How to Install GetSimple CMS with Apache on Ubuntu Linux

This article explains installing GetSimple CMS with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux.

GetSimple CMS is an open-source, flat-file content management system (CMS) with an easy-to-use interface for creating great websites and blogs.

Installing GetSimple CMS with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux provides users with a lightweight and easy-to-use content management system that does not require a database server. It is a flat-file CMS that offers native markdown WYSIWYG support, SEO-friendly, flexible CSS framework, and easy installation and management.

Additionally, it offers features that may not be available to other PHP-based CMS, like WordPress, Joomla, or Drupal. Following the steps outlined in the tutorial, users can easily install GetSimple CMS on Ubuntu 16.04 / 17.10 and 18.04 LTS with Apache2 and PHP 7.2 support.

For more about GetSimple, please check out its homepage.

When you’re ready to get GetSimple working, continue with the steps below:

Install Apache2 HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server. Install it since GetSimple 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 PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories for some systems. You will have to get it from third-party repositories if you need it.

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-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-soap php7.2-gd php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-curl 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
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.

Download GetSimple Latest Release

Next, visit the GetSimple site and download the latest package. Or run the commands below to download GetSimplepckages.

After downloading, run the commands below to extract the downloaded file and move it into a new GetSimple CMS root directory.

cd /tmp && wget http://get-simple.info/data/uploads/releases/GetSimpleCMS-3.3.13.zip
sudo mkdir /var/www/html/getsimple
sudo unzip GetSimpleCMS-3.3.13.zip -d /var/www/html/getsimple

Then, run the commands below to set the correct permissions for GetSimple to function correctly.

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

Configure Apache GetSimple Site

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

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/getsimple.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 [email protected]
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/getsimple
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/getsimple/>
          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 GetSimple Site and Rewrite Module

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

sudo a2ensite getsimple.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite

Restart Apache2

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Next, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address. You should see the GetSimple page.

http://example.com/admin

Create the site name and admin account. Click Install Now!

That’s it!

Enjoy!