How to install October CMS with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04
You install October CMS with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 by preparing your server, downloading the CMS, and setting up Apache.
October CMS is a free, open-source content management system built on Laravel, offering significant flexibility for developers. It’s designed for building dynamic websites easily.
This guide walks you through setting up October CMS specifically with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS, providing a solid and performant environment for your projects.
Install Apache and MariaDB, then create an October CMS database. Download the CMS files and configure Apache to serve your site.
Install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu
Install Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 to run your October CMS site. This process is straightforward using a few commands in the Ubuntu terminal. Once installed, Apache makes it easy to manage your web server, ensuring your October CMS installation has a solid foundation.
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.
Install the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu
Set up MariaDB on Ubuntu 24.04 to store your October CMS data. MariaDB is a reliable database that works well with October CMS. Installing it is simple and involves running a few commands in the Ubuntu terminal, preparing your system to hold all your website’s content and settings.
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 an October CMS database
Create a specific database and user for October CMS after installing MariaDB. This guide shows you how to set up a database named ‘octcmsdb’ and a user ‘octcmsdbuser’, giving them the necessary permissions to manage your October CMS site’s information securely.
As part of the setup, we will create an octcmsdb database and a user account called octcmsdbuser.
Finally, we’ll grant the octcmsdbuser full access to the octcmsdb 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 octcmsdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER octcmsdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON octcmsdb.* TO octcmsdbuser@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit
Ensure to replace ‘type_your_password_here ‘with your password.
Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux
Install PHP on Ubuntu 24.04, as October CMS is built with it. This step involves running a single command in the terminal to get the latest PHP version along with all the essential extensions October CMS needs to work correctly.
Then, run the commands below to install the latest PHP version.
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-bcmath php-json php-sqlite3 php-soap php-zip
Additional help on installing PHP
Download October CMS files
Download the latest October CMS files from their official website and put them on your Ubuntu server. This section guides you to the correct download location and shows you how to move the files to the right folder on your system, getting your October CMS installation ready.
First, navigate to the /tmp/ directory and download October CMS files. After unzipping the file, move the content into the October CMS folder in the Apache root directory.
cd /tmp/
wget http://octobercms.com/download -O octobercms.zip
sudo unzip octobercms.zip
sudo mv install-master /var/www/octobercms
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/octobercms
Once you have completed all the above steps, continue configuring the Apache web server below to serve the October CMS content.
Run the commands below to create an Apache virtual host file for October CMS.
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/octobercms.conf
Then, copy and paste the content block below into the Apache server block.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName octobercms.example.com
ServerAlias www.octobercms.example.com
ServerAdmin admin@example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/octobercms
<Directory /var/www/octobercms/>
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.
Enable the virtual host configuration for October CMS by running the command `sudo a2ensite october.conf`. Then, restart the Apache web server with the command `sudo systemctl restart apache2` to apply the changes.
sudo a2ensite octobercms.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2
Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for October CMS
Secure your October CMS website using a free Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate to enable HTTPS. This guide explains the steps to set up Let’s Encrypt with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring your October CMS site is safe and trustworthy for all visitors.
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://octobercms.example.com/install.php/
An October CMS installation wizard page should appear. Select the installation language and continue.
Next, type in the database connection details created above and continue.
If you have a license, enter it. Otherwise, install without a license. View this page to obtain a free license.
After a brief moment, the installation should be completed.
Log on to the backend and start using the site.
That should do it!
If you run into trouble and you’re prompted to install Composer to install and configure OctoberCMS, follow the steps below to resolve it.
First, run the command below to install Composer and configure October CMS to function correctly.
You will need a license key to proceed with the steps below. View this page to obtain a free license.
sudo apt install curl git
curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | sudo php -- --install-dir=/usr/local/bin --filename=composer
cd /var/www/octobercms
sudo -u www-data composer install
udo -u www-data php artisan october:install
sudo -u www-data php artisan october:migrate
That should do it!
Conclusion:
Installing October CMS with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 creates a strong and adaptable system for building interactive websites. This guide detailed the steps for the installation process, ensuring you can successfully set up October CMS.
- User-Friendly: October CMS is built on the Laravel framework, offering an intuitive interface for content management and customization.
- Robust Environment: The combination of Apache and MariaDB ensures a reliable environment capable of handling multiple visitors.
- Database Setup: Creating a dedicated database for October CMS is crucial for effectively managing your website’s data.
- PHP Support: Installing the latest version of PHP is essential, as October CMS is a PHP-based application.
- Security: Implementing an SSL/TLS certificate with Let’s Encrypt enhances the security of your site by enabling HTTPS.
- Simple Installation Process: The outlined steps provide a straightforward method to get October CMS up and running on your Ubuntu server.
- Community Support: Access to additional resources and documentation can help troubleshoot any issues encountered during installation.
By following this guide, you’ll be equipped to harness the full potential of October CMS for your web development projects!
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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