Installing the LAMP Stack on Ubuntu

Introduction: The LAMP stack, composed of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP, is a powerful foundation for hosting dynamic websites and web applications. This article guides you through the process of installing a LAMP stack on a Cloud Server, Virtual Private Server (VPS), or Dedicated Server running Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 20.04, or Ubuntu 22.04.

Prerequisites:

• Verify that your server meets the hardware capacity required for the LAMP stack.
• Ensure that Ubuntu 18.04, 20.04, or 22.04 is installed on your server.

Installation Steps:

1. Installing Apache:

   • Update and upgrade packages:
     root@localhost:~# apt update root@localhost:~# apt upgrade
   • Install Apache:
     root@localhost:~# apt install apache2
   • Verify Apache installation by accessing the public IP address in your browser:
     http://123.123.123.123
   • A test page indicates a successful installation.

2. Installing MySQL:

   • Install MySQL:
     apt install mysql-server
   • Secure MySQL installation and set a password for the root user:
     sudo mysql mysql> ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password by 'MY_NEW_PASSWORD'; mysql> exit mysql_secure_installation
   • Follow the prompts to enhance security and remove default settings.

3. Installing PHP:

   • Install PHP and the PHP-MySQL package:
     apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql
   • Adjust Apache settings to prioritize index.php over index.html:
     vi /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/dir.conf
     • Inside the editor:
       DirectoryIndex index.html index.cgi index.pl index.php index.xhtml index.htm
     • Move "index.php" after "DirectoryIndex."

4. Restart Apache:

   • To apply changes, restart Apache:
     systemctl restart apache2

5. Installing PHP Modules:

   • View available PHP modules and libraries:
     apt search php- | less
   • To install desired PHP modules, use:
     apt install package1 package2

6. Testing PHP:

   • Create a test script to verify PHP installation:
     vi /var/www/html/info.php
     • Insert PHP code:
       <?php phpinfo(); ?>
   • Test the PHP script by accessing:
     http://123.123.123.123/info.php

7. Cleanup (Optional):

   • Remove the test page:
     rm /var/www/html/info.php

Conclusion: You've successfully installed the LAMP stack on your Ubuntu Cloud Server, creating a solid foundation for hosting dynamic websites and applications. This powerful combination of Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP ensures a versatile environment for your web projects.