Installing Magento 2 correctly sets the stage for a robust, scalable ecommerce platform. By getting the installation right from the beginning, you also lay the groundwork for integrating Magento Accessibility Compliance. This ensures that your store not only performs efficiently but also provides an inclusive and accessible shopping experience for all users. Follow these steps for a smooth installation and to seamlessly incorporate accessibility and integration features into your Magento 2 setup.
Pre-Installation Checklist
Before starting, it’s essential to make sure that your server environment is properly configured. Ensuring these prerequisites are in place will prevent issues during the installation.
Magento 2 System Requirements
To run Magento 2 smoothly, certain server specifications must be met:
- Operating System: Linux distributions such as Ubuntu, CentOS, or RedHat are recommended.
- Web Server: Either Apache or NGINX, which are both compatible with Magento 2.
- Database: You will need MySQL or MariaDB for database management.
- PHP: Magento 2 requires PHP, so make sure your server has PHP 7.4, 8.0, or 8.1 installed, along with extensions like bcmath, ctype, curl, dom, intl, mbstring, xml, and zip.
- Memory: A minimum of 2GB RAM is needed, but 4GB or more is recommended for optimal performance.
Verify that your system meets these requirements to avoid issues during installation.
Required Access
You’ll need SSH (Secure Shell) access to your server to perform the installation and run necessary commands directly on the server.
SSL Certificate (Optional but Recommended)
Although not required for the installation process, it’s highly recommended to have an SSL certificate if you’re planning to handle sensitive data like customer information and payments. This will enable HTTPS on your site for secure communication.
Step 1: Configure Your Web Server
Magento 2 requires a functioning web server to host the store, and most commonly, either Apache or NGINX is used.
Apache Installation and Configuration
To install and configure Apache:
- Start by updating your server’s package manager. For example, on Ubuntu, you can run the update command:
- Use the command to update your system’s package manager.
2. Then install Apache by running the appropriate command:
- Install Apache by typing the installation command.
3. Enable necessary modules like mod_rewrite and SSL for Apache:
- Enable modules like rewrite, headers, and ssl which will help Magento function properly and allow for HTTPS setup.
NGINX Setup (Alternative)
For those who prefer NGINX as their web server:
- Install NGINX using the appropriate installation command for your Linux distribution.
- Install the NGINX web server.
2. Configure NGINX to point to Magento’s public directory. You’ll need to create a new server block (similar to Apache’s virtual hosts) for your Magento store.
Step 2: Install PHP and Required Extensions
Magento 2 is built using PHP, so you’ll need to install the correct version of PHP along with its required extensions.
- Install PHP 7.4 or 8.1 and all necessary extensions such as bcmath, curl, intl, mbstring, and others:
- Install PHP by running the command for your system. Make sure to include the necessary PHP extensions as well.
2. After installing, verify the PHP version to make sure it’s installed correctly:
- Use a command to check the installed PHP version and ensure it’s compatible with Magento.
Step 3: Set Up MySQL Database
Magento 2 stores its data in a MySQL or MariaDB database, so you’ll need to create one before installation.
- Install MySQL by running the appropriate installation command for your system.
- Install the MySQL server on your server.
2. Secure your MySQL installation by running a security script provided by MySQL.
- Secure the database setup by following the on-screen instructions to set up a root password and remove insecure settings.
3. Create a new database for Magento, and then create a user with permissions to access that database:
- Create a database with a specific name, such as magento2_db, and assign a user to it.
Step 4: Download Magento 2
Once your server is configured, the next step is to download Magento 2.
- First, you need to install Composer, which is a dependency manager for PHP:
- Install Composer using the appropriate command.
2. Use Composer to download Magento 2 into your desired directory:
- Use a command to download Magento 2 into a folder on your server. Ensure to download the latest stable release.
Step 5: Configure File Permissions
To ensure Magento 2 runs properly, file and folder permissions need to be set correctly.
- First, navigate to the Magento 2 directory on your server.
- Change the current directory to the Magento installation folder.
2. Set ownership of files and folders to the web server user (www-data for Apache or NGINX) and then adjust folder and file permissions:
- Set the correct permissions by adjusting the ownership and permissions so Magento can read/write to files and directories as needed.
Step 6: Start the Magento 2 Installation Wizard
With everything in place, you can now start the Magento 2 setup via the web interface.
- Open a web browser and navigate to your server’s domain or IP address, appending /setup to the URL.
- Enter the URL in your browser to access the Magento Setup Wizard.
2. Follow the steps on the screen. You will be asked to input your database details (from Step 3), admin account information, and store configuration.
Step 7: Complete Installation and Access Admin Panel
Once the installation process finishes, you’ll be able to access Magento’s admin panel to start managing your store.vv
1. Navigate to the Magento admin panel by appending /admin to your domain.
- Log in to the Magento admin area using the credentials you set during installation.
Step 8: Post-Installation Configuration
After successfully installing Magento 2, perform a few tasks to optimize your store.
Enabling HTTPS
If you installed an SSL certificate, make sure your site runs over HTTPS.
1. Log in to the Magento admin panel, navigate to the Stores section, then Configuration, and find the Web settings.
2. Update the Base URLs to use https:// and enable the setting to force secure URLs on both the frontend and backend.
Caching and Indexing
Magento’s performance relies heavily on caching and indexing.
1. From the admin panel, enable all available caches in Cache Management.
2. Reindex your store’s data through the command line.
Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues
Even after following these steps, you may run into some issues during installation.
PHP Memory Limit Errors
Magento 2 requires a high memory limit to function properly. If you get a memory limit error, increase the limit by editing the PHP configuration file.
File Permission Problems
If you encounter permission-related errors, double-check the file ownership and permissions to ensure they are correctly set.
Conclusion
Following these steps ensures Magento 2 is installed and ready to operate on your server. With a solid installation in place, you can build a robust e-commerce platform that scales with your business needs. To optimize your store’s performance, remember to enable SSL for secure transactions, configure caching to enhance page load speeds, and perform regular reindexing to maintain data accuracy. These enhancements will lead to a smoother shopping experience for your customers and more efficient management for you.
Maintaining an updated system and staying informed about the latest Magento developments will help you stay ahead of potential issues and leverage new features as they become available. Keeping these practices in mind will contribute to a more secure, faster, and better-performing online store.