How to Install PrestaShop on Ubuntu 24.04

PrestaShop is a widely-used, open-source eCommerce platform that enables businesses to create and manage online stores. It offers a robust and scalable solution for businesses of all sizes, providing essential eCommerce features such as inventory management, payment gateways, shipping, and customer management. PrestaShop is known for its flexibility, as it can be customized with various modules and themes, making it ideal for unique business requirements.

With PrestaShop, you can easily launch an online store with control over design, functionality, and the overall customer experience.

Creating an Instance on Cloud.shape.host

Step 1: Access the Dashboard and Create an Instance

Step 2: Choose a Datacenter Location

Pick a datacenter location based on your target audience’s location or proximity to reduce latency. Cloud.shape.host provides options like New York, London, Frankfurt, etc.

Step 3: Select a Plan

Select a plan that fits your business needs, such as Standard, CPU-Optimized, or Memory-Optimized, depending on the traffic and resources required by your online store.

Step 4: Choose an Operating System

Select Ubuntu 24.04 for the instance.

Step 5: Configure and Launch the Instance

Configure your instance’s Network Type and Authentication Method (SSH key or password), name your instance, and click Create Instance.

Locate Your Instance’s IP Address

Accessing Your Instance

Once the instance is created, you can access it using SSH:

SSH (for Linux/macOS):

   ssh root@<your-instance-ip>

Replace <your-instance-ip> with your instance’s public IP.

PuTTY (for Windows):
Download PuTTY, enter the public IP, and click Open.

Step-by-Step Installation Process:

Step 1: Update and Upgrade System

apt update -y
apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Install Apache, MariaDB, Composer, Git, PHP, and necessary extensions:

apt install apache2 mariadb-server composer git php php-curl php-xmlrpc php-soap php-intl php-zip php-cli php-mysql php-common php-opcache php-memcached php-bcmath php-gd php-mbstring php-xml php-gmp php-imagick

Step 3: Check Apache and MariaDB Status

Ensure both Apache and MariaDB are running:

systemctl is-enabled apache2
sudo systemctl status apache2
systemctl is-enabled mariadb
systemctl status mariadb

Step 4: Verify PHP Version and Installed Modules

php -v
php -m

Step 5: Check Composer Installation

Ensure Composer is installed correctly:

sudo -u www-data composer --version

Step 6: Configure PHP Settings

Edit the PHP configuration:

nano /etc/php/8.3/apache2/php.ini

Make these changes:

date.timezone = Europe/Amsterdam
max_execution_time = 130
memory_limit = 256M
allow_url_fopen = On
allow_url_include = Off
post_max_size = 128M
upload_max_filesize = 128M
max_input_vars = 5000

Save and Exit:

Press CTRL + O, then Enter to save.
Press CTRL + X to exit Nano.

Step 7: Restart Apache

systemctl restart apache2

Step 8: Secure MariaDB and Create Database

Run the MariaDB secure installation:

mariadb-secure-installation

Log into MariaDB and create a database:

mariadb -u root -p

Execute the following SQL queries:

CREATE DATABASE prestashopdb;
CREATE USER prestashop@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'p4ssword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES on prestashopdb.* TO prestashop@localhost;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
SHOW GRANTS FOR prestashop@localhost;

Type quit to exit.

Step 9: Download PrestaShop

Navigate to the web directory:

cd /var/www/html
wget https://github.com/PrestaShop/php-ps-info/archive/refs/tags/v1.1.tar.gz

Download PrestaShop:

tar -xf v1.1.tar.gz
mv php-ps-info-1.1 ps-check
mkdir -p /var/www/prestashop
cd /var/www/prestashop
wget https://github.com/PrestaShop/PrestaShop/releases/download/8.1.6/prestashop_8.1.6.zip
unzip prestashop_8.1.6.zip

Step 10: Set Permissions

chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/prestashop
chmod u+rw /var/www/prestashop

Step 11: Enable Apache Modules

a2enmod rewrite headers ssl

Step 12: Configure Apache for PrestaShop

Create a new Apache configuration file:

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

Add this configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName your.domain.com
    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/prestashop

    <Directory /var/www/prestashop>
        AllowOverride All
        Options +Indexes
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/prestashop_error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/apache2/prestashop_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Save and Exit:

Press CTRL + O, then Enter to save.
Press CTRL + X to exit Nano.

Step 13: Enable PrestaShop Site and Restart Apache

a2ensite prestashop.conf
apachectl configtest
systemctl restart apache2

Step 14: Install SSL with Certbot

Install Certbot and obtain an SSL certificate:

apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache
certbot --apache --agree-tos --no-eff-email --redirect --hsts --staple-ocsp --email contact@shape.host -d tutorials.shape.host

Accessing PrestaShop

Once installation is complete, access PrestaShop by visiting:

http://your-domain.com

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing PrestaShop 8.1.6

1. Choose Your Language

When you first start the installation process, you will be prompted to select the language for your PrestaShop setup. In this example, English is chosen. Once you’ve made your selection, click Next to proceed.

2. Accept License Agreements

You must review and accept the PrestaShop license agreements to continue with the installation. These licenses include the OSL 3.0 for the core of PrestaShop and AFL 3.0 for modules and themes. Once you’ve read through the terms, check the box to agree, then click Next.

3. Store Information Setup

In this step, you will enter key details about your store. Fill out fields such as the store name, main activity, country, and time zone. You will also need to set up your admin account by providing your name, email address, and a secure password. Click Next to move on.

4. Store Content Configuration

You have the option to install demo products and select modules to install. Installing demo products is useful if you’re new to PrestaShop and want to familiarize yourself with how everything works. You can also choose to install all recommended modules for a complete store setup. Once you’ve made your choices, click Next.

5. Configure Your Database

Enter your database connection details, including the server address, database name, login credentials, and a table prefix. The default database port (3306) is used here. Once you’ve filled out the required fields, click on Test your database connection now to ensure everything is correct, and then hit Next to continue.

6. Installation Progress

The installer will now proceed to create the necessary files and tables for your store. You can track the progress of this process with the status bar. Once it reaches 100%, the installation will be complete.

7. Logging into the Admin Panel

Once the installation is finished, you will be directed to the admin login page. Enter the email address and password you created earlier to access the backend of your new PrestaShop store.

8. PrestaShop Admin Dashboard

After logging in, you will be greeted with the PrestaShop dashboard. From here, you can manage orders, products, customers, and more. The dashboard provides key insights into store performance, including active shopping carts, pending orders, and site traffic.

(Screenshot 8)

Step 15: Finalize Installation

Remove the installation directory after setup:

rm -rf /var/www/prestashop/install

For reliable and scalable hosting, consider Shape.Host’s Linux VPS services, which offer the performance and security necessary to host your PrestaShop eCommerce platform.

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