How to Install Backdrop CMS with Nginx on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Nginx HTTP server on Ubuntu

Installing Nginx HTTP server on Ubuntu is the first step to running Backdrop CMS. This web server will handle requests for your Backdrop CMS site, making it accessible online. You can easily install Nginx using simple commands in your Ubuntu terminal.

To do that, open the Ubuntu terminal and run the commands below to install the Nginx web server.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx

Once Nginx is installed, the commands below can start, stop, and enable the Nginx web server to start automatically when your server boots up.

sudo systemctl stop nginx
sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

You can test the Nginx web server by opening your web browser and browsing to the server’s localhost or IP address.

http://localhost

When you see the Welcome to nginx!, it means the Nginx HTTP server is successfully installed.

Additional help on installing Nginx on Ubuntu is in the link below.

How to install Nginx on Ubuntu

Install the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu

Backdrop CMS needs a database to store all its information safely, and installing the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu is straightforward using your terminal. This database will hold all your website’s content and settings, making it essential for your Backdrop CMS installation.

To install and use the MariaDB database server, use the instructions below.

Open the Ubuntu terminal and run the commands below to install the MariaDB database server.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install mariadb-server

Once the MariaDB database server is installed, use the commands below to stop, start, and enable the MariaDB server to start automatically when the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop mariadb
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Run the following commands to validate and test if the MariaDB database server is installed successfully.

sudo mariadb

Once you run the commands above, it will log you onto the MariaDB console and display a message similar to the one below.

Welcome to the MariaDB monitor.  Commands end with ; or g.
Your MariaDB connection id is 32
Server version: 10.11.2-MariaDB-1 Ubuntu 23.04

Copyright (c) 2000, 2018, Oracle, MariaDB Corporation Ab and others.

Type 'help;' or 'h' for help. Type 'c' to clear the current input statement.

MariaDB [(none)]> 

The message tells you that the server is installed successfully.

Additional help on installing MariaDB.

• How to install MariaDB on Ubuntu Linux
• MariaDB without password prompt

Create a Backdrop database

After setting up MariaDB, you need to create a special database for Backdrop CMS. This involves creating a new database named ‘backdropdb’ and a user account, ‘backdropdbuser’, with full access to manage your site’s data securely.

As part of the setup, we will create a backdropdb database and a user account called backdropdbuser.

Finally, we’ll grant the backdropdbuser full access to the backdropdb database.

All the database steps above can be done using the commands below:

But first, log on to the MariaDB database server:

sudo mariadb

Then run the commands below to complete the steps:

CREATE DATABASE backdropdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER backdropdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON backdropdb.* TO backdropdbuser@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit

Ensure to replace ‘type_your_password_here ‘with your password.

Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

Backdrop CMS runs using PHP, so installing PHP and its necessary extensions on your Ubuntu Linux system is required. These extensions help Backdrop CMS work correctly by providing essential functions needed for your site to function properly.

Then, run the commands below to install the latest PHP version.

sudo apt install php-fpm php-intl php-mysql php-curl php-cli php-zip php-xml php-gd php-common php-mbstring php-xmlrpc php-bcmath php-json php-sqlite3 php-soap php-zip

Additional help on installing PHP

How to install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

Download Backdrop files

Downloading the latest Backdrop CMS files to your Ubuntu server is the next step in setting up your website. You can find these files on the official Backdrop website. We’ll guide you on how to get the download link and extract the files to your server.

To always install the latest version, check the download page for Backdrop. Get the download link and download the archived package to your computer. Then, extract it.

First, navigate to the /tmp/ directory and download the Backdrop files. Next, move the content into the Backdrop folder in the Nginx root directory.

cd /tmp/
wget https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/download/1.29.1/backdrop.zip
sudo unzip backdrop.zip
sudo mv backdrop /var/www/backdrop
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/backdrop

Once you have completed all the above steps, continue configuring the Nginx web server below to serve the Backdrop content.

Run the commands below to create a Nginx virtual host file for Backdrop.

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/backdrop.conf

Then, copy and paste the content block below into the Nginx server block.

server {
    listen 80;
    listen [::]:80;
    root /var/www/backdrop;
    index  index.php;
    server_name  backdrop.example.com;

    access_log /var/log/nginx/example.com.access.log;
    error_log /var/log/nginx/example.com.error.log;

    location / {
        try_files $uri @backdrop;
    }

    location @backdrop {
	 rewrite ^(.*)$ /index.php?q=$1 last;
    }

    location ~ .php$ {
         include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
         fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock;
         fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
         include fastcgi_params;
    }
}

Save the file.

You can enable the Backdrop CMS virtual host by running `sudo a2ensite backdrop.conf` and then restart the Nginx web server with `sudo systemctl restart nginx` to apply the changes.

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/backdrop.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo systemctl restart nginx

Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for Backdrop

Setting up a Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS certificate makes your Backdrop site secure with HTTPS, protecting your data and visitors. This guide explains how to configure Nginx on Ubuntu for this important security feature, offering a free way to add trust to your website.

Please read the post below for additional resources on installing and creating Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for Nginx.

How to set up Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for Nginx on Ubuntu Linux

Once you have restarted the Nginx web server, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address defined in the Nginx server block.

http://backdrop.example.com

A Backdrop installation wizard page should appear. Select the installation language and continue.

Create an admin account and continue.

Your Backdrop site should be ready.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

Installing Backdrop CMS with Nginx on Ubuntu is a straightforward process that empowers users to manage their web content efficiently. Here are the key takeaways:

• System Setup: 💿 Installing Nginx and MariaDB lays the foundation for a robust web server environment.
• Database Configuration: Creating a dedicated database for Backdrop ensures a clean and organized data storage solution.
• PHP Installation: Utilizing the latest PHP version enhances application performance and security.
• File Management: Proper ⬇️ downloading and extraction of Backdrop files is crucial for seamless operation.
• Nginx Configuration: Setting up a virtual host enables effective handling of user requests for the Backdrop application.
• Security: Implementing an SSL certificate further protects user data and enhances trustworthiness.
• User-Friendly: The Backdrop installation wizard simplifies the final setup steps for a new site.

Installing Backdrop CMS with Nginx on Ubuntu 24.04 allows you to create a secure and efficient website for your content management needs. Following these specific installation steps ensures a robust setup.