/` directory. Replace `your_domain.com` with your actual domain name. This file will hold the specific configurations for our application. Inside this file, we’ll define a server block that listens on port 80, the standard HTTP port, and directs traffic to our application.
A typical server block will include directives to specify the server name, the document root where our application files reside, and any other necessary configurations like handling PHP files, which we’ll configure later when we install PHP. Once you’ve saved your configuration file, we need to create a symbolic link from this file to the `/etc/nginx/sites-enabled/` directory. This step enables our configuration within Nginx.
Finally, to activate these new configurations, we need to restart the Nginx service. We can do this by running the command `sudo systemctl restart nginx`. This command will stop and then start the Nginx service, applying our new configurations. With Nginx installed and configured, we’ve laid the foundation for our LEMP stack.
MySQL Installation And Database Setup
Now that you have Nginx installed and running, let’s move on to setting up the database component of our LEMP stack: MySQL. MySQL will serve as our robust and reliable relational database management system, responsible for storing and managing all the data for our applications.
To begin the installation process, open your terminal and update your system’s package list using the command `sudo apt update`. This ensures you have the latest information about available packages. Once the update is complete, proceed with the MySQL installation by running `sudo apt install mysql-server`. You’ll be prompted to confirm the installation; simply type ‘Y’ and press Enter to proceed.
During the installation, you’ll be asked to set a root password for your MySQL server. This is a crucial step, as the root user has complete control over your databases. Choose a strong and secure password, and make sure to store it safely, as you’ll need it later.
With MySQL successfully installed, it’s time to enhance its security by running the included security script: `sudo mysql_secure_installation`. This script guides you through a series of steps to improve your MySQL installation’s security posture. You’ll be asked about setting a password validation policy, removing anonymous users, disallowing root login remotely, and removing the test database. It’s generally recommended to follow the script’s suggestions for enhanced security.
Now that MySQL is installed and secured, let’s create a database and user specifically for your application. Log in to the MySQL shell as the root user using the command `sudo mysql -u root -p` and enter the root password you set earlier.
Once logged in, create a new database with a name of your choice, for example, ‘my_application_db’, by executing the SQL command `CREATE DATABASE my_application_db;`. Next, create a new user account associated with this database. For instance, to create a user ‘app_user’ with the password ‘secure_password’, use the command `CREATE USER ‘app_user’@’localhost’ IDENTIFIED BY ‘secure_password’;`. Remember to replace ‘app_user’ and ‘secure_password’ with your desired username and a strong password.
Finally, grant the newly created user the necessary permissions on the database. In this case, we’ll grant all privileges on ‘my_application_db’ to ‘app_user’ using the command `GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON my_application_db.* TO ‘app_user’@’localhost’;`. Conclude by flushing the privileges to apply the changes immediately with `FLUSH PRIVILEGES;`. You can now exit the MySQL shell using the `exit;` command.
Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured MySQL, created a dedicated database and user, and assigned the necessary permissions. Your LEMP stack is now one step closer to being fully operational.
PHP Installation And Configuration
Now that we have our Ubuntu 18.04 server ready, it’s time to install the heart of our LEMP stack: PHP. PHP, which stands for Hypertext Preprocessor, is the scripting language that will power the dynamic content of our web applications. Ubuntu’s repositories offer a convenient way to install PHP, and we’ll be using the `apt` package manager for this purpose.
First and foremost, it’s crucial to ensure our package lists are up-to-date. This guarantees we are downloading the latest versions of all software. We can achieve this by running the command `sudo apt update`. Once our package lists are refreshed, we can proceed with the PHP installation. For our LEMP setup, we’ll install PHP along with some essential extensions. These extensions provide PHP with the ability to interact with our chosen database, MySQL, and handle common web server tasks.
To install PHP and these vital extensions, execute the command `sudo apt install php7.2-fpm php7.2-mysql php7.2-common php7.2-gd php7.2-json php7.2-curl php7.2-zip php7.2-xml`. During the installation, you might be prompted to confirm the installation by typing ‘Y’ and pressing Enter. This confirms your agreement to any dependencies that need to be installed alongside PHP.
With PHP successfully installed, we can now fine-tune its configuration. The main configuration file for PHP-FPM, the FastCGI Process Manager for PHP, is located at `/etc/php/7.2/fpm/php.ini`. We’ll use the `nano` text editor to make our adjustments. Execute `sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/fpm/php.ini` to open this file.
Inside the `php.ini` file, you’ll find numerous settings that govern PHP’s behavior. For this tutorial, we’ll focus on two important settings: `memory_limit` and `upload_max_filesize`. The `memory_limit` directive determines the maximum amount of memory a PHP script can consume. It’s recommended to set this to a reasonable value, such as `128M`, by changing the line to `memory_limit = 128M`.
Similarly, the `upload_max_filesize` directive controls the maximum size of files that can be uploaded through PHP scripts. Adjust this value based on your application’s needs. For instance, to allow uploads up to 50 megabytes, set the line to `upload_max_filesize = 50M`. Once you’ve made the necessary changes, save the `php.ini` file by pressing `Ctrl+X`, followed by ‘Y’ and Enter to confirm.
