A LAMP stack, which stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, and PHP, is a group of open-source software that is typically installed together to enable a server to host dynamic websites and web apps. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough for installing a LAMP stack with MariaDB on Ubuntu 23.04, aimed at newcomers. We will cover each step of the process, providing real examples of command lines for installation and configuration.

Step 1: Update Your System

Always start by updating your system’s package list to ensure you install the latest versions of the software.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Apache Web Server

Apache is a widely used web server software. Install it on your Ubuntu server with the following command:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

After installation, you can check to make sure Apache is running:

sudo systemctl status apache2

Step 3: Install MariaDB

MariaDB is a popular database server, fully compatible with MySQL. It’s a robust and scalable alternative for database management.

1. Install MariaDB:

   sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

2. Secure MariaDB Installation: After installation, run the security script that comes with MariaDB:

   sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set a root password, remove anonymous users, disallow root login remotely, remove the test database, and reload privilege tables.

Step 4: Install PHP

PHP is a server scripting language used for web development. Along with PHP, you will need to install several PHP extensions required by common web applications.

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-cli php-curl php-json php-gd php-mbstring php-xml php-zip -y

Step 5: Configure Apache to Use PHP

By default, Apache serves HTML files. Adjust the configuration so Apache will prioritize PHP files.

1. Edit the dir.conf file:

   sudo nano /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/dir.conf

2. Move the PHP index file to the first position: Before:

   <IfModule mod_dir.c>
           DirectoryIndex index.html index.cgi index.pl index.php index.xhtml index.htm
   </IfModule>

After:

   <IfModule mod_dir.c>
           DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.cgi index.pl index.xhtml index.htm
   </IfModule>

3. Restart Apache to apply the changes:

   sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 6: Testing PHP Processing

To test if your system is correctly processing PHP files, create a test PHP file in Apache’s root directory.

1. Create a PHP file:

   echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

2. Open your web browser and visit your server’s domain name or IP address followed by /phpinfo.php:

   http://your_server_domain_or_IP/phpinfo.php

You should see a page displaying information about your server’s PHP configuration.

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