Installing a LEMP (Linux, Nginx, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP)

Installing a LEMP (Linux, Nginx, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP) stack on a Linux server is a popular choice for hosting dynamic websites and web applications. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to install LEMP:

Step 1: Update Package Repositories

Before installing any software, it’s a good practice to update the package repositories to ensure you’re installing the latest versions of the software packages. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

For distributions other than Ubuntu, you may need to use a different package manager, such as yum for CentOS or dnf for Fedora.

Step 2: Install Nginx

Nginx is a lightweight and high-performance web server. Install it using the following command:

sudo apt install nginx

After installation, start the Nginx service and enable it to start on boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Step 3: Install MySQL/MariaDB

You can choose either MySQL or MariaDB as the database server. Install your preferred database server using one of the following commands: For MySQL:

sudo apt install mysql-server

For MariaDB:

sudo apt install mariadb-server

During the installation process, you’ll be prompted to set a root password for the database server. Follow the instructions to complete the installation. Start the MySQL or MariaDB service and enable it to start on boot:

sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo systemctl enable mysql

Step 4: Secure MySQL/MariaDB Installation (Optional but Recommended)

MySQL and MariaDB provide a script to secure the installation and set some security options. Run the following command and follow the instructions:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Step 5: Install PHP

PHP is a server-side scripting language used for dynamic web content. Install PHP along with common PHP extensions using the following command:

sudo apt install php-fpm php-mysql

Step 6: Configure Nginx to Use PHP

Nginx needs to be configured to pass PHP requests to the PHP processor. Open the default Nginx configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/default

Find the following block:

location ~ \.php$ {
include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php7.4-fpm.sock;
}

Uncomment these lines if necessary (remove the ‘#’ at the beginning of each line). Save and close the file, then restart Nginx for the changes to take effect:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 7: Test PHP Processing

Create a PHP test file in the Nginx document root directory to test PHP processing:

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

Add the following PHP code to the file:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Save and close the file. Now, you can access this file in a web browser by navigating to ‘http://your_server_ip/info.php’. You should see the PHP information page if PHP is configured correctly.

Step 8: Firewall Configuration

If you have a firewall enabled (such as UFW), you need to allow traffic on port 80 (HTTP) and, if necessary, port 443 (HTTPS):

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Step 9: Finalize Configuration

You have now successfully installed the LEMP stack on your server. You can now deploy your web applications or websites and configure Nginx server blocks as needed. Remember to regularly update your server’s software and follow security best practices to keep your LEMP stack secure and up-to-date.