Learning how to install Joomla can seem like a daunting task. Fortunately, there are many options that make the process very simple. In this article we will cover a few different options that will show you how to install Joomla. Finding the easiest or best method for you will depend on your needs, skills, and hosting environment. Before we get into too much detail about installing Joomla we will take a look at what Joomla is and discover why a webmaster may want to use Joomla for his/her website.
What is Joomla?
Joomla is a content management system used for building and maintaining a website. That is a very broad generalization, so let’s dig a little deeper to gain a better understanding. Essentially, a website is made up of little bits of information that are all stored on a server and work together to create a specific outcome. You may compare it to going to an auto parts store. Imagine walking into a massive room stacked with big piles of parts and tools; nothing is organized or labeled. There are no sections or departments for the merchandise, no clerks to direct you to what you need. What would you do? Most of us would turn around and walk back out. The effort it would take to sort through the mess to try and find whichever specific tool or part you need would likely not be worth it. A website is similar in that it has many components that need to be organized in an effective and efficient manner. A website consists of numerous programs, text, photos, music, videos, documents, and other files. If everything is just dumped into a massive heap on the server with no way to manage it, you will not have a functioning website.
Using a content management system like Joomla makes organizing and managing all your website files seamless. You do not have to have any special skill set or programming knowledge. So, about now you are probably thinking well this all sounds great but what is it going to cost me? We are happy to answer that by saying it won’t cost you anything. Joomla is an open-source project and is available to everyone at no charge. In fact, it comes standard with most web hosting accounts as an optional install using a one-click installer like Softaculous or Fantastico.
How to Install Joomla
If you have a new web hosting provider and you want to learn how to install Joomla on your web hosting account, visit the knowledgebase or help center for the web host, they will likely have a simple tutorial that will show you step-by-step how to install it. If the web host has a one-click installer like Fantastico or Softaculous, the installation process will be very simple. The process may vary slightly from one host to another, depending on the control panel and installer that the web host provides. If you are using the cPanel control panel just look for the Fantastico icon, click on it, then choose Joomla from the list of applications. From here there will be a step-by-step walk through of the installation process, start by clicking “New Installation” and then fill in the basic website details and web hosting information such as the directory you want to install it in, the admin access data you want to use, your name, and email address. At the end you will have the option to “install sample data”, if you are new to Joomla this can be very helpful. Make your choice and then click “Install Joomla” and you are done. You will be sent login information, be sure to bookmark the login page and remember your login credentials for future use.
This process is simple and should only take a few minutes. If you run into a problem or need additional help you can always contact the customer support for your web host. Most of the hosting companies have a lot of experience with these simple installations and will be able to walk you through it, some hosts may even complete the installation for you. If you are unsure, it never hurts to ask.
How to Manually Install Joomla.
If you don’t have a one-click installer, you may need to manually install Joomla. This is a little more work but not incredibly difficult. Especially if you have any experience working with MySQL and FTP. The first thing you need to do is create a MySQL database for your Joomla installation and add a new user (cPanel provides a simple tutorial for creating a MySQL database if you are not familiar with the process). Next you will want to create a folder on your computer to upload the files to, this can just be called “upload” or “download” or whatever. Make sure you know the path to the folder so you can find it easily. Visit Joomla.org and download the latest version, saving it in the new folder you just created, and extract the files. Next, upload all the content from the folder to the directory on the server where you want Joomla to be installed. You may want to use FTP to upload all these files. Once the files are uploaded open the URL where the files are, you will then be redirected to the Joomla installation page.
The installation will have you select a language and accept the terms and conditions of the license agreement. You will need to fill in the basic settings like the database type, hosts name, username, password, and database name. The last step is to fill in your site name, email, and admin password. You should receive a confirmation that Joomala was successfully installed. Be sure to delete the installation directory once setup is complete.
These are basic instructions for how to install Joomla. If you run into any problems or have specific issues or questions call your web hosting company to see if they can help, or visit the Joomla site and go to the forums to get help and support from other Joomla users.