Install a LAMP stack on Debian or Ubuntu-based distributions

This article describes how to install a LAMP (Linux®, Apache®, MySQL®, PHP) stack on your Debian® or Ubuntu® server. Linux is your operating system, and Apache is your web daemon, which serves information stored in your MySQL database through PHP scripting for your users. By the end of this article, you have a fully operational LAMP server, ready to serve multiple virtual hosts.

Prerequisites

You need to have the following prerequisites:

• Basic understanding of Secure Shell (SSH)
• Sudo or administrative access to your server
• A Cloud Server with Ubuntu 16.04 or later or Debian 9 or later

IMPORTANT: Before moving forward with the LAMP installation, ensure that you’ve applied system updates to ensure you’re installing the latest versions of the LAMP components.

Install the LAMP stack

Log in to your server by using SSH and then complete the steps in the following sections for your preferred setup method.

One-line command method

Use the following steps for the one-line command method:

1. Use the following one-line command for an expedient set up of your LAMP stack on your server:

    sudo sh -c "apt install apache2 mysql-server php -y; systemctl start mysql && mysql_secure_installation && systemctl restart mysql && systemctl start apache2 && systemctl enable apache2 && systemctl enable mysql && ufw allow http && ufw allow https"
   

2. Provide answers to the following system prompts:

   IMPORTANT: During the initial setup, MySQL provides the option to use the VALIDATE PASSWORD plug-in, which allows you to set acceptable password parameters based on length and complexity. If you want to enable this feature, select YES and choose the level of security to implement.

   • Set root password: Make your choice a strong and secure password.
   • Do you wish to continue with the password provided?: Only shows if you implemented the VALIDATE PASSWORD plug-in.
   • Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Select Yes.
   • Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Select Yes.
   • Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]: Select Yes.
   • Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]: Select Yes.

The installation is complete. To test it, browse to https://serverIpAddress/.

Individual commands method

If you prefer to install the LAMP stack by using discrete steps instead of by using the one-line command, perform the following steps:

1. Run the following command to install the necessary packages:

   apt install apache2 mysql-server php -y
   

2. Run the following command to start and secure the MySQL server:

   sudo sh -c "systemctl start mysql && mysql_secure_installation"
   

3. Provide answers to the following system prompts:

   IMPORTANT: During the initial setup, MySQL provides the option to use the VALIDATE PASSWORD plug-in, which allows you to set acceptable password parameters based on length and complexity. If you want to enable this feature, select YES and choose the level of security to implement.

   • Set root password: You decide, but make it secure.
   • Do you wish to continue with the password provided?: Only shows if you implemented the VALIDATE PASSWORD plug-in.
   • Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Select Yes.
   • Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Select Yes.
   • Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]: Select Yes.
   • Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]: Select Yes.

4. Run the following command to restart mysqld, start httpd, and configure httpd and mysqld to start on boot.

   sudo sh -c "systemctl restart mysql && systemctl start apache2 && systemctl enable apache2 && systemctl enable mysql"
   

5. Allow web traffic through the firewall:

   sudo sh -c "ufw allow http && ufw allow https"
   

   This command allows port 80 (web) and port 443 (secure web) inbound traffic through the firewall, and saves the rule for reboots.

The installation is complete. To test it, browse to https://serverIpAddress/.