Setting Up PrestaShop on a VDS (Virtual Dedicated Server)

Server Requirements for PrestaShop

Prepare Your VDS

Update System Packages

Install Required Software

1. Install Apache or Nginx:
   sudo apt install apache2 -y # For Apache
   sudo apt install nginx -y # For Nginx
2. Install PHP and Extensions:
   sudo apt install php php-cli php-mysql php-curl php-zip php-gd php-xml php-mbstring -y
3. Install MySQL or MariaDB:
   sudo apt install mysql-server -y # For MySQL
   sudo apt install mariadb-server -y # For MariaDB
4. Secure the Database Server:
   sudo mysql_secure_installation

Download and Configure PrestaShop

1. Navigate to the web server root directory:
   cd /var/www/html
2. Download PrestaShop:
   wget https://download.prestashop.com/releases/prestashop_1.7.8.8.zip
3. Extract the archive:
   sudo apt install unzip -y
   unzip prestashop_1.7.8.8.zip
   mv prestashop /var/www/html/prestashop

Set Permissions

Configure Apache or Nginx

Apache Configuration

1. Create a new virtual host:
   sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/prestashop.conf
2. Add the following configuration:
   <VirtualHost *:80>
   ServerName yourdomain.com
   DocumentRoot /var/www/html/prestashop
   <Directory /var/www/html/prestashop/>
   AllowOverride All
   Require all granted
   </Directory>
   ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/prestashop_error.log
   CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/prestashop_access.log combined
   </VirtualHost>
3. Enable the site and restart Apache:
   sudo a2ensite prestashop.conf
   sudo systemctl restart apache2

Nginx Configuration

1. Create a new configuration file:
   sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/prestashop
2. Add the following:
   server {
   listen 80;
   server_name yourdomain.com;
   root /var/www/html/prestashop;
   
   index index.php;
   
   location / {
   try_files $uri /index.php?$query_string;
   }
   
   location ~ \.php$ {
   include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
   fastcgi_pass unix:/var/run/php/php7.4-fpm.sock;
   fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
   include fastcgi_params;
   }
   }
3. Enable the configuration and restart Nginx:
   sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/prestashop /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
   sudo systemctl restart nginx

Create a Database for PrestaShop

1. Log in to MySQL:
   sudo mysql -u root -p
2. Create a database:
   CREATE DATABASE prestashop;
   CREATE USER 'prestashop_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';
   GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON prestashop.* TO 'prestashop_user'@'localhost';
   FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
   EXIT;

Finalize PrestaShop Installation

1. Open your browser and navigate to:
   http://yourdomain.com
2. Follow the installation wizard:
   • Enter database details (prestashop_user, prestashop, password).
   • Set your admin account and store details.
3. After installation, delete the /install directory:
   rm -rf /var/www/html/prestashop/install

Secure Your Installation

Optimize Performance