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How to install a LEMP stack on GNU+Linux

A LEMP stack (Linux, Nginx, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP) is a popular software bundle used for hosting dynamic websites and web applications. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for installing the LEMP stack on various GNU/Linux distributions, including Debian/Ubuntu, Arch, Fedora, and Rocky Linux. Where commands differ between distributions, each step will specify the appropriate instructions.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

  • A fresh GNU/Linux installation with root or sudo access.
  • A stable internet connection.

Step 1: Update the System

Update your system’s package list and installed packages.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Arch:

sudo pacman -Syu

Fedora:

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh -y

Rocky Linux:

sudo dnf update -y

Step 2: Install Nginx

Nginx is a lightweight and efficient web server.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install nginx -y

Arch:

sudo pacman -S nginx

Fedora/Rocky Linux:

sudo dnf install nginx -y

Start and Enable Nginx:

For all distributions, start and enable Nginx to run on boot:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx

Verify installation by accessing http://your_server_ip in a browser. You should see the default Nginx welcome page.

Step 3: Install MySQL or MariaDB

The database server stores and manages data for your applications. Choose between MySQL and MariaDB based on your requirements.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client -y

Arch:

sudo pacman -S mariadb

Fedora/Rocky Linux:

sudo dnf install mariadb-server mariadb -y

Initialize the Database:

Run the secure installation script to set up the database server:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set a root password and secure the installation.

Start and Enable MariaDB:

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Step 4: Install PHP

PHP processes dynamic content and integrates with the web and database servers.

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo apt install php-fpm php-mysql -y

Arch:

sudo pacman -S php php-fpm

Fedora/Rocky Linux:

sudo dnf install php php-fpm php-mysqlnd -y

Configure PHP Processor:

Edit the Nginx configuration to enable PHP processing. Open the default server block configuration file:

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

Replace the location ~ \.php$ block with:

location ~ \.php$ {
    include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
    fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php7.4-fpm.sock; # Adjust version as needed
    fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
    include fastcgi_params;
}

Save and close the file, then test and reload Nginx:

sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx

Step 5: Verify the LEMP Stack

Create a test PHP file to verify the stack is working:

echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/info.php

Access it via http://your_server_ip/info.php in a browser. You should see the PHP information page.

Additional configuration

Firewall Settings

Ensure your firewall allows HTTP and HTTPS traffic:

Debian/Ubuntu:

sudo ufw allow 'Nginx Full'

Fedora/Rocky Linux:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Enable HTTPS

Install and configure SSL/TLS using Let’s Encrypt:

Install Certbot:

  • Debian/Ubuntu: 
    sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y
  • Arch: 
    sudo pacman -S certbot python-certbot-nginx
  • Fedora/Rocky Linux: 
    sudo dnf install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Obtain and Apply SSL Certificate:

sudo certbot --nginx

Follow the prompts to secure your site.

Schedule Certificate Renewal:

Certbot automatically installs a renewal script. Verify with:

sudo systemctl list-timers | grep certbot

Troubleshooting

  • Check logs for errors:
    • Nginx: /var/log/nginx/error.log
    • PHP: /var/log/php7.4-fpm.log (adjust version as necessary)
    • MariaDB: /var/log/mysql/error.log
  • Test configuration: 
    sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl status nginx mariadb php-fpm

Conclusion

You now have a fully functional LEMP stack installed on your GNU/Linux system. This setup can host dynamic websites and applications efficiently. Customize your stack as needed, and ensure to keep the software updated for security and performance improvements.

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