This article explains installing phpBB forum software with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04.
phpBB is a popular forum software that can be used to stay in touch with a group of people or can power your entire website.
Apache is a robust web server known for its stability and performance. Pairing it with phpBB will give you a reliable setup for your community.
Installing phpBB with Apache on Ubuntu creates a powerful and flexible forum solution suitable for various community sizes and needs.
Install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu
phpBB requires a web server. This post will install and use the Apache web server to run phpBB.
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 the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu
The next component required to run phpBB is a database server. This post will install and use the MariaDB database server.
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.
Create a phpBB database
Upon successfully installing the MariaDB database server, create a blank database on the server specifically for the phpBB application.
As part of the setup, we will create a phpbbdb database and a user account called phpbbdbuser.
Finally, we’ll grant the phpbbdbuser full access to the phpbbdb 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 phpbbdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER phpbbdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON phpbbdb.* TO phpbbdbuser@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit
Ensure to replace ‘type_your_password_here ‘with your password.
Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux
The last component you will need to run phpBB is PHP. The phpBB application is PHP-based and supports the latest versions of PHP.
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
How to install PHP on Ubuntu Linux
Download phpBB files
Let’s begin downloading and configuring the phpBB files on Ubuntu Linux.
To always install the latest version, check the download page for phpBB. If a new version is available, replace the version number in the link below.
First, navigate to the /tmp/ directory and download phpBB files. After unzipping the file, move the content into the phpBB folder in the Apache root directory.
The final step is to change the permissions. This will allow the Apache web server to interact safely with the files, ensuring a secure environment for your phpBB installation.
cd /tmp/
wget https://download.phpbb.com/pub/release/3.3/3.3.13/phpBB-3.3.13.zip
unzip phpBB-3.3.13.zip
sudo mv phpBB3 /var/www/phpbb
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/phpbb
Once you have completed all the above steps, continue configuring the Apache web server below to serve the phpBB content.
Run the commands below to create an Apache virtual host file for phpBB.
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/phpbb.conf
Then, copy and paste the content block below into the Apache server block.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName phpbb.example.com
ServerAlias www.phpbb.example.com
ServerAdmin admin@example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/phpbb
<Directory /var/www/phpbb/>
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.
Then, run the commands below to enable the virtual host and restart the Apache server.
sudo a2ensite phpbb.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2
Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for phpBB
You may want to install an SSL/TLS certificate to secure your phpBB site. Secure your phpBB installation with HTTPS from Let’s Encrypt.
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://phpbb.example.com/install/
A phpBB installation wizard page should appear. Select the “INSTALL” tab and click the Install button to begin.
Create an admin account and continue.
Type in the database name and password created above.
Select the server settings if using SSL.
After all the steps above, the installation should be finished.
You can now start using your new phpBB forum board.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
Installing phpBB with Apache on Ubuntu can be straightforward if you follow the steps methodically. A well-configured phpBB forum allows you to build a vibrant community. Here are some key takeaways:
- Robust Setup: Combining Apache and phpBB provides a stable and flexible forum solution.
- Database Management: Using MariaDB as your database server ensures efficient data handling and storage.
- Easy Installation: The step-by-step instructions simplify the installation process, even for beginners.
- SSL Security: Securing your phpBB forum with Let’s Encrypt enhances user trust and data protection.
- Community Engagement: A well-functioning forum promotes interaction and knowledge sharing among users.
With your phpBB forum up and running, you can foster an engaging online community!
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