How to Install Moodle on Google Cloud Server

This post shows students and new users steps to install Moodle on Google Cloud servers running Ubuntu Linux.

We have gone through a series of posts, starting with registering a domain name, setting up a Google Cloud server, and installing software and packages to help us build functional courseware online.

We’re now ready to install Moodle to help us build our first dynamic, professional online courses and begin teaching our users and students the materials we create.

Moodle is an open-source learning management platform written in PHP, designed to help educators create practical online courses and paired with a MySQL or MariaDB database. With Moodle, one can create online courses using free templates, plugins, and a support base to help you throughout the process.

This is the seventh post in this series, which can be used as a beginner’s guide to learning how to create a website domain, set up a Google Cloud server with Ubuntu Linux, and install software and packages to build and run a website online.

In this series:

• How to create a website domain
• How to set up a Google Cloud server with Ubuntu Linux
• How to install Apache on a Google Cloud server (alternative to Nginx)
• How to install Nginx on a Google Cloud server (alternative to Apache)
• How to install PHP on a Google Cloud server
• How to install MySQL or MariaDB database server

Now that you’ve learned how to create a website domain, set up a Google Cloud server, and install Apache, Nginx, PHP, MySQL, or MariaDB, you can continue below to tie everything together with Moodle.

When we started this series, we said a web server allows content to be published and served to web clients and audiences browsing your website. A PHP or server-side scripting language allows for a dynamic and more functional website. A database server will enable you to store your website content efficiently.

Other software and packages may also be needed to enhance the functionality of a website. Below, we’ll show you how to install these tools with Moodle.

In our first post, we also said that it can’t be used after creating a domain name until it is forwarded or pointed to a server. The second post showed you how to point a domain to a server we created. Then, we showed you how to install software and packages to help us run a website online.

We’re ready to connect to our Google Cloud server and install Moodle by tying the software and packages installed in our previous posts.

Connect to Google Cloud servers

Google Cloud server (Compute Engine) allows users to connect using SSH from the browser window to their virtual machine (VM) instance within the Google Cloud Console. 

SSH from the browser supports the following:

• Web browsers
  • The latest version of Google Chrome
  • Firefox
  • Microsoft Edge
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 11 and later
  • Safari 8 and later. Note that Safari is not supported in private browser mode.
• Virtual machine configurations
  • All Linux VM images are natively available in Google Cloud.

No additional software or browser extensions are needed. Simply login to Google Cloud Console and go to Menu ==> Compute Engine ==> VM instances.

In the list of virtual machine instances, click SSH in the row of the instance that you want to connect to.

Alternatively, you can open an SSH connection to an instance by clicking its name and SSH from the instance details page.

An SSH terminal window with the Ubuntu Linux instance created in the series’s second post will open.

You should now be able to run commands in Ubuntu Linux created on the Google Cloud server.

Install Moodle on Google Cloud Servers

Installing and managing a Moodle on Ubuntu Linux is no different, whether on Google Cloud servers or a local VM instance.

Once you have installed all required packages, Moodle can be set up directly from your browser by browsing the server hostname or IP address.

Below is a detailed post to help you install Moodle on Ubuntu Linux with Apache or Nginx. Click on it to learn more about installing and managing Moodle on Ubuntu Linux.

How to install Moodle on Ubuntu Linux with Apache

How to install Moodle on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx

Each link above will show you all the steps we performed in our previous posts to get here. You also will learn how to secure your Moodle website with free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates.

Following the links above and performing all the steps, you can create an online store using Moodle.

Conclusion:

In this post, we’ve guided you through installing Moodle on Google Cloud servers running Ubuntu Linux. Here are the key takeaways:

• Preparation is Key: Ensure you have a registered domain, Google Cloud server set up, and necessary software installed before proceeding.
• Seamless Installation: Connecting to your Google Cloud server using SSH is straightforward and requires no additional software.
• Follow Detailed Guides: Utilize our linked posts to install Moodle effectively, whether you’re using Apache or Nginx.
• Enhance Your Learning Environment: With Moodle, you can create professional, dynamic online courses tailored to your audience.
• Secure Your Site: Don’t forget to secure your Moodle installation with Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for safe browsing.

By following these steps, you are well on your way to creating and managing an effective online learning platform with Moodle.