How to Install WordPress on a VPS: A Step-by-Step Guide

WordPress is one of the most popular content management systems (CMS) used by millions of websites globally. When it comes to hosting WordPress websites, many users prefer using a VPS (Virtual Private Server) due to its flexibility, performance, and cost-effectiveness. If you're looking to install WordPress on a VPS, you're in the right place! This step-by-step guide will walk you through the entire process, from setting up your VPS to installing WordPress and configuring your site for optimal performance.

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Prerequisites for Installing WordPress on VPS

Before you begin, ensure you have the following prerequisites in place:

• A VPS server: You can get a VPS from hosting providers such as SurferCloud, which offers high-performance VPS servers with SSD storage and excellent network connectivity.
• A Linux operating system: This guide assumes you're using a Linux distribution like Ubuntu, which is one of the most commonly used OS options for WordPress hosting.
• Root access: You need root or sudo privileges to install software packages on your VPS.
• A domain name: It's recommended to use a custom domain name for your WordPress site. You can purchase a domain from domain registrars like Namecheap or GoDaddy.

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Step 1: Access Your VPS

First, you need to access your VPS via SSH. If you're using a Linux or macOS machine, open the terminal and type the following command:

ssh root@your_vps_ip

Replace your_vps_ip with the actual IP address of your VPS. If you're using Windows, you can use an SSH client like PuTTY to connect to your VPS.

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Step 2: Update Your System

Once you're logged into your VPS, it's a good idea to update the system packages to the latest version. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

These commands will ensure that your system is up to date with the latest security patches and software updates.

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Step 3: Install LAMP Stack

WordPress requires a web server (Apache), a database server (MySQL or MariaDB), and PHP to run. The easiest way to set this up is by installing the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).

Install Apache Web Server

To install Apache, run the following command:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

After installation, enable Apache to start on boot:

sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2

You can verify Apache is running by visiting your server's IP address in a browser. You should see the default Apache page.

Install MySQL Database Server

Next, install MySQL by running:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Once MySQL is installed, secure it by running the following command:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your MySQL root password and remove unnecessary configurations.

Install PHP

Now, install PHP and the necessary extensions for WordPress:

sudo apt install php php-mysql libapache2-mod-php php-curl php-xml php-mbstring php-zip php-bz2 -y

You can check if PHP is installed correctly by running:

php -v

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Step 4: Create a MySQL Database for WordPress

WordPress needs a MySQL database to store your website's data. To create one, log in to the MySQL root user:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, create a new database for WordPress:

CREATE DATABASE wordpress;

Next, create a new user and grant them permissions to the WordPress database:

CREATE USER 'wpuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO 'wpuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace your_password with a secure password.

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Step 5: Download and Install WordPress

Now that the LAMP stack is set up and the database is ready, you can download and install WordPress.

Download WordPress

Navigate to the /var/www/html directory and download the latest WordPress package:

cd /var/www/html
sudo wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz

Extract the Files

After downloading, extract the files:

sudo tar -xvzf latest.tar.gz

Configure WordPress

Rename the extracted WordPress folder to your desired site name:

sudo mv wordpress your_domain

Now, create a configuration file for WordPress:

cd your_domain
sudo cp wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php

Edit the wp-config.php file to include your database details:

sudo nano wp-config.php

Find the following lines and update them with the database name, user, and password you created earlier:

define( 'DB_NAME', 'wordpress' );
define( 'DB_USER', 'wpuser' );
define( 'DB_PASSWORD', 'your_password' );

Save and close the file by pressing CTRL + X, then Y, and Enter.

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Step 6: Set Permissions

Set the correct permissions for the WordPress directory:

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

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Step 7: Complete the WordPress Installation via Web Browser

At this point, you can complete the WordPress installation via the web browser. Open your browser and go to your server’s IP address or domain name:

http://your_vps_ip/your_domain

You will be prompted to select your language and enter your site details, including the site title, admin username, password, and email address.

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully installed WordPress on your VPS. With your new WordPress site up and running, you can start customizing it, installing themes and plugins, and creating content.

Using a VPS for hosting WordPress gives you more control over your site’s performance and security. It also allows you to scale resources as needed, especially for high-traffic websites. If you're looking for a fast and reliable VPS provider, consider SurferCloud, which offers powerful VPS solutions tailored for WordPress hosting. With their high-performance servers, you can ensure that your WordPress site runs smoothly and efficiently.