Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it’s crucial to ensure your Debian 11 system is up-to-date. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Keeping your system updated is essential for security and performance, whether you're using a local server or a UK Windows VPS.

Step 2: Install Apache, PHP, and MySQL

Concrete5 requires a web server, PHP, and a database to function. Install Apache, PHP, and MySQL using the following command:

sudo apt install apache2 php libapache2-mod-php mysql-server php-mysql php-cli php-common php-xml php-mbstring

Once installed, start and enable Apache and MySQL to run at boot:

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo systemctl enable mysql
            

This setup is perfect whether you're hosting Concrete5 on a local server or on a Windows VPS hosting UK environment.

Step 3: Configure MySQL for Concrete5

Concrete5 requires a MySQL database. To configure it, log into MySQL and create the database and user:

sudo mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE concrete5;
CREATE USER 'concrete5user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON concrete5.* TO 'concrete5user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;
            

With the database ready, you can proceed to download and configure Concrete5. This setup will work efficiently on platforms like Windows Virtual Private Servers or other VPS options.

Step 4: Download and Install Concrete5

Download the latest version of Concrete5 from the official website:

cd /var/www/html
wget https://www.concretecms.org/download_file/-/view/114297/
unzip concretecms.zip -d concrete5
            

Set the correct ownership and permissions for the installation directory:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/concrete5
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/concrete5
            

This will prepare Concrete5 for installation. Whether you're using Debian or a UK VPS Windows environment, these steps remain consistent.

Step 5: Configure Apache for Concrete5

Create a new Apache configuration file for your Concrete5 site:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/concrete5.conf

Add the following configuration:

    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/concrete5
    ServerName example.com

    
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

            

Enable the site and Apache rewrite module:

sudo a2ensite concrete5.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2
            

Your site should now be accessible via your server's IP address. Whether you’re hosting locally or using Windows VPS hosting UK, this configuration will ensure Concrete5 is served properly.

Step 6: Install Let's Encrypt SSL Certificate

To secure your Concrete5 site, you can use Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates. First, install Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache

Next, obtain the SSL certificate by running:

sudo certbot --apache -d example.com -d www.example.com

Certbot will automatically configure your Apache virtual host to use SSL. After the process completes, your site will be accessible securely via HTTPS. This is applicable whether you're using a local server or a Windows Virtual Dedicated Server Hosting environment.

Step 7: Complete the Concrete5 Installation

With the server and SSL set up, navigate to http://your-domain.com to complete the Concrete5 installation through the web interface. Enter the database credentials you created earlier, and follow the on-screen instructions to finalize the setup.

Once completed, you will have a fully functional Concrete5 CMS ready to be used. This configuration works seamlessly on VPS Windows Servers and other hosting environments.