How to Install SilverStripe CMS on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx

This article describes steps one can take to install and use SilverStripe CMS on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx support.

SilverStripe is an open source intuitive, secure and flexible content management system based on PHP. It is designed from the ground up to allow webmasters and editors create powerful and dynamic content websites.

When it comes to open-source content management systems, WordPress is the # 1 choice. However, for webmasters and bloggers looking for an alternative, SilverStripe may be able to help.

This post covers installing the latest version of SilverStripe, which at the time of writing is v4.0.1.

How to install SilverStripe on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx support

As described above, SilverStripe is an open source intuitive, secure and flexible content management system based on PHP.

Below is how to install it on Ubuntu Linux with Nginx support.

Install Nginx

SilverStripe works with Nginx, and since Nginx is popular, go and install it on Ubuntu by running the commands below:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install nginx

Next, run the commands below to stop, start and enable Nginx service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop nginx.service
sudo systemctl start nginx.service
sudo systemctl enable nginx.service

Install MariaDB

SilverStripe also requires a database server to function, and MariaDB is a great place to start when looking for an open-source database to use.

To install it run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

After that, run the commands below to secure MariaDB server.

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-FPM and Related Modules

PHP 7.1 isn’t 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 7.1

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.1

sudo apt update

Run the commands below to install PHP 7.1 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.1-fpm php7.1-common php7.1-mbstring php7.1-xmlrpc php7.1-soap php7.1-gd php7.1-xml php7.1-intl php7.1-mysql php7.1-cli php7.1-mcrypt php7.1-zip php7.1-curl

After install PHP 7.1, run the commands below to open PHP-FPM default file.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.1/fpm/php.ini

Then make the change the following lines below in the file and save.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 64M
max_execution_time = 360
cgi.fix_pathinfo = 0
date.timezone = America/Chicago

Create SilverStripe Database

Now that you’ve installed all the packages that are required, continue below to start configuring the servers.

First go and create a blank SilverStripe 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 stripedb

CREATE DATABASE stripedb;

Create a database user called stripeuser with new password

CREATE USER 'stripeuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';

Then grant stripeuser full access to the database.

GRANT ALL ON stripedb.* TO 'stripeuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Download SilverStripe Latest Release

Next, visit SilverStripe site and download the latest version.

After downloading, run the commands below to create a root directory for SilverStripe and extract the downloaded file into Nginx root directory.

cd /tmp && wget 
sudo mkdir /var/www/html/silverstripe
sudo unzip SilverStripe-cms-v4.0.1.zip -d /var/www/html/silverstripe

Then run the commands below to set the correct permissions for SilverStripe to function.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/silverstripe/
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/silverstripe/

Configure Nginx

Finally, configure Nginx site configuration file for SilverStripe. This file will control how users’ access SilverStripe content.

Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called silverstripe

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

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.

server {
    listen 80;
    listen [::]:80;
    root /var/www/html/silverstripe;
    index  index.php index.html index.htm;
    server_name  example.com www.example.com;

    client_max_body_size 100M;
    
    location / {
           try_files $uri /index.php?$query_string; 
        }

  
    location ~ \.php$ {
         include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
         fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php7.1-fpm.sock;
         fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
         include fastcgi_params;
         fastcgi_buffer_size 32k;
         fastcgi_busy_buffers_size 64k;
         fastcgi_buffers 4 32k;
    }
}

Save the file and exit.

Enable the SilverStripe and Rewrite Module

After configuring the VirtualHost above, enable it by running the commands below

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/silverstripe /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

To load all the settings above, restart Nginx by running the commands below.

sudo systemctl restart nginx.service
sudo systemctl reload php7.1-fpm.service

Then open your browser and browse to the server domain name. You should see SilverStripe setup wizard to complete.

Please follow the wizard carefully.

Next, follow the on-screen instructions. You will be asked to input your database configuration, administrative details and other configuration settings.

When complete you may sign-in and start using SilverStripe.

After installing, delete the install files by clicking the link “Click here to delete the install files“

That should do it. now logon to the admin dashboard using the URL example below

admin

You may also like the post below:

Return to admin/ anytime thereafter to sign-in.