Install a LAMP Stack on Ubuntu

What LAMP is

LAMP is a set of free software for web servers: Linux, Apache, MySQL (or MariaDB) and PHP. It runs many websites, including WordPress.

Requirements

• An Ubuntu LTS server.
• A non-root user with sudo rights.
• An internet connection.

Step 1: Install Apache

Update the package list and install Apache:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

Start it and make it start at boot:

sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2

Check that it runs:

sudo systemctl status apache2

You should see active (running).

Test Apache. Open http://your_server_ip in your browser. The Apache default page appears. If you use UFW, allow web traffic first: sudo ufw allow "Apache Full".

Step 2: Install MySQL

sudo apt install mysql-server

The service starts by itself. Run the security script:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

It asks you to set a password policy, remove anonymous users, disallow remote root login and remove the test database. Say yes to the questions that you understand.

Log in to check it:

sudo mysql

Leave with exit.

Step 3: Install PHP

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Check the PHP version:

php -v

Step 4: Test PHP

Create a test file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

Add:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Open http://your_server_ip/info.php. You should see the PHP information page. Delete the file after the test:

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

Next steps

• Create a database and a user for your site.
• Set up an Apache virtual host for each domain.
• Add an SSL certificate with Let's Encrypt (sudo certbot --apache).

Quick recap

• apache2, mysql-server and php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql make the stack.
• Run mysql_secure_installation.
• Test with a phpinfo() page and delete it afterwards.