This article describes the steps to install and use Concrete5 on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.
Concrete5 is a popular open-source content management system based on PHP. It is designed to allow webmasters and users to create powerful and dynamic content websites.
Concrete5 might be a good place to start if you’re looking for a WordPress alternative. However, you may be surprised to find unattainable features for WordPress users.
This post covers installing the latest version of Concrete5, which at the time of writing is version 8.2.1
How to install Concrete5 on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.
As described above, Concrete5 is a popular and widely used open-source content management system based on PHP. It is designed to allow webmasters and users to create powerful and dynamic content websites.
Below is how to install and use it on Ubuntu Linux.
Install Apache
Concrete5 requires a web server, and the most popular web server in use today is Apache. So, go and install Apache on Ubuntu by running the commands below:
sudo apt update sudo apt install apache2
Next, run the commands below to 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
Install MariaDB
Concrete5 also requires a database server, and MariaDB is a great place to start when looking for an open-source database server.
To install it, run the commands below.
sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client
After installing, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable the MariaDB service always to start up when the server boots.
sudo systemctl stop mysql.service sudo systemctl start mysql.service sudo systemctl enable mysql.service
After that, run the commands below to secure the MariaDB server.
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
Install PHP and Related Modules
PHP 7.1 isn’t available on Ubuntu default repositories…isn’tnstall 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 7.1
sudo apt-get install software-properties-common sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.1
sudo apt update
Run the commands below to install PHP 7.1 FPM and related modules.
sudo apt install php7.1 libapache2-mod-php7.1 php7.1-common php7.1-mbstring php7.1-xmlrpc php7.1-soap php7.1-gd php7.1-xml php7.1-intl php7.1-mysql php7.1-cli php7.1-mcrypt php7.1-zip php7.1-curl
After installing PHP, run the commands below to open the Apache2 PHP default file.
sudo nano /etc/php/7.1/apache2/php.ini
Then change to the following lines below in the file and save.
file_uploads = On allow_url_fopen = On memory_limit = 256M upload_max_filesize = 64M
Create Concrete5 Database
Now that you’ve installed all the packages that are requyou’vecontinue below to start configuring the servers.
First, run the commands below to create the Concrete5 database.
Run the commands below to log on to the database server. When prompted for a password, type the root password you created above.
sudo mysql -u root -p
Then create a database called concrete5
CREATE DATABASE concrete5;
Create a database user called concrete5user with a new password
CREATE USER 'concrete5user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';
Then grant the user full access to the database.
GRANT ALL ON concrete5.* TO 'concrete5user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;
Finally, save your changes and exit.
FLUSH PRIVILEGES; EXIT;
Download Concrete5 Latest Release
Next, visit the Concrete5 site and download the latest version. After downloading, run the commands below to extract the download file into the Apache root directory.
cd /tmp && wget --trust-server-names http://www.concrete5.org/download_file/-/view/96959/ -O concrete5.zip unzip concrete5.zip sudo mv concrete5-8.2.1 /var/www/html/concrete5
Then run the commands below to set the correct permissions for Concrete5 to function.
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/concrete5/ sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/concrete5/
Configure Apache
Finally, configure the Apahce2 virtual host configuration file for Concrete5. This file will control how users access Concrete5 content.
Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called concrete5.conf
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/concrete5.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/concrete5/
ServerName example.com
ServerAlias www.example.com
<Directory /var/www/html/concrete5/>
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.
Enable the Concrete5 and Rewrite Module
After configuring the virtual host file above, please enable it by running the commands below.
sudo a2ensite concrete5.conf sudo a2enmod rewrite
Restart Apache2 by running the commands below to load all the settings above.
sudo systemctl restart apache2.service
Next, open your browser and browse to the server domain name, followed by install. Finally, you should see the Concrete5 setup wizard complete.
Please follow the wizard carefully.
http://example.com
Then confirm all the requirements are met.
Finally, enter your site info and the database connection settings and click Install Concrete5 to complete
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Concrete5 on the You’ve server.
