LAMP is an acronym for Linux (Ubuntu), Apache2, MySQL (MariaDB) and PHP… It’s a stack of open source applications typically installed together to create dynamic and powerful websites… WordPress, Drupal and few other content management systems use LAMP…

With PHP 7.1 now readily available and supported, you can now use the LAMP stack to improve your websites and blogs… For those who are new and want to learn how to install LAMP with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS server, the steps below should be a great starting point.

This brief tutorial is going to show students and new users how to install Ubuntu 16.04 LT with Apache2, MariaDB and PHP 7.1 support, or the LAMP Stack.

To get started with installing LAMP, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Install Apache2 HTTP Server

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server in use today and member of the LAMP stack.. So, go and install Apache2 on Ubuntu by running the commands below:

sudo apt install apache2

Next, run the commands below to stop, start and enable Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

After installing Apache2, open your browser and browse to the server name or IP address…

ex.. http://localhost

You should see Apache2 default test page.

Step 2: Install MariaDB Database Server

MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open source database server… Although MySQL was originally the default database server, MariaDB has taken over.. To install it run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

After that, run the commands below to secure MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

• Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter
• Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
• New password: Enter password
• Re-enter new password: Repeat password
• Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y
• Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y
• Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y
• Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Restart MariaDB server

sudo systemctl restart mysql.service

To test if MariaDB is installed, type the commands below to logon to MariaDB server

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then type the password you created above to sign on… if successful, you should see MariaDB welcome message

Step 3: Install PHP 7.1 and Related Modules

PHP 7.1 isn’t available on Ubuntu default repositories… in order to install it, you will have to get it from third-party repositories.

Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.1

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.1

sudo apt update

Run the commands below to install PHP 7.1 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.1 libapache2-mod-php7.1 php7.1-common php7.1-mbstring php7.1-xmlrpc php7.1-soap php7.1-gd php7.1-xml php7.1-intl php7.1-mysql php7.1-cli php7.1-mcrypt php7.1-zip php7.1-curl

After install PHP 7.1, run the commands below to open Apache2 PHP default file.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.1/apache2/php.ini

Then make the changes on the following lines below in the file and save. The value below are great settings to apply in your environments.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, save the file and close out.

To test, create a phpinfo.php file in Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

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

Then type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file.. then browse to your server hostname followed by phpinfo.php

ex. http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see PHP default test page…

That’s it!

This is how to install LAMP with Ubuntu 16.04 LTS Server

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