How To Install Joomla on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Joomla is a powerful and versatile content management system (CMS) that allows you to create and manage dynamic websites with ease. When combined with the robust and reliable Ubuntu 24.04 server, you have a solid foundation for your web projects. This guide will walk you through the process of installing Joomla on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring you have a fully functional and secure website up and running in no time.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the installation process, let’s ensure you have everything you need to get started:

• A server running Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long Term Support)
• Root access or a user with sudo privileges
• A domain name pointed to your server’s IP address
• Minimum of 1GB RAM (2GB or more recommended)
• At least 20GB of disk space
• Basic familiarity with the Linux command line

Having these prerequisites in place will ensure a smooth installation process and optimal performance for your Joomla website.

Preparing the Ubuntu 24.04 Server

The first step in our journey is to prepare the Ubuntu 24.04 server for Joomla installation. This involves updating the system, installing necessary dependencies, and configuring the firewall.

Update and Upgrade the System

Start by updating the package lists and upgrading installed packages to their latest versions:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Required Dependencies

Next, install some essential packages that Joomla and its components will need:

sudo apt install wget unzip -y

Configure the Firewall

If you’re using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall), ensure it allows HTTP and HTTPS traffic:

sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
sudo ufw enable

Installing and Configuring the LAMP Stack

Joomla requires a web server, a database, and PHP to function. We’ll use the popular LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack for this purpose.

Install Apache Web Server

Apache is a reliable and widely-used web server. Install it with the following command:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

After installation, start and enable Apache to run on system boot:

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2

Install MySQL Database Server

MySQL will serve as the database backend for Joomla. Install it using:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Secure your MySQL installation by running the security script:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set a root password and remove insecure default settings.

Install PHP and Required Modules

Joomla is built on PHP, so we need to install PHP and several modules it requires:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-xml php-gd php-curl php-mbstring php-zip php-intl -y

Test the LAMP Stack Installation

To ensure everything is working correctly, create a test PHP file:

echo "" | sudo tee /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Now, visit http://your_server_ip/phpinfo.php in your web browser. If you see a page with PHP information, your LAMP stack is functioning correctly. Remember to remove this file after testing for security reasons:

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

Creating a MySQL Database for Joomla

Joomla needs a database to store its content and configuration. Let’s create one using MySQL:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Once you’re in the MySQL shell, run the following commands:

CREATE DATABASE joomla_db;
CREATE USER 'joomla_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON joomla_db.* TO 'joomla_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace ‘strong_password‘ with a secure password of your choice.

Downloading and Extracting Joomla

Now that our server environment is ready, let’s download and set up Joomla:

cd /tmp
wget https://downloads.joomla.org/cms/joomla5/5-2-0/Joomla_5-2-0-Stable-Full_Package.zip
unzip Joomla_5-2-0-Stable-Full_Package.zip -d /var/www/html/joomla
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/joomla
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/joomla

This downloads the latest stable version of Joomla, extracts it to the web root, and sets the correct ownership and permissions.

Configuring Apache for Joomla

To serve your Joomla site, we need to create an Apache virtual host configuration:

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

Add the following content to the file:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName your_domain.com
    ServerAlias www.your_domain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/joomla

    <Directory /var/www/html/joomla>
        Options FollowSymlinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/joomla_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/joomla_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Replace ‘your_domain.com‘ with your actual domain name. Save and close the file, then enable the new configuration and restart Apache:

sudo a2ensite joomla.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Running the Joomla Web Installer

With everything in place, it’s time to run the Joomla web installer:

1. Open your web browser and navigate to http://your_domain.com
2. You’ll be greeted by the Joomla installation page. Select your language and click “Next”.
3. Fill in the site information, including the site name and description.
4. Create an admin account with a strong password.
5. In the database configuration section, enter the details for the MySQL database we created earlier:
   • Database Type: MySQLi
   • Host Name: localhost
   • Username: joomla_user
   • Password: The password you set earlier
   • Database Name: joomla_db
6. Review the final configuration and click “Install” to complete the process.

Post-Installation Tasks

After the installation is complete, there are a few important tasks to perform:

Remove the Installation Directory

For security reasons, remove the installation directory:

sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/joomla/installation

Configure SEF URLs

To enable Search Engine Friendly (SEF) URLs, rename the htaccess file:

sudo mv /var/www/html/joomla/htaccess.txt /var/www/html/joomla/.htaccess

Then, log in to your Joomla admin panel, go to System → Global Configuration → SEO Settings, and enable “Search Engine Friendly URLs” and “Use URL Rewriting”.

Securing Your Joomla Installation

Security should be a top priority for any website. Here are some steps to enhance your Joomla site’s security:

Implement SSL/TLS Encryption

Use Let’s Encrypt to obtain a free SSL certificate:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y
sudo certbot --apache -d your_domain.com -d www.your_domain.com

Follow the prompts to configure HTTPS for your site.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication

In the Joomla admin panel, go to Users → Manage → Your User Account → Two Factor Authentication, and set up an additional layer of security for admin logins.

Regular Updates and Backups

Keep Joomla, its extensions, and your server software up to date. Implement a regular backup strategy to protect your site’s data.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful installation, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems:

Database Connection Errors

If you see database connection errors, double-check your database credentials in the configuration.php file located in your Joomla root directory.

Permission-Related Problems

Ensure that file permissions are set correctly. The web server should be able to read and write to the Joomla directories:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/joomla
sudo find /var/www/html/joomla -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
sudo find /var/www/html/joomla -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

PHP Configuration Issues

If you encounter PHP-related errors, check your PHP configuration file (php.ini) and ensure that all required modules are enabled and configured correctly.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Joomla. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing Joomla with LAMP on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the Joomla website.