WordPress is an open source content management system (CMS) written entirely in PHP. It uses MySQL or MariaDB database server to store its data and website configurations. WordPress is designed to be modular with template system which enables developers to design their own themes and plugins. In this article we will be doing installation of PHP, MySQL and WordPress on Amazon Linux 2 powered by Nginx Web server.
You should have a running Amazon Linux 2 server with Bash shell access. A user with sudo privileges is required for escalation to root during installation of packages and modification of configuration files.
The minimum requirements for this setup are:
- Amazon Linux 2 server
- Memory: 512 MB
- vCPU: 1
- Disk Space: 1GB
- Internet access
- Domain name for your website
Once you have a Server running you need to configure your DNS by creating an A record pointing to your Amazon Linux 2 public IP address. My test domain used in this guide is mysite.computingpost.com pointing to 35.20.11.34
Step 1: Update Amazon Linux Server
As always we work on a server that has been updated to ensure patches are applied to guarantee server security.
sudo yum -y updateWait for the updates to be applied then reboot your server.
sudo systemctl rebootLogin back once the server is up.
$ ssh [email protected]
Last login: Wed Aug 12 17:07:32 2020 from 10.0.2.2
__| __|_ )
_| ( / Amazon Linux 2 AMI
___|\___|___|
https://aws.amazon.com/amazon-linux-2/Step 2: Install PHP on Amazon Linux
The versions of PHP packages available on Amazon Linux extras repository are more than one. You can list them with the command below.
$ sudo amazon-linux-extras | grep php
NOTE: The livepatch extra is in public preview, not meant for production use
15 php7.2 available \
17 lamp-mariadb10.2-php7.2 available \
31 php7.3 available \
42 php7.4 available [ =stable ]In this guide we’ll go with the latest stable release of PHP. Enable PHP 7.4 topic.
sudo amazon-linux-extras enable php7.4Then install all required PHP extensions on Amazon Linux 2 server.
sudo yum clean metadata
sudo yum install php php-cli,fpm,pear,cgi,common,curl,mbstring,gd,mysqlnd,gettext,bcmath,json,xml,intl,zip,imapAccept installation prompt.
Dependencies Resolved
==================================================================================================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
==================================================================================================================================================================
Installing:
php x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 3.2 M
php-bcmath x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 68 k
php-cli x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 4.9 M
php-common x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 1.1 M
php-fpm x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 1.7 M
php-gd x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 180 k
php-intl x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 221 k
php-json x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 70 k
php-mbstring x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 513 k
php-mysqlnd x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 238 k
php-pear noarch 1:1.10.7-3.amzn2.0.1 amzn2-core 354 k
php-xml x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 198 k
Installing for dependencies:
apr x86_64 1.6.3-5.amzn2.0.2 amzn2-core 118 k
apr-util x86_64 1.6.1-5.amzn2.0.2 amzn2-core 99 k
apr-util-bdb x86_64 1.6.1-5.amzn2.0.2 amzn2-core 19 k
generic-logos-httpd noarch 18.0.0-4.amzn2 amzn2-core 19 k
httpd x86_64 2.4.43-1.amzn2 amzn2-core 1.3 M
httpd-filesystem noarch 2.4.43-1.amzn2 amzn2-core 23 k
httpd-tools x86_64 2.4.43-1.amzn2 amzn2-core 87 k
libxslt x86_64 1.1.28-5.amzn2.0.2 amzn2-core 243 k
libzip x86_64 1.3.2-1.amzn2.0.1 amzn2-core 62 k
mailcap noarch 2.1.41-2.amzn2 amzn2-core 31 k
mod_http2 x86_64 1.15.3-2.amzn2 amzn2-core 146 k
oniguruma x86_64 5.9.6-1.amzn2.0.3 amzn2-core 127 k
php-pdo x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 134 k
php-process x86_64 7.4.7-1.amzn2 amzn2extra-php7.4 88 k
Transaction Summary
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Install 12 Packages (+14 Dependent packages)
Total download size: 15 M
Installed size: 61 M
Is this ok [y/d/N]: yVerify default PHP version in your system.
$ php --version
PHP 7.4.7 (cli) (built: Jul 2 2020 23:17:59) ( NTS )
Copyright (c) The PHP Group
Zend Engine v3.4.0, Copyright (c) Zend TechnologiesStep 3: Install Nginx web server
As stated earlier we’ll be using Nginx web server to host our WordPress website.
Enable nginx topic.
sudo amazon-linux-extras enable nginx1Install Nginx package from extras repository.
sudo yum clean metadata
sudo yum -y install nginxStart and enable nginx service.
sudo systemctl enable --now nginxThe service should show status as running
$ systemctl status nginx
● nginx.service - The nginx HTTP and reverse proxy server
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Drop-In: /usr/lib/systemd/system/nginx.service.d
└─php-fpm.conf
Active: active (running) since Wed 2020-08-12 19:15:09 UTC; 6s ago
Process: 3358 ExecStart=/usr/sbin/nginx (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Process: 3355 ExecStartPre=/usr/sbin/nginx -t (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Process: 3351 ExecStartPre=/usr/bin/rm -f /run/nginx.pid (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 3360 (nginx)
CGroup: /system.slice/nginx.service
├─3360 nginx: master process /usr/sbin/nginx
└─3361 nginx: worker process
Aug 12 19:15:09 amazon-linux systemd[1]: Starting The nginx HTTP and reverse proxy server...
