Hey there, fellow developer! Getting ready to deploy WordPress on your Virtuozzo VPS? I get it. I’ve been there, and let me tell you – it can be tricky. In this guide, I’ll show you how to do it quickly, efficiently, and without too much headache (well, almost 😉). We’ll go through all the steps, from server preparation to launching your first post. Grab your favorite drink, find a comfortable chair, and let’s get started! Let’s go!
First, we need to prepare our Virtuozzo VPS. This means updating the system, checking resources, and most importantly, creating a user with limited privileges. You don’t want to deal with the consequences later, do you? Trust me on this one… I’ve spent a lot of time debugging after forgetting this step.
Now let’s add the user to the www-data group. This is necessary for the web server to correctly work with WordPress files. It’s simple, but many forget it. Ugh, this part always trips people up.
sudo usermod -a -G www-data wordpressuser
su - wordpressuser
After executing these commands, switch to the new user using the command su - wordpressuser. All further actions will be performed on its behalf. This is a key point for security!
The choice is yours: Nginx or Apache. I personally prefer Nginx – it’s faster and more elegant, but Apache is also a great option. In this guide, we’ll use Nginx. Let’s get this party started!
Let’s check if Nginx started: sudo systemctl status nginx. It should output something like «active (running)». If not – look for the error in the logs: sudo cat /var/log/nginx/error.log. Yeah, this error message sucks, but we’ll handle it!
Now let’s add a virtual host for your domain. For example, myblog.com. Let’s edit the Nginx configuration file: sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/myblog.com.
server {
listen 80;
listen [::]:80;
server_name myblog.com www.myblog.com;
root /var/www/html/myblog.com;
index index.php index.html index.htm;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$args;
}
location ~ \.php$ {
include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php8.1-fpm.sock; # Replace with your PHP version
}
}
Don’t forget to replace /var/www/html/myblog.com with the correct path. After saving, activate the configuration and restart Nginx:
Now let’s install PHP and MySQL. It’s important to choose a PHP version compatible with WordPress. Currently, 8.1 or higher is recommended. But again, check the WordPress requirements on their official website.
After installing MySQL, you need to set a password for the root user. This is crucial for security! Never skip this step!
sudo mysql_secure_installation
Follow the instructions that appear on the screen. Create a database for WordPress and a user with the necessary privileges. Write down the data – you’ll need it later.
Let’s check if everything is working as it should. Let’s start php-fpm:
Time for the moment of truth! Download WordPress from the official website. Place it in the folder we specified in the Nginx configuration. In our example, it’s /var/www/html/myblog.com.
Now go to myblog.com (or your domain) in your browser. Follow the installer instructions. Enter the database information you created in the previous step. Boom! That’s it!
If something goes wrong – check the Nginx and PHP-FPM logs. Look for errors. Remember – detailed error messages are your best friends. No cap!
Configuring WordPress
After installing WordPress, customize it to your liking. This is a creative process, but here are a few important points:
Install a theme and plugins. Choose high-quality and reliable options.
Write a few interesting posts.
Set up SEO so your blog is visible in search engines.
Connect an SSL certificate (Let’s Encrypt is your friend).
Don’t forget about backups. Pro tip: back up regularly! I’ve regretted not doing this so many times…
#Example backup command (depends on the chosen tool)
mysqldump -u wordpress_user -p wordpress_db > wordpress_backup.sql
Security and Optimization
And finally, we’ve reached the final stage. Security is not just a checkbox on a list; it’s *critically important*. Start by setting a strong password for WordPress and the database. Use .htaccess to protect against common attacks. Check for vulnerabilities.
Optimization is important for website loading speed. Use caching (e.g., WP Super Cache or W3 Total Cache), optimize images, and use a CDN (Content Delivery Network).
“Security is not a luxury, but a necessity. Don’t skimp on it!”
Anonymous
To check the loading speed, use tools like GTmetrix or PageSpeed Insights. Aim for a high score! It hits different when your site is blazing fast.
That’s all! I hope this guide helped you install WordPress on a Virtuozzo VPS. If you have any questions – write in the comments! And remember – practice makes perfect. Good luck!
