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Installing a LEMP Stack on Ubuntu Linux

Before we can start building our world-changing website or application on LEMP, we have to lay the foundation for the stack. In this hands-on lab, we will walk through the installation of the components that make up the LEMP stack on Ubuntu Linux. We will also configure th eUbuntu Linux environment to host the LEMP stack. When we have completed this lab, we will have a running LEMP stack on Ubuntu. We will also have a better understanding of how a LEMP installation is configured on Ubuntu Linux.

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Path Info

Level

Beginner

Duration

45m

Last updated

Sep 01, 2025

Challenge

Install NGINX Using the Default Ubuntu Package Repositories
Become the root user:
```
sudo su -
```
Install NGINX from the Ubuntu repositories using apt-get:
```
apt-get -y install nginx
```
Check the status of the NGINX service with systemctl:
```
systemctl status nginx
```
The NGINX service should be enabled and active.
Challenge

Configure HTTP Access Through the Firewall
Check the initial status of the firewall:
```
ufw status
```
Open port 80 to allow inbound HTTP traffic:
```
ufw allow 'Nginx HTTP'
```
Recheck the status of the firewall:
```
ufw status
```
HTTP traffic is now allowed through the firewall.
Challenge

Verify Basic HTTP Functionality in NGINX
Verify that we can load the default NGINX web page using curl:
```
curl http://`curl v4.ifconfig.co`
```
Use a web browser to go to the default NGINX web page at http://OUR_PUBLIC_IP_ADDRESS or http://OUR_PUBLIC_DNS. We should see the default NGINX page. We can find the public IP address and DNS of our instance in the /home/cloud_user/server_info.txt file.
Challenge

Install the PHP Components
Install the PHP components using apt-get:
```
apt-get -y install php-fpm php-mysql
```
Challenge

Activating the Virtual Host Configuration
To make the bigstatecollege.edu virtual host active, we create a symlink to the appropriate configuration file in the sites-enabled directory:
```
ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/bigstatecollege.edu.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/bigstatecollege.edu.conf
```
Validate the NGINX configuration before reloading the NGINX service:
```
nginx -t
```
```
systemctl reload nginx
```
Restart the php-fpm service:
```
systemctl restart php7.2-fpm.service
```
Challenge

Verifying PHP Functionality in NGINX
Test PHP by loading the phpinfo page on bigstatecollege.edu. We are providing a header (via the -H switch) so NGINX knows to route the request to the www.bigstatecollege.edu virtual host:
```
curl -H "www.bigstatecollege.edu" http://www.bigstatecollege.edu/phpinfo.php
```
We can add our server's public IP address, pointing at www.bigstatecollege.edu, to our computer's hosts file if we want to access the phpinfo page at http://www.bigstatecollege.edu/phpinfo.php with a web browser.
Challenge

Install MariaDB
Install MariaDB using apt-get:
```
apt-get -y install mariadb-server
```
Check the status of the MariaDB server using systemctl:
```
systemctl status mariadb
```
The server should be enabled and running.
Challenge

Verify the Installed Version of MariaDB
Check the version of MariaDB:
```
mysql -V
```
root@ip-10-0-1-113:~# mysql -V mysql Ver 15.1 Distrib 10.1.41-MariaDB, for debian-linux-gnu (x86_64) using readline 5.2

Author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

What's a lab?

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

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We will provide the credentials and environment necessary for you to practice right within your browser.

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Follow along with the author’s guided walkthrough and build something new in your provided environment!

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Installing a LEMP Stack on Ubuntu Linux

Path Info

Table of Contents

Install NGINX Using the Default Ubuntu Package Repositories

Configure HTTP Access Through the Firewall

Verify Basic HTTP Functionality in NGINX

Install the PHP Components

Activating the Virtual Host Configuration

Verifying PHP Functionality in NGINX

Install MariaDB

Verify the Installed Version of MariaDB

What's a lab?

Provided environment for hands-on practice

Guided walkthrough

Did you know?