How To Install WordPress On A VPS

Before You Order

You need a domain you can point at the server and comfort working over SSH. Check WordPress’s current server requirements for the supported PHP and database versions.

For a single site with moderate traffic, a small plan is a reasonable start. Choose more memory for WooCommerce, page builders, or many plugins, and more storage for large media libraries.

• Have access to your domain’s DNS settings.
• Choose Ubuntu as the operating system when you order.
• Decide where encrypted backups will live outside the server.

Install Apache, PHP, And MariaDB

Sign in over SSH with the login details under Settings & Access, update the server, then install the web server, PHP with the extensions WordPress uses, and the database server.

Run mariadb-secure-installation afterwards to remove test databases and anonymous users.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y apache2 mariadb-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-curl php-gd php-mbstring php-xml php-zip php-intl
sudo mariadb-secure-installation

Create The Database And Install WordPress

Create a dedicated database and user for WordPress, with a strong password that you keep out of shared notes and chat.

Download WordPress from wordpress.org into your web root, give the web server ownership of it, then open your site in a browser and complete the installer with the database details.

sudo mariadb -e "CREATE DATABASE wordpress; CREATE USER 'wordpress'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'use-a-strong-password'; GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON wordpress.* TO 'wordpress'@'localhost'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES;"

Connect Your Domain With HTTPS

Point an A record for your domain at the server’s IPv4 address, and an AAAA record at its IPv6 address if you use IPv6. Wait for DNS to resolve, then request a free certificate with Certbot’s Apache plugin, which also sets up automatic renewal.

After HTTPS works, set the WordPress Address and Site Address to the https:// version of your domain under Settings, General.

sudo apt install -y certbot python3-certbot-apache
sudo certbot --apache -d example.com -d www.example.com

Keep Your Site Fast, Updated, And Recoverable

Keep WordPress, themes, and plugins updated, and remove plugins you don’t use. Most WordPress vulnerabilities are found in plugins. A caching plugin reduces the work your server does for each visit.

Back up both the database and the wp-content folder, which holds uploads, themes, and plugins. Keep copies off the server and test a restore. You maintain WordPress, the web stack, and backups; HostVon provides the server, its controls, and billing.