This article describes steps one can take to install and use Contao CMS on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.
Contao is an open source, enterprise content management system that relies on the LAMP or LEMP stack. It is designed to allow business owners and power users create powerful and dynamic content websites.
If you’re looking for a true open-source enterprise content manage system, Contao might be a good place to start. It’s built using PHP server scripting language, and keeps content, modules and templates separated.
This post covers installing the latest version of Contao, which at the time of writing is version 4.5.4.
How to install Contao CMS on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support
As mentioned above, Contao is an open source, enterprise content management system that relies on the LAMP or LEMP stack.
Below is how to install it on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.
Install Apache
Contao requires a webserver and the most popular webserver in use today is Apache2. So, go and install Apache2 on Ubuntu by running the commands below:
sudo apt update 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
Install MariaDB
MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open-source database servers to use with Contao.
To install MariaDB run the commands below.
sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client
After installing MariaDB, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots.
Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS
sudo systemctl stop mysql.service sudo systemctl start mysql.service sudo systemctl enable mysql.service
Run these on Ubuntu 18.04 and 18.10 LTS
sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service sudo systemctl start mariadb.service sudo systemctl enable mariadb.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
Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules
PHP 7.2 may not be 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 7.2
sudo apt-get install software-properties-common sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php
Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2
sudo apt update
Run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.
sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-soap php7.2-gd php7.2-xml php7.2-intl php7.2-mysql php7.2-cli php7.2-zip php7.2-curl
After install PHP, run the commands below to open Apache2 PHP default file.
sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini
Then make the change the following lines below in the file and save.
file_uploads = On allow_url_fopen = On max_execution_time = 180 memory_limit = 256M post_max_size = 20M upload_max_filesize = 100M
Create Contao Database
Now that you’ve installed all the packages that are required, continue below to start configuring the servers.
First run the commands below to create Contao database.
Run the commands below to logon to the database server. When prompted for a password, type the root password you created above.
sudo mysql -u root -p
Then create a database called contaodb
CREATE DATABASE contaodb;
Create a database user called contaouser with new password
CREATE USER 'contaouser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';
Then grant the user full access to the database.
GRANT ALL ON contaodb.* TO 'contaouser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;
Finally, save your changes and exit.
FLUSH PRIVILEGES; EXIT;
After creating the Contao database, run the commands below to open MariaDB configuration file.
sudo nano /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-server.cnf
Then copy and paste the lines below into the file just below [mysqld]
innodb_large_prefix = 1 innodb_file_format = Barracuda innodb_file_per_table = 1
Save and exit.
Restart MariaDB Server
sudo systemctl restart mysql.service
Download Contao Latest Release
Next, visit Contao site and download the latest version.
After downloading, run the commands below to extract the download file into Apache2 root directory.
cd /tmp && wget wget -O contao.zip sudo apt install unzip unzip contao-4.5.4.zip sudo mv contao-4.5.4 /var/www/html/contao
Then run the commands below to set the correct permissions for Contao to function.
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/contao/ sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/contao/
Configure Apache
Finally, configure Apahce2 virtual host configuration file for Contao. This file will control how users’ access Contao content.
Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called contao.conf
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/contao.conf
Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Replace the highlighted line with your own domain name and directory root location.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin [email protected]
DocumentRoot /var/www/html/contao/web
ServerName example.com
ServerAlias www.example.com
<Directory /var/www/html/contao/>
Options +FollowSymlinks
AllowOverride All
Require all granted
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>
Save the file and exit.
Enable the Contao and Rewrite Module
After configuring the VirtualHost above, enable it by running the commands below
sudo a2ensite contao.conf sudo a2enmod rewrite
To load all the settings above, restart Apache2 by running the commands below.
sudo systemctl restart apache2.service
Next, open your browser and browse to the server domain name followed by install. You should see Contao setup wizard to complete. Please follow the wizard carefully.
You should now be presented with a Contao install screen. If, instead, you see a white screen it probably means that your
server is probably not configured correct.
Type a new installation password for the installation.
Next, type the database connection info and continue.
Next, create Contao admin user for the portal.
That should create the admin account to logo to the backend. when done, logon and begin configuring Contao.
The installation assistant can then be used to guide you through the process of installing a new version of Contao.
To logon to the backend go to the URL below:
Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed Contao CMS on Ubuntu server.
Remove the installation folder by running the commands below
sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/contao/contao/install.php
And you’re done.
