Backdrop CMS on Fedora Server

How to install Backdrop CMS on Fedora Server

Backdrop CMS is an intuitive, open-source content management system that offers a user-friendly interface and a range of features to help you manage your website.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the installation of Backdrop CMS on a Fedora Server.

Prerequisites

Before we get started with the installation process, make sure you have access to the following:

A Linux server running Fedora Server (version 31 or later)
A user account with sudo privileges
SSH access to the server

Step 1: Install required dependencies

First, make sure your server is up-to-date by running the following command:

sudo dnf update

Next, install the required dependencies for Backdrop CMS:

sudo dnf install httpd mariadb-server php php-gd php-mysqlnd php-xml php-intl php-mbstring php-opcache php-pecl-zip unzip -y

This command installs Apache web server, MariaDB database server, and the necessary PHP packages.

Step 2: Create a new database

We need to create a new database for Backdrop CMS to store its data. Run the following commands:

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo mysql_secure_installation

The first command starts the MariaDB service, and the second command prompts you to set a password for the MariaDB root user, as well as some additional security settings.

Once these steps are completed, create a new database by running the command:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Enter the MariaDB root password when prompted, then run the following SQL commands to create a new database for Backdrop CMS:

CREATE DATABASE backdrop;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON backdrop.* TO backdropuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace password with a strong password of your choice.

Step 3: Download and install Backdrop CMS

Next, we need to download Backdrop CMS from its official website. Run the following command to download the latest version:

sudo wget https://github.com/backdrop/backdrop/releases/latest/download/backdrop.zip

Once the download is complete, extract the zip file using the following command:

sudo unzip backdrop.zip -d /var/www/html/

This command extracts the files to the default document root of Apache web server.

Next, rename the extracted directory to the name you want to use for your Backdrop CMS site:

sudo mv /var/www/html/backdrop-1.x.x/ /var/www/html/my-site/

After this, set the correct ownership and permission of your Backdrop CMS directory using the following command:

sudo chown -R apache:apache /var/www/html/my-site
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/my-site

Step 4: Configure Apache web server

Now we need to create a new virtual host configuration file for Backdrop CMS. Run the following command to create a new file:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/my-site.conf

Replace "my-site" with the name you want to use for your Backdrop CMS site. Paste the following configuration into the file:

<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin [email protected]
DocumentRoot /var/www/html/my-site/

ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/my-site-error.log
CustomLog /var/log/httpd/my-site-access.log combined

<Directory /var/www/html/my-site/>
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
AllowOverride All
Order allow,deny
allow from all
</Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Save and exit the file by pressing CTRL + X, then Y and ENTER.

Next, reload Apache web server to apply the new configuration:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Step 5: Run the installation script

We are now ready to run the Backdrop CMS installation script. Open your web browser and navigate to:

http://your-server-address/

Replace your-server-address with the IP address or domain name of your server.

The Backdrop CMS installation wizard will appear. Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your site. When prompted for the database information, enter the following:

Database name: backdrop
Database username: backdropuser
Database password:

Complete the installation process by creating an admin account and setting the site name, email address and default site language.

After the installation is complete, you may log in to your new Backdrop CMS site by navigating to:

http://your-server-address/user/login

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have shown you how to install Backdrop CMS on a Fedora Server. You should now have a fully functioning content management system up and running on your server. Enjoy!