This article explains how to install Zen Cart with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04.
Zen Cart is an open-source e-commerce platform enabling users to create and manage online stores. It is designed to offer a user-friendly interface for store administrators and customers.
Apache is a well-established web server known for its stability and performance. It can handle a large number of connections and is capable of running complex applications like Zen Cart efficiently.
Ubuntu provides packages that make it straightforward to install both Apache and Zen Cart, simplifying the setup process. Using Zen Cart on Apache within an Ubuntu environment can offer a powerful and flexible platform to manage your online store effectively.
Install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu
Zen Cart requires a web server. This post will install and use the Apache web server to run Zen Cart.
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 Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart database
Upon successfully installing the MariaDB database server, create a blank database on the server specifically for the Zen Cart application.
As part of the setup, we will create a zencartdb database and a user account called zencartdbuser.
Finally, we’ll grant the zencartdbuser full access to the zencartdb 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 zencartdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER zencartdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON zencartdb.* TO zencartdbuser@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 Zen Cart is PHP. The Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart files
Let’s begin downloading and configuring the Zen Cart files on Ubuntu Linux.
To always install the latest version, check the download page for Zen Cart. If a new version is available, replace the version number in the link below.
First, navigate to the /tmp/ directory and download Zen Cart files. After unzipping the file, move the content into the Zen Cart 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 Zen Cart installation.
cd /tmp/
wget https://github.com/zencart/zencart/archive/refs/tags/v2.0.1.zip
unzip v2.0.1.zip
sudo mv zencart-* /var/www/zencart
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/zencart
Once you have completed all the above steps, continue configuring the Apache web server below to serve the Zen Cart content.
Run the commands below to create a Zen Cart Apache virtual host file.
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/zencart.conf
Then, copy and paste the content block below into the Apache server block.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName zencart.example.com
ServerAlias www.zencart.example.com
ServerAdmin admin@example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/zencart
<Directory /var/www/zencart/>
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 zencart.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2
Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for Zen Cart
You may want to install an SSL/TLS certificate to secure your Zen Cart site. Secure your Zen Cart 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://zencart.example.com/install/
A Zen Cart installation wizard page should appear. Click on the “Click Here” link to begin the installation.
Accept the license agreement and continue with the setup.
Type in the database connection details created above and continue.
Create an admin account and continue
Complete the setup and start using your online store.
But first, run the command below to delete the installation folder.
sudo rm -rf /var/www/zencart/zc_install/
Launch your store.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
Installing Zen Cart on an Apache server using Ubuntu offers a robust solution for managing your online store. Here are the key takeaways from the installation process:
- User-Friendly Platform: Zen Cart provides an accessible interface for administrators and customers, enhancing the overall shopping experience.
- Solid Foundation: Using Apache ensures a stable and efficient server environment capable of handling multiple connections and complex applications.
- Database Support: MariaDB allows for reliable data management and storage, which is critical for e-commerce applications.
- Comprehensive Setup: Step-by-step instructions make it easy to install required components, including Apache, MariaDB, and PHP.
- Security: Implementing SSL/TLS certificates with Let’s Encrypt helps secure customer transactions and protect sensitive information.
- Ongoing Maintenance: Regular updates and maintenance will ensure your Zen Cart installation remains secure and efficient.
Following the outlined steps, you can successfully set up a powerful e-commerce platform to cater to your business needs.
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