Tutorials - New CGI Platform > Help Installing Wordpress

Tutorials & FAQs: Scripts: How to install Wordpress

If you use your account to run your own website, one feature you might like to add is a Web Log or Blog (a journal system ready for you to use as you wish). This tutorial provides guidance for installing the WordPress software, one of the most popular free Blog packages available.

Expertise required

You'll be able to install this software very easily if you follow the step-by-step instructions methodically and accurately type what you see.

• In two places, you will be required to transfer a file to the CGI server machine. If you have a graphical FTP software package, such as CuteFTP, you may use that. Otherwise, you may use a command line interface (instructions given). However, to do this you'll need to know how to bring up a Command Prompt (possibly called a DOS command,or DOS box) on your operating system and how to then change directory.
  
• The installation process also requires you to log on to the CGI server machine. Don't worry, all the commands you'll need are given within the tutorial, so even relatively inexperienced users should not be put off.
  
• Non-Windows users should have little difficulty in interpreting the instructions for their operating systems. Very little is actually done on the local host, so the procedure is essentially operating system neutral in this respect.
  

Getting started with Wordpress

Prior to starting, make sure you have activated both MySQL and CGI usage for your account. (The Website Settings link of the Portal provides tools for doing this. If you do not see the MySQL and CGI configuration tools when you select Website settings, you'll need to upgrade to an account type which includes them.)

For simplicity, red text has been used to indicate text which must be entered exactly as shown. Do not alter it at all (unless you know what you are doing).

Using Wordpress with your CGI webspace

Logging into the CGI server

1. For this first step you will need to connect to the CGI server using telnet.
   
2. To do this you first need to get a Command Prompt, also known as a DOS Prompt. The easiest way to do this is to click on 'Start', then 'Run' and type 'command' in the box provided.
   
3. Click 'OK'. You then need to type the following command:
   

   drive:\dir> telnet cshell.plus.net [Connecting] Linux 2.6.11-PlusNet-cgi (<timestamp>) login: <your username> Password: <your password for the CGI server machine> Last login: <timestamp> from <your username>.plus.com username@cshell1 username $

You have now logged on, and you're at a Linux 'shell' prompt (a Linux way of saying 'Command' Prompt). A feature of the shell is that if you write a few letters of a filename and then press the tab key, it will complete the rest of the name, based on the files in the directory. We'll make use of that feature here, so you don't have to remember the full name of the file we're interested in.

Note: Linux systems are case sensitive (i.e. it matters whether you type in upper case or lower case). Use exactly the same case as is shown here, otherwise Linux won't understand. If you type 'coppermine' this is not the same as 'Coppermine', for example.

Obtaining the WordPress software

Visit the WordPress website. However we are not going to visit it to get the software, instead we are going to use a program called 'wget' on the CGI server.

username@cshell1 username $ wget http://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz --22:54:51-- http://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz => `latest.tar.gz' Resolving wordpress.org... 70.84.29.148 Connecting to wordpress.org[70.84.29.148]:80... connected. HTTP request sent, awaiting response... 200 OK Length: unspecified [application/octet-stream] [ <=> ] 297,629 249.23K/s 22:54:53 (248.96 KB/s) - `latest.tar.gz' saved [297629] pugtest10@cshell02:~$

Extracting the software on the CGI server

1. Your tar.gz WordPress package is now in your 'home' directory on the CGI server machine. You now need to unpack it by issuing the following command:
   

   username@cshell1 phpnuke $ tar zxvf latest.tar.gz

   
   
2. You'll see each file listed as it is extracted. Once the extraction has finished you should now have a directory called 'wordpress'.
   

[color=darkred]Deciding on a directory name for your Blog

This step is optional, but it will determine the URL (web address) used to access your Blog (<ccgi.username.plus.com>).

1. The next part of the URL is the directory name in which the WordPress software resides. By default, it is /wordpress, so you would access the forum with this URL: http://<forum hostname>/wordpress.
   
2. If you don't like the directory name 'wordpress', now is the time to change it. It is more difficult to change later, although it can be done. For example, you might prefer to call it 'blog', which would then make your WordPress site's web address: http://<cgi hostname>/blog. You could even install it to the root of your CGI space, so the address would just be http://ccgi.username.plus.com.
   
3. If you want to change the directory name, you do it from your telnet session. First, we will make sure we are in the root of your CGI space.
   

   username@cshell1 username $ cd

Installing WordPress to a particular directory

If you want to change it to a particular name, you just need to issue the following command:

username@cshell1 username $ mv wordpress blog

Changing the permissions of PHP files

On the new CGI platform, php files must have the permissions set on them so they are executable. To do this issue the following command:

username@cshell1 <wordpress directory> $ find . -name "*.php" | xargs chmod u+x

The Pipe character, '|', is found on the backslash key '\' to the left of the 'z' key. It can be entered by holding the shift key whilst pressing '\'.

Setting up your MySQL details

We now need to configure the MySQL details, firstly to rename the sample configuration file and then edit it

username@cshell1 username $ cd wordpress username@cshell1 username $ mv wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php username@cshell1 username $ nano wp-config.php

Use the cursor keys and change wordpress, username, password, and localhost to your MySQL details. Then press CRTL +X to exit, Y to confirm the changes and then Enter to confirm the filename.

Installing the software

The next step of the installation is carried out from your web browser on your PC.

1. Browse to <your wordpress address> / install.php.
   
2. You will be presented with the WordPress installation screen.
   
3. Click First Step.
   
4. Under Weblog title give your weblog a name and then enter your email address.
   
5. Click Continue.
   
6. You'll now be presented with the Second Step screen. WordPress will now set up your database, generating an admin username and password. Make sure you keep these safe.
   
7. Click the Login address link (wp-login.php).
   
8. Enter your admin username and password to begin.
   

Next Steps
The WordPress website provides some useful support and discussion topics relating to the WordPress software.

Acknowledgements
This document was originally hosted on the PlusNet Portal, and has been reproduced here at the request of PlusNet Staff.

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Original Article by: csogilvie - Edited by: csogilvie