How to Install Chamilo LMS with Apache on Ubuntu Linux

This article explains how to install Chamilo LMS with Apache on Ubuntu Linux.

Chamilo LMS is a free e-Learning Management System (LMS) platform built on the LAMP / LEMP stack. It allows users to create an educational community and empower students to publish and work together while improving global access to education and knowledge.

To use Chamilo LMS, you need to install it on your server. This tutorial explains how to install Chamilo LMS with Apache on Ubuntu Linux. Apache2 is a popular web server required for Chamilo LMS to function. Ubuntu Linux is a popular operating system that is easy to use and maintain.

Following this tutorial, you can easily install Chamilo LMS on your Ubuntu server and use it to manage your e-learning courses.

For more about Chamilo LMS, please check its Homepage

When you’re ready to get Chamilo installed, follow the steps below

Install Apache HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server in use. Install it since Chamilo LMS needs it.

To install Apache2 HTTP on the Ubuntu server, run the commands below.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can stop, start, and enable the Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

To test the Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address. You should see the Apache2 default test page, as shown below.

http://localhost

Install MariaDB Database Server

MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open-source database servers for Magento. To install MariaDB, run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing MariaDB, the commands below can stop, start, and enable the service to start when the server boots.

Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

Run these on Ubuntu 17.10 and 18.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service
sudo systemctl enable mariadb.service

After that, run the commands below to secure the MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

• Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter
• Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
• New password: Enter password
• Re-enter new password: Repeat password
• Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y
• Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y
• Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y
• Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Restart MariaDB server

Type the commands below to log on to the MariaDB server to test if MariaDB is installed.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, type the password you created above to sign on. If successful, you should see a MariaDB welcome message.

Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories. To install it, you will have to get it from third-party repositories.

Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-sqlite3 php7.2-curl php7.2-intl php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-mysql php7.2-gd php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-ldap php7.2-apcu php7.2-zip

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Apache2.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini

Then, save the changes on the following lines below in the file. The value below is an ideal setting to apply in your environment.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
short_open_tag = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, please save the file and close it.

After installing PHP and related modules, you must restart Apache2 to reload PHP configurations.

To restart Apache2, run the commands below

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in the Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Then, type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file. Then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

Create Chamilo Database

Once you’ve installed all the packages required for Chamilo LMS to function, continue below to start configuring the servers. First,t run the commands below to create a blank Magento database.

To log on to the MariaDB database server, run the commands below.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, create a database called chamilo

CREATE DATABASE chamilo;

Create a database user called chamilouser with a new password

CREATE USER 'chamilouser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';

Then, grant the user full access to the database.

GRANT ALL ON chamilo.* TO 'chamilouser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Download and Install Chamilo LMS

Run the commands below to download Chamilo LMS content. Then, unzip the download file and move the content to the Apache2 default root directory.

cd /tmp && wget https://github.com/chamilo/chamilo-lms/releases/download/v1.11.6/chamilo-1.11.6-php7.zip
unzip chamilo-1.11.6-php7.zip
sudo mv chamilo-1.11.6 /var/www/html/chamilo

Next, run the commands below to change the root folder permissions.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/chamilo/
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/chamilo/

Configure Apache Chamilo LMS Site

Finally, configure the Apache2 configuration file for Chamilo LMS. This file will control how users access Chamilo LMS content. Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called Camilo. conf.

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

Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Replace the highlighted line with your domain name and directory root location.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin admin@example.com
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/chamilo
     ServerName example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/chamilo/>
          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 and exit.

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below.

Enable the Chamilo LMS Site and Rewrite Module

After configuring the VirtualHost above, please enable it by running the commands below, then restart the Apache2 server.

sudo a2ensite chamilo.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Next, open your browser, go to the URL, and continue with the installation.

http://example.com/

Start the setup wizard by clicking the Install Chamilo button. Next, select the installation language and continue.

Confirm that all the required packages are installed.

Your server must provide the following libraries to enable all features of Chamilo. The missing libraries in orange letters are optional, but some parts of Chamilo might be turned off if not installed. You can still install those libraries later on to enable the missing features.

When you’re ready, click New Installation.

Type in the site name and the database connection info.

Chamilo needs a single MySQL database with a user that can connect. They recommend that this is a user you have created just for Chamilo rather than one you share with other applications.

It would be best to make your database before entering the details here. If you’re using a shared host, you may have an option called “MySQL Database Wizard” to speed you through the process.

Create the admin account to complete the setup.

Enjoy!

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