Uploading the WordPress Files
Self-hosting WordPress means you need to put the files onto your server using the following steps:
1. Download and save the latest version from WordPress.org.
2. Unzip WordPress.
3. Using an FTP program (such as Filezilla), upload the unzipped WordPress files (the ones inside the folder wordpress and not the folder itself) to the location you want on your server.
Creating the Database
WordPress requires a database in order to function, so you need to set one up through your hosting control panel:
1. Locate the MySQL database section of your hosting Control Panel.
2. Click the button for creating a new database.
3. Enter a name for the database. If you have several databases, be sure to name it so that you know it's WordPress for this site.
4. Click the button for creating a new user. (Not all control panels have this step.)
5. Enter a username.
6. Enter a password for the user, and make sure it is strong.
7. Be sure to have the database name, username, and password handy for use later in the process.
8. If you are asked to assign permissions or privileges for this user, make sure you select ALL.
9. In some cases you may be asked to assign the new user to a database; make sure it's the right database.
10. Check where your database is located and make a note of the server name for use later. If no server name is specified, it's likely the default localhost.
Connecting the Files to the Database
This is what WordPress actually means by “our famous 5-minute install.” There are two ways to do this install: manually creating the configuration file or having WordPress lead you through a semi-automated process.
You can see the manual configuration process in one of the videos accompanying this lesson; however, here is the semi-automated process, which you begin by entering your site's domain name in your browser (or if you put the WordPress files in a subdirectory, enter the full path).
1. The first screen asks you to choose an installation language; then click Continue.
2. Next, you are asked to gather some information about your database (what you were told to make note of in the previous section). When you're ready, click Let's Go!
3. Here you enter all that database information. The final field asks if you want to change the default WordPress database prefix. The prefix will be placed in front of all the tables in the database to help distinguish them from any other tables. You can put whatever you want here, but I recommend keeping the default wp- at the beginning so that you can quickly see that it's a WordPress table. When you finish, click Submit.
4. Now confirm that you can talk to your database and can do the actual install, then click Run the Install.
5. You need to provide a title for your WordPress installation, along with an administrator username and password. Do NOT use “admin” or “administrator” because hackers automatically try these. And make sure your password is a strong one; weak passwords are the number-one way hackers get into WordPress. When you're ready, click Install WordPress.
6. Screen #6 tells you you've successfully installed WordPress and offers to take you to the login screen.
NOTE If you plan to use the multisite feature of WordPress – the capability to run multiple sites from a single installation – you can find the additional installation instructions here: http://codex.wordpress.org/Create_A_Network.
Auto-Installing WordPress
Most hosting companies offer some form of automatic WordPress installation. In a few cases, this means that they'll actually do the installation for you, but mostly it means that they have a program that you use to do the auto-install.
The two most common auto-installer programs are Softaculous and Quick Install, but there are others, and some hosts have their own proprietary installers. They all work in mostly the same way: You enter a bit of information and press a button.
NOTE For many years Fantastico was the auto-installer used by most hosting companies, but it has since been discontinued.
The first step is to tell the auto-installer where you want it to put the WordPress files. Referring to Figure 3.2, Quick Install offers a choice of existing domains or subdomains that are on your hosting account with the opportunity to enter a subdirectory. (If that subdirectory doesn't exist, the installer creates it.)
After the location is chosen, you need to enter information such as your e-mail address and username – information varies by programs. Referring to Figure 3.3, you can see that Quick Install also needs the title of your site (ignore that it says Blog Title), your first name, and last name.
Although Quick Install creates a password for you (you can change it later in WordPress), other installers ask you for a password. Some also allow you to choose the database prefix for WordPress.
NOTE Auto-installers should install the latest version of WordPress, but if yours doesn't, don't worry. WordPress will tell you if it needs updating, and that process is easy – especially after installation when you have no content or plugins. The steps for updating are outlined in Lesson 32, “Keeping Up to Date.”
When the Installation Is Finished
Whether you do an auto-install or a manual install, your WordPress site is now up and running. You can check by going to your domain name (or subdirectory, depending on where you did the install) and looking at your new site (see Figure 3.4).
It may not have much – a sample post and a sample page – but this is a fully operational website waiting for you to add content and customize the look and the functionality. But before getting to that, become familiar with the way WordPress works in the back end. That's the subject of the next two lessons.
PLUGINS
There are no plugins to help install a new WordPress site because WordPress isn't running yet. However, there may be times when you need to move an existing WordPress site within your hosting account (perhaps to a new directory) or to a new server. In that case, here are some plugins that can help:
● Duplicator– takes care of the entire process of copying your site and restoring it in a new location.
● WP Clone by WP Academy– utility for copying and moving your WordPress site to a subdomain, a new server, or a new domain.
Try It
There's nothing additional to try in this lesson – hopefully, you completed the installation using these instructions. If you don't plan on doing the installation right now, you could always set up an FTP program if you don't have one or download WordPress for use