How to Install Joomla on Ubuntu 24.04

What is Joomla?

Joomla is a free and open-source content management system (CMS) designed for building websites and online applications. Written in PHP, Joomla uses a MySQL, MariaDB, or PostgreSQL database to store content. It is well-known for its flexibility, extensive features, and vibrant community of developers and users.

Key Features of Joomla:

1. User-Friendly Interface:
   • Easy-to-use admin panel for managing content.
   • Drag-and-drop tools for layout customization.
2. Multilingual Support:
   • Joomla natively supports over 70 languages, making it ideal for global audiences.
3. Powerful Extensions:
   • Joomla offers extensions categorized as components, modules, plugins, templates, and languages, allowing for extensive customization.
   • Extensions can be downloaded from the Joomla Extensions Directory (JED).
4. SEO-Friendly:
   • Built-in tools for search engine optimization, including customizable URLs, metadata, and site maps.
5. Responsive Design:
   • Compatible with modern templates that adapt to various screen sizes and devices.
6. User Management:
   • Granular access control with multiple user groups and permissions.
   • Supports user authentication through LDAP, OpenID, and Google.
7. E-commerce Capabilities:
   • Extensions like VirtueMart and HikaShop allow businesses to create full-fledged online stores.
8. Media Management:
   • Integrated media manager for handling images, videos, and other files.
9. Security:
   • Regular security updates and an active Security Strike Team (JSST).
   • Two-factor authentication for enhanced security.
10. Customizable Templates:
    • Joomla supports pre-built templates and allows developers to create custom designs.

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Benefits of Joomla:

• Scalability: Suitable for small blogs, corporate websites, and e-commerce platforms.
• Community Support: A large, active community provides forums, documentation, and third-party tutorials.
• Open Source: Free to use, with frequent updates and enhancements driven by a global developer community.

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Use Cases:

• Corporate websites and portals
• Small business websites
• Online stores
• Personal or community blogs
• Nonprofit and government websites
• Educational platforms

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Installation Requirements:

• Server: Apache, Nginx, or IIS
• PHP: Version 7.2 or higher
• Database: MySQL (5.5.3+), PostgreSQL (9.1+), or MariaDB

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Alternatives to Joomla:

• WordPress (more user-friendly for beginners)
• Drupal (better for complex, enterprise-level websites)
• Typo3 (for multilingual and large-scale projects)

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Notable Websites Using Joomla:

1. Harvard University
2. The Guggenheim Museum
3. ITWire

Joomla’s combination of versatility and power makes it a top choice for developers and content creators alike. Whether you’re building a simple site or a complex application, Joomla offers the tools you need to succeed.

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Step 1: Create an Instance

Follow these steps to set up your server instance:

• Access the Dashboard

Log in to your Shape.Host account and navigate to your Dashboard.

• Create a New Instance

Click on the “Create” button in the top-right corner and select “Instances”.

• Select Location

Choose a data center location closest to your audience for better performance.

• Choose a Plan

Select a plan that meets your requirements, such as Standard or Memory-Optimized.

• Select Image

Choose Ubuntu 24.04 as the operating system.

• Authentication and Launch

Select your preferred authentication method (SSH key or password). Click “Create Instance” to launch your server.

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Step 2: Connect to Your Instance

Once your instance is running, connect to it via SSH:

1. Retrieve Instance IP: Find the public IP address in your Shape.Host dashboard under Resources.
2. Open SSH Client: Use a terminal on Linux/macOS or PuTTY on Windows.
3. SSH Command: ssh root@<your-instance-ip>
4. Replace <your-instance-ip> with your actual server IP.
5. Enter Credentials: Enter the root password or use your SSH key to log in.

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Step 3: Update System Packages

Ensure your system is up-to-date:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

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Step 4: Install Apache Web Server

Install and enable Apache:

apt install apache2
systemctl status apache2
systemctl start apache2 && systemctl enable apache2

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Step 5: Install PHP and Extensions

Joomla requires PHP and specific extensions. Install them as follows:

apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-xml php-mbstring php-curl php-zip php-intl
php --version

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Step 6: Install MySQL and Configure Database

Install MySQL:

apt install mysql-server
systemctl status mysql

Log in to MySQL and create a database:

mysql -u root -p

Run these commands in the MySQL shell:

CREATE DATABASE joomla_db;
CREATE USER 'joomla'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'Pass@135';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON joomla_db.* TO 'joomla'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
SHOW DATABASES;
EXIT;

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Step 7: Download Joomla

Download the Joomla package:

wget https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla5/5-1-2/Joomla_5-1-2-Stable-Full_Package.zip
apt install unzip
unzip Joomla_5-1-2-Stable-Full_Package.zip -d /var/www/html/joomla

Set the correct permissions:

ls /var/www/html/
chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/joomla
chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/joomla

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Step 8: Configure Apache for Joomla

Create a virtual host configuration for Joomla:

nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/joomla.conf

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin admin@localhost
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/joomla
    ServerName localhost

    <Directory /var/www/html/joomla>
        Options FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/joomla_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/joomla_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable the site and required modules, then restart Apache:

a2ensite joomla.conf
a2enmod rewrite
systemctl restart apache2

How to Configure Joomla Web Installer on Ubuntu 24.04?

You can easily configure the Joomla Web Installer to complete the installation by performing these steps.

Step 1: Access the Joomla Web Installer

Your Joomla site is now ready to be accessed through your web browser at your domain name, such as “http://your-domain.com”:

http://your-domain.com

Enter the relevant details in the following required fields:

Step 2: Specify Log-In Data

In the required fields below, enter the user data for the super user:

Step 3: Install Joomla

Enter the database name you created in the MySQL database server, for instance, “joomla_gwp_db”. Click on the “Install Joomla” button to complete the installation process:

Step 4: Open Site/Administrator

A greeting message on your screen indicates that the Joomla package has been installed on your system successfully. You can either open the site or open it as administrator from this page:

Step 5: Log in as a Joomla Administrator

To log in as a Joomla administrator, enter your credentials:

Here, you can see your Joomla Home Dashboard. You can utilize Joomla according to your needs:

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You have successfully installed Joomla on your Ubuntu 24.04 server. To ensure reliable performance for your website, consider using Shape.Host Linux SSD VPS services. Enjoy building your dynamic website with Joomla!