How to Install LEMP Stack on Ubuntu Server

Introduction

The LEMP stack is a powerful combination of open-source software that is widely used to host websites and web applications. LEMP stands for Linux, Nginx, MySQL (or MariaDB), and PHP. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the installation and configuration of a LEMP stack on an Ubuntu server.

Each component of the LEMP stack plays a crucial role in web hosting:

Linux (Ubuntu): The operating system that provides the foundation for your web server.
Nginx: A high-performance web server that handles HTTP requests and serves web content.
MySQL or MariaDB: A relational database management system that stores and manages your website's data.
PHP: A server-side scripting language that processes dynamic content and interacts with the database.

By the end of this tutorial, you will have a fully functional LEMP stack on your Ubuntu server, ready to host websites and web applications.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following:

An Ubuntu server (18.04 LTS or later) with SSH access. You should be logged in as a user with sudo privileges.
A domain name or a static IP address for your server.

Now, let's proceed with the installation.

Step 1: Update Your System

First, log in to your Ubuntu server and update the package list to ensure you have the latest information about available packages:

sudo apt update

Then, upgrade the installed packages to their latest versions:

sudo apt upgrade

This ensures that your server is up-to-date with the latest security patches and software updates.

Step 2: Install Nginx

Nginx is a powerful and lightweight web server that will serve your web content. Install it using the following command:

sudo apt install nginx

After the installation is complete, you can start the Nginx service and enable it to start on boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx

sudo systemctl enable nginx

To test if Nginx is running, open a web browser and enter your server's IP address or domain name. You should see the default Nginx welcome page.

Step 3: Configure Nginx Server Blocks

In Nginx, server blocks (also known as virtual hosts) allow you to host multiple websites or applications on a single server. Let's create a server block configuration for your website:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourwebsite.com

Inside this file, you can configure your server block. Here's a basic example:


    server {
        listen 80;
        server_name yourwebsite.com www.yourwebsite.com;
        root /var/www/yourwebsite.com/html;
        index index.php index.html index.htm;
    
        location / {
            try_files $uri $uri/ =404;
        }
    
        location ~ \.php$ {
            include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
            fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php7.4-fpm.sock;
        }
    
        location ~ /\.ht {
            deny all;
        }
    }

Make sure to replace "yourwebsite.com" with your domain name and adjust the file paths accordingly. Save the file and create a symbolic link to enable the server block:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/yourwebsite.com /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

Test the Nginx configuration for any syntax errors:

sudo nginx -t

If the test is successful, reload Nginx to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl reload nginx

Step 4: Install MySQL or MariaDB

MySQL and MariaDB are both robust relational database management systems commonly used in web development. In this tutorial, we'll cover the installation of MySQL. If you prefer to use MariaDB, the installation process is quite similar.

Installation:
To install MySQL, open your terminal and run the following command:
```
sudo apt install mysql-server
```
This command will initiate the installation process. During the installation, you will be prompted to set a root password for the MySQL server. Make sure to choose a strong and secure password. Remember this password; you'll need it later to administer your MySQL server.
Start MySQL:
After the installation is complete, start the MySQL service with the following command:
```
sudo systemctl start mysql
```
Enable Auto-Start:
To ensure that MySQL starts automatically whenever your server reboots, enable it with this command:
```
sudo systemctl enable mysql
```
Secure Your MySQL Installation:
It's crucial to secure your MySQL installation by running the MySQL Secure Installation script:
```
sudo mysql_secure_installation
```
This script will guide you through various security settings:
- You'll be asked if you want to enable the "VALIDATE PASSWORD" plugin. It's recommended to choose "Y" for yes and follow the prompts to set a secure password policy.
- Remove anonymous users: Answer "Y" to remove any anonymous MySQL users.
- Disallow root login remotely: Answer "Y" to prevent the root user from logging in remotely.
- Remove the test database and access to it: Answer "Y" to remove the test database and access to it, which is used for testing purposes.
- Reload privilege tables: Answer "Y" to apply the changes and reload the privilege tables.
Your MySQL installation is now secure.
Testing MySQL:
To verify that MySQL is working correctly, you can log in to the MySQL server with the following command:
```
sudo mysql -u root -p
```
You will be prompted to enter the root password you set during installation. If you successfully log in, you'll have access to the MySQL command-line interface.

Step 5: Install PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language that enables dynamic content on your website. Install PHP along with necessary extensions:

sudo apt install php-fpm php-mysql

After installation, configure PHP-FPM, which stands for FastCGI Process Manager:

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

Inside the php.ini file, locate the following lines and make sure they are set as follows:


    file_uploads = On
    
    memory_limit = 128M
    
    upload_max_filesize = 32M
    
    post_max_size = 48M

Save the file and exit the text editor.

Now, restart the PHP-FPM service to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart php8.1-fpm

Step 6: Create a PHP Info Page

To test if PHP is working correctly, create a PHP info page. In your website's root directory (e.g., /var/www/yourwebsite.com/html), create a new file named info.php:

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

Add the following content to the file:

  
    <?php
    phpinfo();
    ?>

Save the file and exit the text editor. You can now access this page in your web browser by visiting http://yourwebsite.com/info.php. It will display detailed information about your PHP configuration.

Step 7: Test Your LEMP Stack

With all components in place, it's time to test your LEMP stack. Open a web browser and enter your domain name (e.g., http://yourwebsite.com). You should see a default Nginx page if everything is set up correctly.

To test PHP, navigate to the PHP info page you created earlier (http://yourwebsite.com/info.php). It should display PHP configuration details.

Finally, you can test database connectivity by creating a sample PHP script that connects to your MySQL (or MariaDB) database and retrieves data.

Additional Configuration and Optimization

Your LEMP stack is now up and running, but there's more you can do to optimize and secure it:

Secure Nginx: Configure Nginx to use SSL/TLS certificates for encrypted connections, and set up security headers to protect against common web vulnerabilities.
Database Security: Implement security best practices for your MySQL or MariaDB installation, including setting strong passwords, restricting user privileges, and regularly backing up your databases.
PHP Settings: Fine-tune your PHP configuration based on your application's requirements. Adjust PHP memory limits, execution times, and other settings as needed.
Monitoring and Backup: Implement server monitoring tools and set up regular backups to ensure the reliability and availability of your website.

Additionally, consider exploring advanced topics such as deploying web applications, setting up a content management system (CMS), or implementing a caching mechanism to further enhance the performance of your LEMP stack.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully set up a LEMP stack on your Ubuntu server. You now have a robust platform to host websites and web applications. Remember that the LEMP stack is highly customizable, and you can adapt it to suit your specific project requirements.

As you continue to explore the world of web development and server administration, don't forget to stay updated with security best practices and regularly maintain your server to ensure its smooth operation and security.

If you encounter any issues or have questions along the way, the online communities and documentation for Linux, Nginx, MySQL, and PHP are valuable resources to assist you.

Thank you for following this tutorial. We hope it has been a helpful guide on your journey to mastering the LEMP stack. Happy hosting!