How To Install Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP (LAMP) on Ubuntu 20.04 LTS

The LAMP stack is a popular open-source software stack that consists of four main components: Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Linux is the operating system that runs the server, Apache is the web server that serves web pages to users, MySQL is the database management system that stores data and PHP is the programming language used to create dynamic web content.

It is a versatile and widely used software stack that can power a wide variety of web applications. It’s especially popular for developing and hosting dynamic web applications, such as content management systems, e-commerce, and social media platforms.

One of the main benefits of the LAMP stack is that it’s open-source, meaning that the source code for each component is freely available for anyone to use and modify. This makes it a cost-effective and customizable option for developers and businesses.

In this tutorial, we will be installing the LAMP stack on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, which is a popular Linux distribution known for its stability and security. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you will be able to set up a fully functional web server that can host dynamic web applications using Apache, MySQL, and PHP.

Before installing LAMP, it is recommended to update your Ubuntu system. Open the terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

This will update your Ubuntu system to the latest version.

Updating the package list is a critical step in installing software on your Ubuntu server. By running the “sudo apt update” command, you ensure that you have access to the latest versions of software packages, including important security updates and bug fixes.

The “sudo apt update” command checks the package repositories that are configured on your Ubuntu server and downloads the latest package lists. It’s important to note that if you have added third-party repositories to your system, you may need to update those repositories manually.

Updating the package list is a quick process that can save you time and frustration down the line. By keeping your system up-to-date, you can ensure that you have access to the latest features and bug fixes, as well as important security patches.

In addition to running the “sudo apt update” command regularly, it’s also important to keep your Ubuntu system up-to-date with the latest software updates and security patches. You can do this by running the “sudo apt upgrade” command, which will upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions.

It’s a good idea to set up automatic updates on your Ubuntu server to ensure that you always have the latest security patches and software updates installed. You can do this by installing the “unattended-upgrades” package and configuring it to automatically download and install updates on a regular basis.

Apache is a popular open-source web server that is used to serve web pages to users. It’s known for its reliability, scalability, and security, and is the most widely used web server in the world.

To install Apache on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you can use the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt install apache2

This command will download and install Apache on your system. During the installation process, you may be prompted to confirm that you want to install the package and to enter your password.

Once the installation process is complete, you can verify that Apache is running by entering the following command in the terminal:

sudo systemctl status apache2

This command will show the status of the Apache service and whether it’s currently running. If Apache is running, you should see a message that says “Active: active (running)”.

You can also test that Apache is working by entering your server’s IP address or domain name into your web browser. If Apache is running correctly, you should see a default Apache web page.

Congratulations, you have successfully installed and set up Apache on your Ubuntu server!

MySQL is a popular open-source relational database management system that is used to store and manage data. It’s known for its speed, reliability, and scalability, and is a popular choice for web applications.

To install MySQL on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you can use the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get install mysql-server

This command will download and install the MySQL server package on your system. During the installation process, you may be prompted to confirm that you want to install the package and to enter your password.

Once the installation process is complete, you can verify that MySQL is running by entering the following command in the terminal:

sudo systemctl status mysql

This command will show the status of the MySQL service and whether it’s currently running. If MySQL is running, you should see a message that says “Active: active (running)”.

It’s important to secure MySQL to prevent unauthorized access and to protect your data.

To secure MySQL, you can run the following command:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

This command will start a script that will guide you through the process of securing MySQL. You will be prompted to set a root password, remove anonymous users, disallow root login remotely, and remove the test database.

It’s recommended to answer “Y” or “yes” to all the prompts, unless you have a specific reason not to. Setting a strong root password is especially important, as this is the main point of entry for your MySQL server.

Once you have completed the secure installation process, you can verify that your MySQL server is secured by entering the following command in the terminal:

sudo mysql

This will open the MySQL command line interface. If you’re able to log in successfully with the root password you set, then you have successfully secured your MySQL server.

Congratulations, you have now installed and secured MySQL on your Ubuntu server!

PHP is a popular open-source scripting language that is used to create dynamic web pages. It’s often used in conjunction with MySQL to create web applications that store and retrieve data from a database.

To install PHP on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, you can use the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql

This command will download and install PHP, as well as the necessary modules for working with Apache and MySQL. During the installation process, you may be prompted to confirm that you want to install the package and to enter your password.

Once the installation process is complete, you can verify that PHP is working by creating a PHP file in the Apache web root directory. You can do this by entering the following command in the terminal:

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

This will open the Nano text editor with a new file called info.php. In this file, add the following line of code:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>