How to Install Drupal on Ubuntu 24.04: Step-by-Step Guide

Install Drupal on Ubuntu 24.04 with this easy step-by-step guide. Our Drupal Support team is ready to assist you. 

Install Drupal on Ubuntu 24.04

Drupal is a powerful CMS trusted for its flexibility, scalability, and security. It supports multilingual content, mobile responsiveness, and thousands of modules to build tailored websites. In this guide, we’ll prepare Ubuntu 24.04, set up the required server stack, and install Drupal step by step.

Why Use Drupal

Drupal CMS is a powerful platform valued for its customizability, offering thousands of modules and themes to create tailored solutions; its scalability, handling everything from small sites to enterprise-level portals; its security-focused foundation, trusted by governments and institutions worldwide; its multilingual support, enabling content in over 100 languages; and its mobile-responsive design, ensuring seamless accessibility across all devices.

Preparing Ubuntu 24.04

Before installing Drupal, ensure your system is updated and ready with the necessary tools.

1. Update Package List
   Refresh the local package index to make sure you have the latest versions and security patches:

sudo apt update

2. Install Required Dependencies
   Install common dependencies used for building and installing software:

sudo apt install build-essential curl wget software-properties-common

• build-essential – Provides GCC, g++, make, and libraries for compiling software
• curl and wget – Tools for downloading files
• software-properties-common – Helps manage repositories and PPAs

Setting Up Web Server and Database on Ubuntu 24.04

To run Drupal, you need a web server and a database system. Ubuntu 24.04 supports both Apache2 or Nginx as web servers and MariaDB or MySQL as database servers. You can also choose to set up Drupal with PHP-FPM and Nginx on Ubuntu for better performance and flexibility.

1. Install and Configure Apache2 or Nginx

• Apache2 Installation:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install apache2 -y

sudo systemctl start apache2

sudo systemctl enable apache2

sudo systemctl status apache2

Configuration files:

• Main config – /etc/apache2/apache2.conf
• Virtual hosts – /etc/apache2/sites-available/
  Enable or disable a site:

sudo a2ensite your-site.conf

sudo a2dissite your-site.conf

sudo systemctl reload apache2

• Nginx Installation:

sudo apt update

sudo apt install nginx -y

sudo systemctl start nginx

sudo systemctl enable nginx

sudo systemctl status nginx

Configuration files:

• Main config – /etc/nginx/nginx.conf
  
• Server blocks – /etc/nginx/sites-available/

  Enable a site:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/your-site.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/

sudo systemctl reload nginx

2. Install and Secure MariaDB or MySQL

• MariaDB Installation:

sudo apt install mariadb-server -y

sudo systemctl start mariadb

sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Secure installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Create a database and user:

CREATE DATABASE drupaldb;

CREATE USER 'drupaluser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPass';

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON drupaldb.* TO 'drupaluser'@'localhost';

FLUSH PRIVILEGES; EXIT;

• MySQL Installation:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

sudo systemctl start mysql

sudo systemctl enable mysql

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Installing PHP and Required Extensions on Ubuntu 24.04

1. Update Package List
   Make sure your system package index is up to date:

sudo apt update

2. Install PHP
   You can install the default PHP version available in Ubuntu 24.04 (typically PHP 8.3):

sudo apt install php -y

Or install a specific version (e.g., PHP 8.4 if supported):

sudo apt install php8.3 -y

3. Install Common PHP Extensions
   Drupal requires several extensions to function correctly:

sudo apt install php-mysql php-gd php-xml php-cli php-curl php-zip php-mbstring -y

Add or remove extensions depending on your project’s requirements.

4. Verify PHP Installation
   Check installed PHP version:

php -v

List installed modules:

php -m

5. Confirm PHP with Web Server
   Create a phpinfo.php file in your web root (e.g., /var/www/html/):

<?php

phpinfo();

?>

Access it in your browser:

http://your-server-ip/phpinfo.php

Remove this file after testing to avoid exposing server details.

Downloading and Configuring Drupal

1. Install Apache, PHP, and MariaDB

sudo apt update

sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server php php-mysql php-gd php-xml php-mbstring php-curl php-zip unzip -y

2. Create Database

sudo mysql -u root -p

CREATE DATABASE drupaldb;

CREATE USER 'drupaluser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strongpassword';

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON drupaldb.* TO 'drupaluser'@'localhost';

FLUSH PRIVILEGES; EXIT;

3. Download and Extract Drupal

cd /var/www/

sudo wget https://www.drupal.org/download-latest/tar.gz -O drupal.tar.gz

sudo tar -xzvf drupal.tar.gz

sudo mv drupal-* drupal

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/drupal

4. Configure Apache

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/drupal.conf

<VirtualHost *:80>

ServerName your-domain.com

DocumentRoot /var/www/drupal

<Directory /var/www/drupal>

AllowOverride All

Require all granted

</Directory>

</VirtualHost>

sudo a2ensite drupal.conf

sudo a2enmod rewrite

sudo systemctl restart apache2

5. Finish in Browser

Go to http://your-domain.com, follow the wizard, and enter DB details.

6. Secure Config

sudo chmod 644 /var/www/drupal/sites/default/settings.php

[Need assistance with a different issue? Our team is available 24/7.]

Conclusion

With the steps outlined above, you can successfully install Drupal on Ubuntu 24.04 and build a secure, scalable, and customizable website. By setting up the right server environment and configuring Drupal properly, you’re ready to create powerful digital experiences that grow with your needs.

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