This guide will teach you how to perform a typical Joomla installation on (mt) Media Temple's Grid-Service.

Create your MySQL Database and Database User

• How can I create a MySQL Database?
  
• How can I Create a Database User and set permissions?
• You will also need to know your internal hostname which will look similar to internal-db.s#####.gridserver.com (Remember to replace #### with your (gs) site number)
  

Download and Upload the Joomla Files

1. Download and Extract the latest stable version of Joomla.
2. Login to your (gs) Grid-Service via FTP or SFTP
   
   • Basic FTP Instructions
   • FTP Program Setup Tutorials
3. Upload the files with your FTP application to the directory you wish to use for your domain. The following are some examples of where you can upload the Joomla files.
   
   

   NOTE:

   Remember to replace mt-example.com with your own domain.

   • For a primary or alternate domain:
     /domains/mt-example.com/html/ (Joomla Files Go Here)
   • For a sub-domain:
     /domains/blog.mt-example.com/html/ (Joomla Files Go Here)
   • For a sub-directory:
     /domains/mt-example.com/html/blog/ (Joomla Files Go Here)
     
     

Run the Joomla Installation Script

To run the script you must visit the URL that will be the home for your Joomla website. This URL is based on where you uploaded the files in the previous step.

• For a primary or alternate domain:
  http://mt-example.com
• For a sub-domain:
  http://blog.mt-example.com
• For a sub-directory:
  http://mt-example.com/blog

1. The first screen lets you choose your language. Click Next when done.
   
   
2. Verify that you pass the pre-installation Check.
   
   
   
   Make sure that the domain you are using is set to php 5. You also may need to edit your php.ini file to successfully pass the pre-installation check list. Below are some examples of some lines that may be necessary to include in your php.ini file:
   
   

   NOTE:
   

   Be sure to un-comment any of the changes you may need to use.

    ;Session Save Paths (Replace #### with your site number)
    ;session.save_path=/home/####/data/tmp
   
    ;Safe Mode (Default is OFF for your domains)
    ;safe_mode = Off
   
    ;Disable Display Errors
    ;display_errors = Off
    ;error_reporting = E_ALL & ~E_NOTICE
   
    ;Increase limits
    ;upload_max_filesize = 20M
    ;post_max_size = 20M
    ;memory_limit = 100M
   
    ;Disable Register Globals
    ;register_globals = false
   

3. Read and accept the Joomla license.  Click Next to continue.
   
   
4. Please provide Joomla the database information we configured earlier during the guide:
   
   
   
   
5. Now also provide Joomla your FTP information:
   
   

   NOTE:

   We strongly suggest that you create a sub-ftp user specifically for Joomla. You should limit access for this user to only have access to the Joomla directory. For more information read: Creating additional FTP users

   
   
   
6. Setup Joomla's Default login and Site Name:
   
   
   
   
7. Once complete please remove the Joomla installation directory before attempting to login or view your site:
   
   
   
   

Correct System Paths for Joomla

By default Joomla tries to use absolute paths when you perform your installation. We will need to change this so Joomla will use the correct dynamic paths. Failure to do so may cause your website to stop loading in the future.

1. Login to your (gs) Grid-Service with FTP
2. Browse to your Joomla Directory and find your configuration.php file.
3. Open the configuration.php file and change the tmp and log paths:
   
   

   NOTE:
   

   • Be sure to replace #### with your site number
   • Be sure to replace mt-example.com with your own domain

   • var $log_path = '/home/####/domains/mt-example.com/html/logs';
   • var $tmp_path = '/home/####/domains/mt-example.com/html/tmp';
4. Save the changes and verify the change was successful.
   

   Revisions:

   12-10-2008: Article Creation