# How to Install Backdrop CMS on Arch Linux > URL: https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/how-to-install-backdrop-cms-on-arch-linux/ | Published: 2023-03-10 | Updated: 2024-04-19 | Author: Hitesh Jethva Backdrop is a simple, lightweight, and powerful content management system used for building professional websites. It is written in PHP and is a fork of the Drupal project. It offers a simple and user-friendly web UI where users can create web pages easily. If you are looking for a simple and powerful CMS, then Backdrop CMS is the right choice for you. In this post, we will show you how to install Backdrop CMS on Arch Linux. ## Step 1 – Configure Repository By default, the default repository is outdated in Arch Linux, so you will need to modify the default mirror list. You can do it by editing the mirror list configuration file: ``` nano /etc/pacman.d/mirrorlist ``` Remove all lines and add the following lines: ``` ## Score: 0.7, United States Server = http://mirror.us.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 0.8, United States Server = http://lug.mtu.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch Server = http://mirror.nl.leaseweb.net/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 0.9, United Kingdom Server = http://mirror.bytemark.co.uk/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 1.5, United Kingdom Server = http://mirrors.manchester.m247.com/arch-linux/$repo/os/$arch Server = http://archlinux.dcc.fc.up.pt/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 6.6, United States Server = http://mirror.cs.pitt.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 6.7, United States Server = http://mirrors.acm.wpi.edu/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 6.8, United States Server = http://ftp.osuosl.org/pub/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 7.1, India Server = http://mirror.cse.iitk.ac.in/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ## Score: 10.1, United States Server = http://mirrors.xmission.com/archlinux/$repo/os/$arch ``` Save and close the file, then update all the package indexes with the following command: ``` pacman -Syu ``` ## Step 2 – Install Apache and PHP First, install the Apache web server with the following command: ``` pacman -Sy apache ``` After the successful installation, start and enable the Apache service with the following command: ``` systemctl start httpd systemctl enable httpd ``` Next, install the PHP and other required extensions using the following command: ``` pacman -Sy php php-gd php-cgi php-intl php-apache unzip ``` After the installation, edit the PHP configuration file and enable the required extensions: ``` nano /etc/php/php.ini ``` Add/modify the following lines: ``` extension=pdo_mysql extension=gd extension=json extension=mysqli extension=intl extension=xml ``` Save and close the file when you are finished. ## Step 3 – Install and Configure MariaDB Database First, install the MariaDB server with the following command: ``` pacman -S libmariadbclient mariadb mariadb-clients ``` Next, initialize the MariaDB database with the following command: ``` mysql_install_db --user=mysql --basedir=/usr --datadir=/var/lib/mysql ``` Next, start and enable the MariaDB service with the following command: ``` systemctl start mysqld systemctl enable mysqld ``` Next, connect to the MariaDB console using the following command: ``` mysql ``` Once you are connected, create a database and user for Backdrop: ``` CREATE DATABASE backdrop; GRANT ALL ON backdrop.* TO backdrop@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'password'; ``` Next, flush the privileges and exit from the MariaDB shell with the following command: ``` FLUSH PRIVILEGES; EXIT; ``` ## Step 4 – Download Backdrop CMS First, download the latest version of Backdrop CMS from their official download page. ``` curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/backdrop/backdrop/releases/latest|grep browser_download_url|grep backdrop.zip|cut -d '"' -f 4|wget -qi - ``` Once the download is completed, extract it to the Apache web root directory with the following command: ``` unzip backdrop.zip mv backdrop /srv/http/backdrop ``` Next, change the ownership of the Backdrop directory to Apache: ``` chown -R http:http /srv/http/backdrop/ chmod -R 775 /srv/http/backdrop/ ``` ## Step 5 – Configure Apache for Backdrop CMS Next, you will need to create an Apache virtual host configuration file to host Backdrop CMS on the web. ``` nano /etc/httpd/conf/extra/backdrop.conf ``` Add the following configurations: ``` ServerAdmin admin@example.com DocumentRoot /srv/http/backdrop ServerName backdrop.example.com Options FollowSymLinks AllowOverride All Require all granted ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/error.log CustomLog /var/log/httpd/access.log combined ``` Save and close the file, then edit the Apache main configuration file. ``` nano /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf ``` Uncomment the following lines: ``` Include conf/extra/httpd-vhosts.conf LoadModule mpm_prefork_module modules/mod_mpm_prefork.so ``` Comment the following line: ``` #LoadModule mpm_event_module modules/mod_mpm_event.so ``` Add the following lines: ``` LoadModule php_module modules/libphp.so AddHandler php-script .php Include conf/extra/php_module.conf Include conf/extra/backdrop.conf ``` Save and close the file. Then, restart the Apache service to apply the changes: ``` systemctl restart httpd ``` ## Step 6 – Access Backdrop CMS Now, open your web browser and access the Backdrop CMS web interface using the URL **http://backdrop.example.com.** You should see the language selection screen. ![backdrop cms language selection screen](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/p1-2.png) Select your language and click on the **SAVE AND CONTINUE** button. You should see the database configuration screen. ![backdrop cms database configuration screen](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/p2-2.png) Define your database user and password and click on the **SAVE AND CONTINUE** button. You should see the site configuration page. ![backdrop cms site configuration](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/p5-2.png) Provide your site information, admin username, and password, and click on the **SAVE AND CONTINUE** button. You should see the Backdrop CMS dashboard on the following page. ![backdrop cms dashboard](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/p6-2.png) ## Conclusion In this guide, we explained how to install Backdrop CMS with Apache on Arch Linux. You can now use Backdrop CMS in the production environment to create and manage your website via a web browser. You can also try Backdrop CMS on one of our [dedicated server hosting](https://www.atlantic.net/dedicated-server-hosting/) from Atlantic.Net!