Finally, for our changes to take effect, we need to restart the PHP-FPM service. This can be done by running the command `sudo systemctl restart php7.2-fpm`. Congratulations, you have successfully installed and configured PHP on your Ubuntu 18.04 server, bringing you one step closer to a fully functional LEMP stack.
Installing PHP Extensions
Now that you have a functioning LEMP stack, it’s time to enhance its capabilities by installing PHP extensions. These extensions act as plugins, adding support for various functionalities and libraries within your PHP applications. To begin, you’ll need to identify the specific extensions required for your project. A common example is the `gd` library, widely used for image manipulation in PHP.
To install the `gd` library, you can use the `apt` package manager. First, update your system’s package list with the command `sudo apt update`. This ensures you have the latest information about available packages. Next, install the `gd` extension by running `sudo apt install php7.2-gd`. Remember to replace `php7.2` with your installed PHP version if different.
PHP extensions are often bundled with other dependencies. Therefore, it’s crucial to enable these extensions within your PHP configuration. The configuration files for PHP extensions are typically located in the `/etc/php/7.2/mods-available/` directory, again substituting `php7.2` with your actual PHP version if needed.
For instance, to enable the `gd` extension, you’d find a file named `gd.ini` within that directory. This file usually contains a single line: `;extension=gd`. To activate the extension, remove the leading semicolon, saving the file afterward. This simple action uncomments the line, instructing PHP to load the extension.
After installing and enabling a PHP extension, it’s essential to restart your PHP-FPM service to apply the changes. You can do this by running `sudo systemctl restart php7.2-fpm`, making sure to adjust the command for your specific PHP version. This restart ensures that PHP recognizes and loads the newly installed extension.
Beyond the `gd` library, numerous other PHP extensions cater to various needs. For database interactions beyond MySQL or MariaDB, extensions like `pdo_pgsql` for PostgreSQL or `pdo_sqlite` for SQLite are available. If your application requires image manipulation beyond the capabilities of `gd`, the `imagick` extension, utilizing ImageMagick, provides a powerful alternative.
Remember that each extension might have specific installation instructions or dependencies. Always refer to the official PHP documentation or reputable resources for accurate and up-to-date information on installing and configuring PHP extensions. By leveraging the power of PHP extensions, you can significantly expand the functionality and versatility of your LEMP stack, enabling you to build more feature-rich and dynamic web applications.
Testing LEMP Stack Configuration
You’ve diligently followed each step, carefully installing and configuring your LEMP stack on Ubuntu 18.04. Now comes the moment of truth: testing your setup to ensure everything functions harmoniously. This process is crucial to confirm that your web server can correctly process PHP files and display dynamic content.
To begin, we’ll leverage a simple PHP script. Open your preferred text editor and create a new file named `info.php`. Inside this file, paste the following line of code:
“`php
“`
This single line of code instructs PHP to display a wealth of information about your server’s configuration. Save the file and then, using your terminal, move it to your web server’s document root. In most Ubuntu 18.04 setups, this directory will be `/var/www/html/`. You can move the file using the following command, replacing `/path/to/info.php` with the actual path to your saved file:
“`bash
sudo mv /path/to/info.php /var/www/html/
“`
With the `info.php` file in place, it’s time to access it through your web browser. Open a new tab and navigate to `http://your_server_ip/info.php`, replacing `your_server_ip` with your server’s actual IP address. If everything is configured correctly, you should be greeted by a comprehensive page displaying detailed information about your PHP installation. This page serves as a valuable resource for troubleshooting and understanding your server’s capabilities.
However, while this page is useful for testing, it’s crucial to prioritize security. Leaving the `info.php` file publicly accessible could expose sensitive information about your server. Therefore, once you’ve confirmed your LEMP stack is functioning correctly, it’s highly recommended to remove the `info.php` file. You can do this easily using the following command in your terminal:
“`bash
sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php
“`
By following these steps, you’ve not only tested your LEMP stack configuration but also taken a proactive step towards securing your server. This meticulous approach ensures your web server is ready to handle dynamic content and lays a solid foundation for developing and deploying web applications.
Q&A
## 6 Questions and Answers: LEMP Stack on Ubuntu 18.04
**1. What is a LEMP stack?**
A LEMP stack is a group of open-source software used to serve dynamic web pages and applications. It stands for **L**inux, **E**ngineX, **M**ySQL, and **P**HP.
**2. Why choose Ubuntu 18.04 for a LEMP stack?**
Ubuntu 18.04 (Bionic Beaver) is a stable and popular Linux distribution with Long Term Support (LTS), making it a reliable choice for hosting web servers.
**3. How do I install Nginx on Ubuntu 18.04?**
“`bash
sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx
“`
**4. How do I install MySQL on Ubuntu 18.04?**
“`bash
sudo apt install mysql-server
“`
**5. How do I install PHP on Ubuntu 18.04?**
“`bash
sudo apt install php php-fpm php-mysql
“`
**6. How do I test if my LEMP stack is working?**
Create a file named `info.php` in your Nginx web root directory (usually `/var/www/html/`) with the following content:
“`php
“`
Then, access this file in your web browser (e.g., `http://your_server_ip/info.php`). You should see a page displaying detailed PHP information.A LEMP stack on Ubuntu 18.04 provides a powerful and flexible foundation for web applications. By understanding the individual components and their configuration, developers can leverage this setup to deploy and manage websites and applications efficiently.
