Introduction to LAMP Server

A LAMP server is a web server that is powered by Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. It is a popular open-source stack used for developing and hosting web applications. Setting up a LAMP server allows you to host your own website, blog, or web-based application on a virtual private server (VDS).

Also, you can create your WordPress-based blog page through a LAMP server.

Prerequisites for Installing LAMP Server on a VDS

Before you begin the installation process, you will need the following:

• A VDS with a fresh installation of Linux (Ubuntu is recommended for this tutorial)
• A non-root user with sudo privileges
• A domain name pointed to your VDS (optional but recommended)

Step by Step LAMP Server Installation to a VDS

Step 1: Install Apache

Apache is the most popular web server software and is used by approximately 43% of all websites. It is an open-source software that is free to use and customize.

To install Apache on your VDS, follow these steps:

1. Update the package manager index: sudo apt-get update
2. Install Apache: sudo apt-get install apache2
3. Test the installation by visiting your VDS’s IP address in a web browser. You should see a page that says “Apache2 Ubuntu Default Page.”

Step 2: Install MySQL

MySQL is a popular open-source database management system that is used to store and retrieve data for web applications. It is a crucial component of the LAMP stack.

To install MySQL on your VDS, follow these steps:

1. Install the MySQL package: sudo apt-get install mysql-server
2. Run the MySQL secure installation script: sudo mysql_secure_installation
3. Follow the prompts to set a root password and answer the security questions.

Step 3: Install PHP

PHP is a popular server-side scripting language that is used to create dynamic web pages. It is an essential component of the LAMP stack.

To install PHP on your VDS, follow these steps:

1. Install the PHP package: sudo apt-get install php libapache2-mod-php
2. Test the installation by creating a PHP info file:

• Create a new file in the Apache web root directory: sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php
• Add the following line to the file: <?php phpinfo(); ?>
• Save the file and exit the editor.
• Visit the info.php file in a web browser by going to http://your_server_ip/info.php

You should see a page that displays information about your PHP installation.

Step 4: Configure Apache to Use PHP

By default, Apache is configured to handle PHP files, but it is a good idea to double-check the settings.

To configure Apache to use PHP, follow these steps:

1. Open the Apache configuration file: sudo nano /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/dir.conf
2. Find the <IfModule mod_dir.c> section and add index.php to the beginning of the line that starts with DirectoryIndex. It should look like this: DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.cgi index.pl index.xhtml index.htm
3. Save the file and exit the editor.
4. Restart Apache