How To Install Zen Cart on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Zen Cart is a renowned open-source e-commerce platform trusted by numerous online store owners worldwide. Combining flexibility with robust features, Zen Cart allows you to create and manage your online store with ease. Ubuntu 24.04, known for its stability and performance, serves as an excellent operating system to host Zen Cart. This guide provides a detailed, step-by-step process to install Zen Cart on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring a smooth setup for your e-commerce venture.

Prerequisites and System Requirements

Before diving into the installation process, it’s essential to ensure that your system meets the necessary prerequisites and system requirements. This preparation ensures a seamless installation and optimal performance of your Zen Cart store.

Hardware Requirements

• Minimum RAM: 1 GB
• Recommended RAM: 3 GB or more
• Minimum Storage: 5 GB
• Recommended Storage: 25 GB or more

Software Requirements

• Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04
• LAMP Stack: Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP
• Supported PHP Versions: PHP 8.1 or higher
• Required PHP Extensions: `mysqli`, `curl`, `gd`, `mbstring`, `xml`, `zip`

User Privileges

A non-root user with sudo privileges is required to perform the installation tasks securely.

Domain Name

Having a registered domain name is crucial for your online store. It not only enhances your store’s professionalism but also aids in SEO optimization.

Update and Prepare the Ubuntu System

Starting with an updated system ensures that all packages are current, minimizing compatibility issues during installation.

Update System Packages

Execute the following commands to update your system’s package list and upgrade existing packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Essential Utilities

Installing utilities like wget and unzip is necessary for downloading and extracting Zen Cart files:

sudo apt install wget unzip -y

Install Apache Web Server

Apache is a reliable and widely-used web server that will serve your Zen Cart application to users.

Installation

Run the following command to install Apache:

sudo apt install apache2 -y

Verification

Ensure that Apache is installed and running correctly:

sudo systemctl status apache2

Enable Apache on Boot

To ensure Apache starts automatically on system boot:

sudo systemctl enable apache2

Install PHP and Required Extensions

PHP is the backbone of Zen Cart, handling server-side scripting and dynamic content generation.

Installation

Install PHP along with necessary extensions using the following command:

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

Verify PHP Installation

Check the installed PHP version to ensure compatibility:

php -v

Configure PHP Settings

Adjust PHP configurations to meet Zen Cart’s requirements. Open the PHP configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/php/8.1/apache2/php.ini

Modify the following settings as needed:

• memory_limit: Increase to at least 256M
• upload_max_filesize: Set to 50M or higher
• post_max_size: Set to 50M or higher

Save and close the file, then restart Apache to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Set Up MySQL Database for Zen Cart

A dedicated MySQL database is essential for storing your Zen Cart store’s data, including products, orders, and customer information.

Install MySQL Server

Install MySQL using the following command:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Secure MySQL Installation

Run the security script to enhance MySQL’s security:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set up a root password, remove anonymous users, disallow root login remotely, remove the test database, and reload the privilege tables.

Create Database and User

Log in to the MySQL shell to create a new database and user for Zen Cart:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Within the MySQL shell, execute the following commands:

CREATE DATABASE zencart;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON zencart.* TO 'zencartuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_secure_password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Ensure you replace 'your_secure_password' with a strong password.

Download and Extract Zen Cart Files

Obtain the latest Zen Cart files from the official repository to ensure you have the most recent features and security updates.

Download Zen Cart

Use wget to download the Zen Cart package:

wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/zencart/files/latest/download -O zencart.zip

Extract the Files

Extract the downloaded ZIP file:

unzip zencart.zip -d zencart

Move Files to Web Root

Transfer the Zen Cart files to the Apache web root directory:

sudo mv zencart /var/www/html/zencart

Configure File Permissions

Proper file permissions are critical for the security and functionality of your Zen Cart installation.

Set Ownership

Assign ownership of the Zen Cart files to the Apache user:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/zencart/

Adjust Permissions

Set appropriate file permissions to restrict unauthorized access:

sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/zencart/

This ensures that the owner has full access while others have read and execute permissions.

Configure Apache for Zen Cart

Apache needs to be configured to recognize and serve your Zen Cart application correctly.

Create a Virtual Host Configuration

Generate a new Apache configuration file for Zen Cart:

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

Insert the following configuration, replacing your-domain.com and admin@your-domain.com with your actual domain and admin email:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName your-domain.com
    ServerAdmin admin@your-domain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/zencart

    <Directory /var/www/html/zencart>
        Options -Indexes +FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable the Site and Rewrite Module

Activate the new site configuration and enable Apache’s rewrite module:

sudo a2ensite zencart.conf

sudo a2enmod rewrite

Restart Apache

Apply the changes by restarting Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Complete Installation via Web Interface

With the server-side setup complete, the final step is to finalize Zen Cart’s installation through its web-based interface.

Access the Installer

Open your web browser and navigate to http://your-domain.com/zc_install. This URL initiates the Zen Cart installation wizard.

Follow the Installer Prompts

1. Welcome Page: Click on “CLICK HERE to begin installation” to proceed.
2. System Inspection:The installer checks your server for necessary configurations. Ensure all checks pass before moving forward. If any issues are highlighted, address them accordingly.
3. License Agreement: Accept the license terms to continue.
4. Database Configuration:Enter the database details you set up earlier:
   • Database Name: zencart
   • Database User: zencartuser
   • Database Password: your_secure_password
5. Store Configuration:Set up your store’s administrative details, including admin username, password, and contact email.
6. Demo Data (Optional): Choose to load demo data if you want a sample store layout.
7. Finalize Installation: Complete the installation and proceed.

Remove Installation Directory

For security purposes, delete the installation directory after successful setup:

sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/zencart/zc_install/

Post-installation Configuration

Enhancing the security and performance of your Zen Cart store ensures a trustworthy shopping environment for your customers.

Secure the Admin Panel

Rename the admin folder to prevent unauthorized access:

mv /var/www/html/zencart/admin /var/www/html/zencart/custom_admin_folder_name/

Set Up HTTPS with SSL Certificates

Implement SSL to secure data transmission between your server and clients:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y

sudo certbot --apache

Follow the prompts to obtain and install the SSL certificate.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Encountering issues during installation is common. Here are solutions to some frequent problems:

Permissions Errors

If you face permission-related errors, verify the ownership and permissions of the Zen Cart files:

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

Database Connection Issues

Should there be trouble connecting to the database, double-check the credentials in the includes/configure.php file:

DB_SERVER
DB_SERVER_USERNAME
DB_SERVER_PASSWORD
DB_DATABASE

Apache Errors

Review the Apache error logs to identify and resolve server-related issues:

sudo tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Zen Cart. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing Zen Cart e-Commerce on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Zen Cart website.