How to Install LAMP Stack on Ubuntu with Virtual Hosts

The LAMP stack is one of the most popular ways to run websites and applications. It combines:

• Linux → Operating system
• Apache → Web server
• MySQL → Database
• PHP → Server-side language

In this guide, you’ll learn how to install LAMP stack on Ubuntu step by step. We’ll cover everything from installing Apache and setting up a firewall, to configuring a Virtual Host, testing PHP, and linking PHP with MySQL. By the end, your server will be ready to run modern PHP applications.

Table of Contents

• Step 1 — Install Apache and Update Firewall
• Step 2 — Install MySQL Database
• Step 3 — Install PHP
• Step 4 — Configure Apache Virtual Host
• Step 5 — Test PHP Processing
• Step 6 — Test Database Connection
• Conclusion

Apache is the web server that delivers content to users.

Update your system and install Apache:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

Check status:

systemctl status apache2

If you see active (running), Apache is working.

Configure Firewall

List profiles:

sudo ufw app list

Allow HTTP traffic:

sudo ufw allow "Apache"

Now visit:

http://your_server_ip

If you see the Apache default page, your server is live.

install lamp stack on ubuntu apache test page

Next, install MySQL to manage website data.

sudo apt install mysql-server

Secure MySQL

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Set a root password, remove test databases, and block remote root access.

Test MySQL

sudo mysql -u root -p

If you see the MySQL prompt, installation is successful.

PHP connects Apache with MySQL.

Install PHP with common extensions:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql

Check PHP version:

php -v

Set up a custom Virtual Host instead of relying on the default web root.

Create directory:

sudo mkdir /var/www/your-project-name
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/your-project-name

Create config file:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/your-project-name.conf

Add:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName your-project-name.com
    ServerAlias www.your-project-name.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/your-project-name
    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/your_project_name_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/your_project_name_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable the site and reload:

sudo a2ensite your-project-name
sudo systemctl reload apache2

3) Add Test Page

nano /var/www/your-project-name/index.html

Paste:

<h1>Welcome from My Project!</h1>

Visit in browser: http://your_server_ip

You should see:

index.html page test

Create test file:

nano /var/www/your-project-name/info.php

Add:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Visit:

http://your_server_ip/info.php

You should see PHP details.

install lamp stack on ubuntu php info page

Create Database

sudo mysql

CREATE DATABASE sampledb;
CREATE USER 'sampleuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON sampledb.* TO 'sampleuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Create PHP DB Test Script

nano /var/www/your-project-name/dbtest.php

<?php
$mysqli = new mysqli("localhost", "sampleuser", "password", "sampledb");
if ($mysqli->connect_error) {
    die("Connection failed: " . $mysqli->connect_error);
}
echo "Database connection successful!";
$mysqli->close();
?>

Visit:

http://your_server_ip/dbtest.php

You should see: Database connection successful!

Step 7 — Install Extra PHP Extensions (Optional)

sudo apt install php-cli php-curl php-mbstring php-xml php-zip

• php-cli → Run PHP from command line
• php-curl → API requests
• php-mbstring → UTF-8 support
• php-xml → XML handling
• php-zip → File compression

You’ve successfully set up the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) on Ubuntu and configured a Virtual Host.

With this foundation, you can now:

• 🚀 Launch WordPress or other CMS
• 🛠️ Develop with Laravel, Symfony, or custom PHP apps
• 🔒 Prepare for production with SSL (Let’s Encrypt), secure MySQL users, and Apache hardening

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