How to install Flarum with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu

Install Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 to get your server ready for websites. You’ll open your terminal and run two commands to update your system’s package list and install the Apache2 software. This ensures you have the latest version of the web server ready to host your Flarum forum.

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

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

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

sudo systemctl stop apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2

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

http://localhost

When you see the Apache2 Default Page, it means the Apache HTTP server is successfully installed.

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

How to install Apache on Ubuntu

Install MariaDB database server on Ubuntu Linux

Flarum needs a database to store all its information, and installing MariaDB on Ubuntu Linux is a great option. You’ll open your terminal to update your system’s packages and then install the mariadb-server software to get it set up. This database will hold all your forum’s content.

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 Flarum database

After installing MariaDB, you need to create a new, empty database specifically for Flarum. This process sets up a database named ‘flarumdb’ and a user account called ‘flarumdbuser’ with all the necessary permissions. Creating this dedicated database ensures Flarum can store and retrieve its data correctly.

As part of the setup, we will create a database named ‘flarumdb‘ and a corresponding user account called ‘flarumdbuser.’

Finally, we’ll grant the flarumdbuser full access to the flarumdb 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 flarumdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER flarumdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON flarumdb.* TO flarumdbuser@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit

Ensure to replace ‘type_your_password_here ‘with your password.

Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

You need to install PHP on your Ubuntu Linux system because Flarum is built with it. Run a command in your terminal to install PHP along with essential extensions like php-mysql that Apache and Flarum require. Having the correct PHP version and extensions is crucial for Flarum to run smoothly.

Run the commands below to install PHP.

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-intl php-mysql php-curl php-cli php-zip php-xml php-gd php-common php-mbstring php-xmlrpc php-json php-sqlite3 php-soap php-zip

Additional help on installing PHP

How to install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

Download Flarum files

Get the Flarum software onto your server by downloading the latest version using Composer. You’ll start by installing Curl and Git if you don’t have them, then use Curl to download and install Composer. This process ensures you have the most up-to-date Flarum code to begin setting up your forum.

You may want to use the GitHub repository to get Flarum’s latest release. Install Composer, Curl, and other dependencies to get started.

sudo apt install curl git
curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | sudo php -- --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/{.cache,.config,flarum}
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/{.cache,.config,flarum}
cd /var/www/flarum/
sudo -u www-data composer create-project flarum/flarum .
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/flarum/

Once all the steps are done, configure the Apache webserver to serve the Flarum content.

Run the commands below to create an Apache virtual host file for Flarum.

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/flarum.conf

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

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName flarum.example.com
  ServerAlias www.flarum.example.com
  ServerAdmin admin@example.com
  DocumentRoot /var/www/flarum/public
    
  <Directory /var/www/flarum/public/>
       Options FollowSymlinks
       AllowOverride All
       Require all granted
  </Directory>

       ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
       CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Save the file.

You can turn on the virtual host for Flarum by running `sudo a2ensite flarum.conf` and then restart Apache with `sudo systemctl restart apache2` to apply the changes.

sudo a2ensite flarum.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for Flarum

Secure your Flarum site by setting up an SSL/TLS certificate with Let’s Encrypt. This encrypts the connection between visitors and your server, making your website safer. Instructions for installing and creating these certificates specifically for Apache are available to help you protect your forum.

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

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

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

http://flarum.example.com

A Flarum installation wizard page should appear. Enter the forum name database connection info and create an administrator account. Then, click “Install Flarum.“

Your Flarum site should be ready to use.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

• The article provides comprehensive instructions for setting up a Flarum site with Apache support on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring a smooth installation process.
• This detailed guide offers a complete solution by covering the installation of essential components, including the Apache HTTP server, MariaDB database server, and PHP.
• It emphasizes the importance of leveraging Apache’s flexibility of configuration options to tailor the web server environment to specific needs.
• By incorporating Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS, the article also highlights the significance of securing the Flarum installation with HTTPS, enhancing its overall security.
• The visuals accompanying the tutorial, such as the Flarum installation wizard and completion confirmation, provide a helpful visual reference throughout the setup process.