How to Install Matomo: A Step-by-Step Guide

Matomo is a powerful open-source web analytics platform that provides valuable insights into website traffic, user behavior, and marketing effectiveness. Installing Matomo on your server is an excellent way to take control of your website analytics while ensuring data privacy. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Matomo on your server, from system requirements to the final configuration.

Step 1: Prepare Your Server

Before starting the installation, ensure that your server meets the necessary requirements for Matomo. You’ll need a server running a supported operating system (such as Ubuntu or CentOS), with access to a web server (Apache, Nginx), PHP, and MySQL or MariaDB.

To verify your server’s specifications, you can run the following command:

free -m

Ensure your server has at least 2 GB of RAM and sufficient disk space for your website’s data.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Matomo requires several software packages to function correctly, including PHP and database management tools. Install these dependencies using the following command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php php-mysql libapache2-mod-php php-cli php-xml php-curl php-zip php-gd php-mbstring

This will install Apache, MySQL, and all the required PHP extensions needed for Matomo to work.

Step 3: Download and Extract Matomo

Once your server is ready, download the latest version of Matomo from its official website. Use the following command to download the Matomo archive:

wget https://builds.matomo.org/matomo-latest.tar.gz

After downloading, extract the archive:

tar -xvzf matomo-latest.tar.gz

Move the extracted files to the appropriate directory:

sudo mv matomo /var/www/html/

Ensure that the necessary permissions are set to allow Apache to access the Matomo directory:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/matomo

Step 4: Create a Database for Matomo

Next, you need to create a database in MySQL to store Matomo’s data. Log in to MySQL:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, create a new database and user for Matomo:

CREATE DATABASE matomo;
CREATE USER 'matomo_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON matomo.* TO 'matomo_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace your_password with a secure password.

Step 5: Run the Matomo Installation Wizard

Now, open your browser and navigate to:

http://<your-server-ip>/matomo

You’ll be greeted by the Matomo installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup process. During the installation, you’ll be asked to provide the database information (the database you created earlier) and configure your website settings.

Step 6: Complete the Setup and Start Using Matomo

Once the installation is complete, you’ll be able to access Matomo’s dashboard and start tracking your website’s analytics. You can now add the tracking code to your website and monitor various metrics such as visits, bounce rates, and user behavior.

Step 7: Secure Your Installation

For enhanced security, consider securing your Matomo installation with HTTPS using a Let's Encrypt SSL certificate. You should also configure your web server’s firewall and restrict access to the Matomo admin panel to trusted IP addresses.

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