If you already have a Joomla-site created and you want to upload it to a hosting server, the procedure will be the same as uploading a regular website to a hosting provider’s server. This article was written to help you install Joomla from scratch.
Preparation to install Joomla
There are a few steps to take to install Joomla CMS on your hosting. Those are:
- Download Joomla from the official website.
- Choose and purchase hosting.
- Create a blank database on the server and memorize/save somewhere its name, username, and password. You can find a guide on how to do that here. You can also find that data in your mailbox if your hosting provider sends it in the welcome email upon registration.
- Ask hosting company’s support where should the website files be stored on the server or read the support articles.
Proper Joomla installation
1. Remove the current files on the server
Remove everything from the folder, where your website files should be stored. In most cases, if you visit your website in the browser right after purchasing the hosting, you will see a parking page with a welcome message and hoster’s logo. When you remove those files from the directory, this page will no longer be displayed. FTP-clients or file managers in hosting control panel are used to view, upload or delete files from the server.
Note! Make sure that you upload the website files to the correct folder. If you delete any system folders by mistake, your hosting account might stop working properly.
2. Upload Joomla files to hosting server
Then you need to upload the files that were downloaded from the Joomla website to the server. Since they are initially archived and need to be unzipped you have two options:
a. Unzip the files on your PC and transfer them to hosting server using an FTP-client (simpler but longer)
b. Upload zipped files to the server using an FTP-client and unzip it using a file manager afterward (faster but more complicated). Doing so you need to make sure that the correct file structure is preserved, or else the website won’t function.
3. Opening your website in a browser
When you enter the domain name and go to your website, you should see the following:
Fill in all the fields on this page. We do not recommend using a simple administrator’s login (definitely not "Admin" or similar). The password should also be long and complicated. Once you fill in all the fields, click "Next".
4. Configuring the database
The configuration page looks like this:
Database type - MySQL would be your choice since it’s an updated version of PHP MySQL driver and PHP devs recommend it.
Database server name - it can be "localhost" or any other name. You can find it in your control panel (the section should be called something like "Databases", "MySQL", etc.). You might also receive this information via email from your hosting company. In case you have issues with locating this information, feel free to contact the hosting company’s tech support.
Username, password, database name - those were set up at the preparation stage. Alternatively, the database might have been created automatically by the hosting company’s upon purchasing your hosting service. You can find all the information about that database in your control panel or by contacting the hosting company’s tech support. You can use this database for your website since that is the initial purpose.
Database table prefix - it is better to use your own for security purposes. The requirements are: no longer than 4 symbols (Latin letters and digits) and an underscore in the end. You can read our article on improving Joomla security. Click "Next".
5. Finish installation
You can send your website configuration (admin login/password, etc.) to your email or write them down if you doubt the safety of your mailbox or PC. Once that’s done, click "Install".
6. Removing installation files
If there is an "Installation folder" in the root catalogue of the website (where Joomla is located), Joomla will launch the installer automatically even if the CMSalready installed. To avoid it you should delete the folder by clicking the corresponding button or doing it manually after the installation is finished.
Note! Most hosting providers have an installer of this CMS so you won’t have to download it and install to the server via FTP. You will simply have to launch Joomla installation from your account.
These instructions are relevant for virtual hosting only.
