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In my WordPress introduction , I explained some basics about why WordPress is a favorable content management system for websites. I’m going to detail the process of installing WordPress today.

WordPress Hosting Requirements:

Before explaining how to install WordPress, I should first cover some server requirements and provide a few suggestions on hosting (if you don’t already have a website or hosting).

WordPress uses a language called PHP for the majority of its files and functionality. It also relies on a SQL database to store data supplied by users. This data might be for blog posts, content pages, comments, etc., but it is all text or code. Other files such as images, videos, pdf files, word documents, etc., are all stored on the server with the WordPress files.

Q: Why does WordPress use a database?
A: It is an efficient way to store and quickly recall the data.

Q: So… we need PHP and a SQL (one of the most common is MYSQL) database. What kinds of servers use that?
A: Most commonly you’ll find that shared hosting packages running on Linux and Unix will support both PHP and MYSQL. Some Windows based servers can run PHP but, in my experience, it is more difficult to work with and can create limitations on certain types of functionality available in WordPress.

Shared Hosting vs Dedicated or Semi-Dedicated Servers

There are a few kinds of hosting options. These include shared hosting, semi-dedicated servers (often called virtual private servers or VPS), and dedicated servers.

Shared Hosting

Shared hosting packages are pretty much just like their name. Depending on the hosting company you use, you might have a few sites running on a single server or there could be dozens (or very potentially many more than that). For most website owners starting a new website, a shared hosting package will be more than adequate to handle your needs.

Semi-Dedicated Hosting

Semi-dedicated servers will generally house many fewer websites than shared hosting. Generally you can purchase a semi-dedicated hosting package based on your server needs. If you have a website that receives a lot of traffic and needs to run resource intense web applications, you will probably need more CPU power and RAM than you’ll have with shared hosting.

Dedicated Servers

A dedicated server is just how it sounds – you get a full server all to yourself. Most site owners will never need a dedicated server. Overall, the way you shop for a dedicated server is much like the way you shop for a semi-dedicated server – based on specific system requirements.

A Few Hosting Options

Pricing for shared hosting is quite reasonable. Most shared hosting packages start off around $6 per month and run upwards of $15 per month. A semi-dedicated server (VPS) can run anywhere from about $20 on the low end to $200 or more. A dedicated server will on average be more than a VPS.

If you’re looking for a good hosting company, Godaddy has proved to be quite reliable for me in terms of shared hosting. A few others that are suggested on WordPress.org are DreamHost, Blue Host, MediaTemple, and Laughing Squid.

I used Godaddy’s VPS services for about a month and found that my site was crashing quite frequently as a result of the amount of RAM I had. I decided I’d be better off switching to another host than upgrading to a larger (and more expensive package) with Godaddy.

I did some research and shopped around comparing pricing. I ended up with KickassVPS.com – they have great pricing and wonderful service. When you call, you will talk to a live person – no automated messaging. I’m sure commenters might be able to recommend some additional reliable VPS companies.

On to the Installation (YEAH!)

There are generally two ways to install WordPress onto your hosting account. Depending on what company you host with, the installation process will be automated or manual.

Automated Installation

Some web hosting companies will offer a one click WordPress installer right inside of their hosting admin panel. It might be found under enhancements or a similar menu. In Godaddy it is under Web Applications.

If your host offers this feature, the installation will be very quick. Just find and click the link or box to start the installation. During the initial steps of the installation, you will most likely be prompted to create a database username and password. Then you’ll either enter a username and password or just the admin account password. From there, you’ll login and start configuring the site and adding content.

Notes About Automatic Installation

In general, there can be two downsides to automated installers that stand out to me. The first is that your host might modify the source files to include some messaging of their own and I could conceive that some might insert ads for their services or products. I haven’t seen this personally because I only install WordPress manually.

The second and more serious reason that I don’t use the automated installations relates to my first reason. I have seen at least one host that modified the WordPress installation files in a way that can affect automatic upgrades of the software. I just don’t want to have to hassle with this in the future.

Manual Installation

If you either a) couldn’t find the automatic installer, b) like to do things the manual way, or c) are like me and don’t trust automatic installers, you will have to go the manual route. Don’t worry, it isn’t the end of the world.

Download WordPress

FIrst, you’ll want to download the most recent version of WordPress. You can do that by going to www.wordpress.org and on the home page you’ll see the download link. Next you’ll need to unzip the files. If you aren’t familiar with .zip files, it might be best to find a web host that has an automated installer or contact their tech support for installation assistance.

Upload the Files

Now that you’ve got all the installation files ready to go, you’ll need to upload them to your website via FTP (also, for very advanced users, WordPress can be installed via SSH). You can upload the files directly to the root directory or they can reside in a subfolder. If you’re going to use WordPress as a CMS and blog, it is probably best to put the files in the root directory.

Set Up the Database

The next step is going to involve setting up your SQL database. I’m going to assume your host has MYSQL since it is the most common type of database on shared hosting. You’ll need to log into your hosting admin panel and find the databases section. From there you’ll need to create a new database.

You’ll be prompted to enter a database name, username, and database user password. Make sure to record this somewhere because you’ll need it shortly. After you’ve entered the data you’ll save the settings and the database will be created. Depending on your host, this can take as little as a minute or to or as much as a few hours.

Configure WordPress Installer

Now you’ll enter your URL into your browser to load the site – yes there is still more to do to complete the setup. If the files uploaded correctly and your domain is properly assigned, you’ll see an error page saying that you need to install WordPress.

Press “Create a Configuration File” and you’ll be see another message about setting up the wp-config.php file.

Press the button “Let’s go!” and you’ll be prompted to enter the information about your database that you saved (hopefully). The first three fields will the database name, database username, and database password. The next field is for the database host. Most hosting packages will probably use localhost which is already entered. If you’re on Godaddy, you’ll need to enter the database location (which can be found in the databases area of your hosting account – it will be something like p49mysql239.secure server.net).

The final field is the table prefix. By default it populates the field with “wp_” – this is fine but I recommend changing it. You could use “wpmysite_” substituting mysite with something else. You’re doing this for security and I’ll explain the reasoning in a later WordPress security post.

Now, cross your fingers (and maybe your toes if you are generally unlucky) and hit the submit button. If all goes well, you’ll be provided with a temporary username (admin will be provided in v2.9.2 and earlier – in future versions you will be able to enter a username and password) and password. Make sure to either copy the password or write it down.

Go ahead and log into the site with the username provided and the password. Congratulations! You’re ready to start blogging or working on your site.

Now What?

I initially planned on explaining how to upload and install themes and plugins by my overly detailed installation instructions have become far too bloated.

Perhaps TLF staff will come out with a merit badge for those of you that read this whole article (it could be called the “I put up with John’s long winded WP Install article” badge).

Stay tuned because in my next (much shorter) WordPress related post, I’ll cover some recommended plugins, starter themes, and the process of uploading and activating (installing) both themes and plugins.
About the Author
John Dawson works on various projects for the Loud Few, including anything WordPress, search engine marketing and occasionally fills in as our professional photographer. You can learn more about him here or follow him on twitter at twitter.com/lonewolfdj.