Aug 12 19:15:09 amazon-linux nginx[3355]: nginx: the configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf syntax is ok
Aug 12 19:15:09 amazon-linux nginx[3355]: nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successful
Aug 12 19:15:09 amazon-linux systemd[1]: Failed to read PID from file /run/nginx.pid: Invalid argument
Aug 12 19:15:09 amazon-linux systemd[1]: Started The nginx HTTP and reverse proxy serverIf you have firewalld service active, allow http and https services.
sudo firewall-cmd --add-service=http,https --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reloadList allowed services.
$ sudo firewall-cmd --list-all
public
target: default
icmp-block-inversion: no
interfaces:
sources:
services: ssh dhcpv6-client http https
ports:
protocols:
masquerade: no
forward-ports:
source-ports:
icmp-blocks:
rich rules:Step 4: Configure PHP FPM Service
As we’ll be using Nginx web server, we need to configure FastCGI Process Manager (FPM) service. You can check cool features of FPM implementation.
By default it is set to use apache user and group and we’ll need to update to nginx
$ sudo vim /etc/php-fpm.d/www.conf
user = nginx
group = nginxMake sure it is listening on unix socket to accept FastCGI requests.
listen = /run/php-fpm/www.sockLet’s also set permissions for unix socket:
listen.acl_users = apache,nginxSet how the process manager will control the number of child processes to ondemand to save on memory utilization.
pm = ondemandWhen done start and enable php-fpm service.
sudo systemctl enable php-fpm
sudo systemctl restart php-fpmCheck the service status with systemctl command:
$ systemctl status php-fpm
● php-fpm.service - The PHP FastCGI Process Manager
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/php-fpm.service; disabled; vendor preset: disabled)
Active: active (running) since Wed 2020-08-12 19:20:53 UTC; 8s ago
Main PID: 3657 (php-fpm)
Status: "Ready to handle connections"
CGroup: /system.slice/php-fpm.service
└─3657 php-fpm: master process (/etc/php-fpm.conf)
Aug 12 19:20:53 amazon-linux systemd[1]: Starting The PHP FastCGI Process Manager...
Aug 12 19:20:53 amazon-linux systemd[1]: Started The PHP FastCGI Process Manager.Step 5: Install and Configure MariaDB / MySQL Database server.
You can use either MySQL or MariaDB Database server. Refer to the guides below for installation steps.
Install MySQL 8 on Amazon Linux 2
Install MariaDB 10.5 on Amazon Linux 2
With database server installed and started, create a user and database for WordPress website.
$ mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE mysite;
CREATE USER "mysiteuser"@"localhost" IDENTIFIED BY "[email protected]#";
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mysite.* TO "mysiteuser"@"localhost";
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
\qWhere:
- mysite is to be replaced with the name of database to be created.
- mysiteuser – Name of database user with access to mysite database
- [email protected]# – Database user password
- Access granted to localhost user. For remote replace localhost with application server IP address.
Test database connection:
$ mysql -u mysiteuser -p'[email protected]#';
mysql: [Warning] Using a password on the command line interface can be insecure.
Welcome to the MySQL monitor. Commands end with ; or \g.
Your MySQL connection id is 9
Server version: 8.0.21 MySQL Community Server - GPL
Copyright (c) 2000, 2020, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
Oracle is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation and/or its
affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective
owners.
Type 'help;' or '\h' for help. Type '\c' to clear the current input statement.
mysql> SHOW DATABASES;
+--------------------+
| Database |
+--------------------+
| information_schema |
| mysite |
+--------------------+
2 rows in set (0.01 sec)
mysql> QUIT
ByeStep 6: Install WordPress 5.5 on Amazon Linux 2
With PHP and Nginx installed we should be able to download the latest release of WordPress to our local server and configure our first website.
Install wget if now available already.
sudo yum -y install wgetDownload the latest release of WordPress.
wget wordpress.org/latest.tar.gzExtract downloaded package.
tar xvf latest.tar.gzMove wordpress folder to /var/www directory.
sudo mv wordpress /var/www/mysite.computingpost.comCreate WordPress configuration file from example configuration template.
cd /var/www/mysite.computingpost.com
sudo cp wp-config-sample.php wp-config.phpEdit the configuration file to set database connection details.
$ sudo vim wp-config.php
define( 'DB_NAME', 'mysite' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'mysiteuser' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', '[email protected]#' );
Step 7: Create Nginx Configuration file for WordPress
Let’s create a new Nginx configuration file for our website.
sudo vim /etc/nginx/conf.d/mysite.confThis a basic site configuration file which can be improved for advanced settings.
server
listen 80;
server_name mysite.computingpost.com www.mysite.computingpost.com;
root /var/www/mysite.computingpost.com;
access_log /var/log/nginx/mysite_access.log;
error_log /var/log/nginx/mysite_error.log;
location /
index index.php index.html;
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
charset utf-8;
gzip on;
location ~ /\.
access_log off;
log_not_found off;
deny all;
location = /robots.txt
allow all;
log_not_found off;
access_log off;
location ~* /(?:uploadsVerify configuration file syntax:
$ sudo nginx -t
nginx: the configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf syntax is ok
nginx: configuration file /etc/nginx/nginx.conf test is successfulSet web directory permissions:
sudo chown -R nginx:nginx /var/www/mysite.computingpost.comRestart nginx service.
sudo systemctl restart nginxAccess your website domain on a browser to complete WordPress setup.
Provide site title and admin username, email and password.
Hit the login button after installation.
Use username and password that you set in previous step.
There you have WordPress dashboard.
You’re good to proceed with Website design and installation of plugins which provide additional features suiting your use cases.
