Deploying a LAMP Stack for Q2A or WordPress on Azure: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you’re looking to host a Question2Answer (Q2A) or WordPress site on Azure, this guide will walk you through setting up a testing environment using an Ubuntu virtual machine (VM). We’ll cover everything from creating necessary Azure resources to configuring your VM with essential software for your hosting needs.

By following these steps, you’ll establish a fully operational server environment, ready to efficiently deploy and manage your Q2A or WordPress site.

Step 1: Create a Resource Group

Before you begin setting up your VM on Azure, you’ll need to create a resource group. A resource group in Azure serves as a container for managing all the resources associated with your solution.

To create a resource group, open Azure Cloud Shell and run:

az group create --name rg-q2a-test-uksouth-001 --location uksouth

This command will set up a resource group named rg-q2a-test-uksouth-001 in the uksouth region.

Step 2: Set Up the Virtual Machine (VM)

Next, you’ll create an Ubuntu 22.04 VM that will act as the server for your Q2A or WordPress installation.

  
az vm create --resource-group rg-q2a-test-uksouth-001 --name vm-q2a-test-uksouth-001 --image Ubuntu2204 --admin-username azureuser  --admin-password 'YourPasswordHere'

Key Details:

VM Name: vm-q2a-test-uksouth-001
Image: Ubuntu 22.04
Admin Username: azureuser
Admin Password: Replace 'YourPasswordHere' with a strong password of your choice.

Once this command runs, it will provide output including the VM’s public IP address, which you’ll need for SSH access and web navigation.

Step 3: Enable HTTP Traffic on Port 80

To allow web traffic to your application, you need to open port 80 on your VM:

  
az vm open-port --port 80 --resource-group rg-q2a-test-uksouth-001 --name vm-q2a-test-uksouth-001

This command will allow HTTP traffic through port 80, enabling users to access your web server.

Step 4: Enable RDP Access (Optional)

If you plan to manage your VM using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP), you’ll need to open port 3389:

  
az vm open-port --port 3389 --priority 1100 --resource-group rg-q2a-test-uksouth-001 --name vm-q2a-test-uksouth-001

The priority of 1100 ensures this rule does not conflict with other network rules.

Step 5: Connect to the VM via SSH

With your VM running, connect to it using SSH:

ssh azureuser@yourPublicIpAddress

Replace yourPublicIpAddress with the IP address displayed after your VM was created.

Step 6: Update and Upgrade System Packages

Keeping your system updated is crucial. Start by updating package lists and upgrading installed packages:

  
sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

apt update updates the package lists for upgrades and new package installations.
apt upgrade installs the newest versions of all installed packages.

Step 7: Install Xfce and XRDP (Optional)

If you need a graphical interface for your VM, you can install the Xfce desktop environment along with XRDP for remote desktop access:

  
sudo DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get -y install xfce4
sudo apt install xfce4-session -y
sudo apt-get -y install xrdp
sudo systemctl enable xrdp
sudo adduser xrdp ssl-cert
echo xfce4-session >~/.xsession
sudo service xrdp restart

This setup provides a lightweight GUI, which is particularly useful if you prefer managing your VM through a graphical interface.

Step 8: Install a Web Browser

To facilitate browsing or downloading files directly on your VM, install a web browser like Google Chrome or Firefox.

For Google Chrome:

  
wget https://dl.google.com/linux/direct/google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i google-chrome-stable_current_amd64.deb
sudo apt --fix-broken install -y

For Firefox:

  
sudo apt install firefox -y

Step 9: Install Unzip or Unrar

You’ll need tools to extract downloaded files. Install unzip or unar:

For Unzip:

  
sudo apt install unzip -y

For Unrar:

  
sudo apt install unar -y

Step 10: Install the LAMP Stack

A LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) is essential for hosting your Q2A or WordPress site:

  
sudo apt update && sudo apt install lamp-server^ -y

Step 11: Verify the LAMP Installation

To ensure everything is set up correctly, check the versions of Apache, MySQL, and PHP:

  
apache2 -v
mysql -V
php -v

These commands will display the versions of each component, confirming their proper installation.

Step 12: Create a PHP Info File (Optional)

To verify PHP is working, create a PHP info page:

  
sudo sh -c 'echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" > /var/www/html/info.php'

Access this page at http://yourPublicIpAddress/info.php to view the PHP configuration details.

Step 13: Secure MySQL Installation

Securing your MySQL installation is crucial for protecting your data:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

This script will guide you through setting a root password, removing anonymous users, disallowing remote root login, and other security measures.

Step 14: Configure MySQL Root User

Update the MySQL root user to use native password authentication and set a strong password:

  
sudo mysql
ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'YourSecurePassword';
exit

Replace 'YourSecurePassword' with a robust password to secure your MySQL database.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter errors during installation, try updating your package lists and upgrading all installed packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Additional Commands:

To copy all files to the HTML root folder:

sudo cp -a /home/username/Downloads/your_backup_folder/. /var/www/html

To remove a non-empty folder:
1 sudo rm -r /FolderName/
To delete all files inside a specific folder:
1 sudo rm -r /FolderName/*
To edit the .htaccess file:
1 sudo nano /var/www/html/.htaccess

To set correct permissions for the HTML directory:

  
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/
sudo find /var/www/html/ -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;
sudo find /var/www/html/ -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;

Following these instructions will set up a robust environment for hosting your Question2Answer or WordPress site on Azure. Adjust the configurations and commands as necessary to suit your specific requirements.