Setting up a web server has always been a goal of mine, I wanted to be able to host my own websites, as well as create a platform for others to host their own websites. After multiple failed attempts at using different combinations of web servers and databases, I decided to go with Apache2 and MariaDB. In this blog post, I will share my experience with deploying a web server using Apache2, SQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin.
Research and Planning –
The first step in my journey was to research and plan my web server deployment. I read through various tutorials and forums to gain a better understanding of the different web servers and databases available and their capabilities. I also made a list of the features and functionality that I needed, such as support for PHP and SQL, as well as user access control.
Containerizing with Docker –
After researching and planning, I decided to try containerizing my web server using Docker. I created a Docker container and installed Apache2, SQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin on it. However, I soon realized that containerizing everything into a single container did not feel quite right, and I decided to try something else.
Virtualizing with Proxmox –
I decided to virtualize my web server using Proxmox and Debian. I created a new virtual machine on Proxmox and installed Debian on it. I then installed Apache2, SQL, PHP, and phpMyAdmin on the virtual machine. This gave me more control over my self-hosted websites and allowed me to manage my web server more easily.
Configuring Apache2 and MariaDB –
Once I had the virtual machine set up, I moved on to configuring Apache2 and MariaDB. I set up the necessary modules and dependencies, and configured the network settings. I also created different users and access levels for the web server.
Self-hosting Websites –
With my web server fully configured, I was finally able to self-host my websites. I used WordPress to create my blog, which is also hosted on my web server. It was a great feeling to have my own self-hosted website and blog.
In conclusion, deploying a web server was a challenging but rewarding experience. After multiple failed attempts, I finally found a combination of Apache2 and MariaDB that worked for me. Using Proxmox to virtualize my web server gave me more control over my self-hosted websites. I learned a lot about web servers, databases, and virtualization in the process and I am confident that my web server will serve me well in the future. Additionally, being able to self-host my own website and blog was a huge accomplishment for me.