Moodle Setup on Ubuntu

Introduction

This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough for setting up Moodle, a popular Learning Management System (LMS), on an Ubuntu server. We will cover essential steps, including installing Apache, MySQL, and PHP, configuring Moodle, and finalizing the installation through a web interface. This guide is designed for educators and administrators looking to create a robust online learning environment, regardless of their technical expertise.

Prerequisites

Before setting up Moodle, you will need the following:

• A cloud instance (e.g., AWS EC2, Google Cloud, Azure) with:
  • CPU: At least 1 vCPU
  • RAM: At least 1 GB
  • Storage: At least 20 GB of General Purpose (SSD) volume.
• SSH access to your server using the private key associated with your instance.
• Basic knowledge of Linux commands, such as navigating the filesystem and using the package manager.

Required Software

You will need to install the following software components to ensure Moodle runs smoothly:

• Apache or Nginx for the web server.
• PHP 7.4 or later with required extensions.
• MySQL or MariaDB for the relational database.

Installation Steps

Step 1: Update Your System

Update your system's package list:

sudo apt update

Step 2: Install Apache Web Server

Install Apache:

sudo apt install apache2

Step 3: Start and Enable Apache Services

Start Apache and ensure it runs on boot:

sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl status apache2

Step 4: Install MySQL Database

Install MySQL:

sudo apt install mysql-server

Secure the MySQL installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Step 5: Create Moodle Database and User

Log in to MySQL as the root user:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Run the following SQL queries to create a Moodle database and user:

CREATE DATABASE moodle DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
CREATE USER 'moodleuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';  -- Replace with your strong password
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON moodle.* TO 'moodleuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 6: Install PHP and Required Extensions

Install PHP and required extensions:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-xmlrpc php-intl php-soap php-xml php-gd php-cli php-curl php-zip php-mbstring

Restart Apache to apply changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 7: Download and Set Up Moodle

Download the latest version of Moodle from the Moodle download page or clone the Git repository:

🔗 Link

[moodle]

or

cd /var/www/html
sudo git clone -b MOODLE_401_STABLE git://git.moodle.org/moodle.git

Set permissions for the Moodle directory:

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

Create a data directory for Moodle:

sudo mkdir /var/www/moodledata
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/moodledata
sudo chmod -R 770 /var/www/moodledata

Step 8: Configure Moodle

Copy the sample configuration file:

sudo cp /var/www/html/moodle/config-dist.php /var/www/html/moodle/config.php

Edit the configuration file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/moodle/config.php

Update the following key settings:

• Database information
• Web root URL (replace http://example.com/moodle with your server's IP or domain)
• Data directory path

Step 9: Finalize the Installation via Web Browser

Navigate to:

http://your-server-ip/moodle

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

Step 10: Secure Your Moodle Installation

• Enable HTTPS: Secure your site by installing an SSL certificate.
• Firewall Settings: Ensure only necessary ports (80 for HTTP, 443 for HTTPS) are open.

Common Issues

• 404 Not Found Error: Ensure the Moodle directory is correctly placed in /var/www/html, and check if Apache is running:

sudo systemctl status apache2

• Database Connection Issues: Double-check your database credentials in config.php.

• PHP Version Compatibility Error: Ensure that PHP 7.4 or higher is installed. Check your PHP version with the following command:

• Missing PHP Extensions: Make sure all required PHP extensions are installed:

Conclusion

This guide covered the step-by-step installation of Moodle on Ubuntu, from setting up Apache, MySQL, and PHP to configuring Moodle itself. You now have a powerful, open-source LMS ready for use. Enjoy exploring Moodle and enhancing your educational offerings!