Step-by-Step Guide: How to Install WordPress Using Docker on Ubuntu

Introduction

Setting up WordPress on Ubuntu using Docker can greatly simplify development and provide a consistent environment for testing and deployment. This guide will walk you through all the necessary steps to install WordPress using Docker on an Ubuntu system.

Prerequisites for Ubuntu

Before starting, make sure your Ubuntu system meets the following requirements:

• Ubuntu 20.04 or later
• Docker
• Docker Compose
• At least 4 GB of RAM and 10 GB of disk space

You should also ensure that your system is up to date by running:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Step 1: Install Docker on Ubuntu

1. Install Docker: To install Docker, run the following command:

   sudo apt-get install docker.io
   

2. Start Docker and enable it on boot:

   sudo systemctl start docker
   sudo systemctl enable docker
   

3. Verify Docker installation: Confirm that Docker is installed by checking its version:

   docker --version
   

Step 2: Install Docker Compose on Ubuntu

Docker Compose is used to define and run multi-container Docker applications. Install it by running:

sudo apt-get install docker-compose

Verify the installation with:

docker-compose --version

Step 3: Create a Docker Compose File for WordPress

Create a directory for your WordPress project:

mkdir wordpress-docker
cd wordpress-docker

nano docker-compose.yml

Inside this directory, create a docker-compose.yml file with the following content:

version: '3.8'
services:
  wordpress:
    image: wordpress:latest
    ports:
      - "8000:80"
    environment:
      WORDPRESS_DB_HOST: db
      WORDPRESS_DB_USER: user
      WORDPRESS_DB_PASSWORD: password
      WORDPRESS_DB_NAME: wordpress
    volumes:
      - ./wp-data:/var/www/html
  db:
    image: mysql:5.7
    environment:
      MYSQL_ROOT_PASSWORD: password
      MYSQL_DATABASE: wordpress
      MYSQL_USER: user
      MYSQL_PASSWORD: password
    volumes:
      - ./db-data:/var/lib/mysql

Ctrl + S for save and Ctrl + x to exit

This file configures both WordPress and MySQL services.

Step 4: Start WordPress Using Docker Compose

1. Run Docker Compose: Start the containers by running:

   docker-compose up -d
   

2. Access WordPress in Your Browser: Open a web browser and go to http://localhost:8000. This will take you to the WordPress setup screen.

Ex: Port number

Highlighted number is your local port number

Step 5: Configure WordPress

Once the containers are up, you will be prompted to configure WordPress. Choose your language, set up your admin credentials, and connect to the MySQL database using the values from the docker-compose.yml file.

Managing Docker Containers on Ubuntu

• Start containers:

  docker-compose start
  

• Stop containers:

  docker-compose stop
  

• Check container status:

  docker ps
  

Backup and Restore WordPress on Ubuntu

• Backup: Archive the wp-data and db-data directories.

• Restore: Copy the directories back into place and run Docker Compose again.