Installing WordPress on Contabo VPS Without cPanel

Last Updated on: 23rd October 2023, 03:12 pm

WordPress is a versatile Content Management System (CMS) used by millions of websites globally. Hosting WordPress on a Virtual Private Server (VPS) provides benefits such as improved performance, flexibility, and better control.

Contabo is a prominent VPS provider known for its high-quality services. This guide will walk you through installing WordPress on your Contabo VPS without the use of cPanel.

Prerequisites:

1. A Contabo VPS
2. An SSH client (like PuTTY)
3. Basic knowledge of Linux commands

Step-by-Step Guide to Install WordPress on Contabo VPS

1. Log in to your Contabo VPS

Firstly, you need to remotely access your VPS via SSH (Secure Shell). Use your SSH client to connect using your VPS’s IP address and your root password, both provided by Contabo.

2. Update Your System

Once you are logged in, it’s advised to update your system to ensure it’s in top shape. You can do this using the following commands.

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

For CentOS:

sudo yum -y update

3. Install LAMP Stack

LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. WordPress requires these to function correctly. Install each component as follows.

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt-get install apache2 php mysql-server php-mysql

For CentOS:

sudo yum install httpd php mysql-server php-mysql

Start and enable the services:

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo systemctl enable mysql

4. Create a MySQL Database:

WordPress stores data like posts, users, and settings in a database. Create a new MySQL database and user.

mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE wordpress_db;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress_db.* TO 'wordpress_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Remember to change ‘wordpress_db’, ‘wordpress_user’, and ‘password’ to your preferred database name, username, and password, respectively.

5. Install WordPress

Download the latest WordPress version using wget and extract it.

wget https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz
tar -xvzf latest.tar.gz

Move the WordPress files to the Apache directory:

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo mv wordpress/* /var/www/html/

For CentOS:

sudo mv wordpress/* /var/www/your-directory

6. Configure WordPress

To finalize the WordPress installation, visit your browser and enter your VPS IP address. You’ll see the WordPress installation wizard. Follow the steps, entering your previously set database information, and then filling out the site details.

In your web browser, navigate to http://your-server’s-IP and you should see the WordPress installation wizard.

• Select the language you prefer for your WordPress dashboard, then click “Continue”.
• On the welcome page, click “Let’s go!”.
• Fill in the Database name, Username, and Password with the details created in Step 4 and click “Submit”.
• On the next page, click “Run the installation”.
• In the “Welcome to the WordPress” section, fill in the details for the site’s Title, Username, Password, and Email, then click “Install WordPress”.

Finishing off

Now that WordPress is successfully installed on your Contabo VPS, you can start developing your website. Familiarize yourself with the WordPress dashboard, customizing themes, creating posts, and managing plugins.