How to install phpmyadmin on Ubuntu 22.04

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Introduction

What is phpMyAdmin?

phpMyAdmin is a popular, open-source tool written in PHP, designed for managing MySQL databases through a user-friendly web interface. Whether you are a database novice or a seasoned developer, phpMyAdmin’s feature-rich environment is an ideal platform to interact with MySQL databases, offering capabilities such as browsing, modifying, creating, and managing databases, tables, fields, and rows.

Importance of phpMyAdmin

The value of phpMyAdmin lies in its ability to handle administrative tasks effortlessly. You can run SQL queries, optimize your databases, export and import data, and even set up replication – all without having to use command-line interface.

Step-by-Step Guide

Installing LAMP Stack

Before installing phpMyAdmin, you need a working LAMP stack. Here’s how to set it up.

Updating Ubuntu

To ensure your system is up-to-date, run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Installing Apache

Apache is a popular web server. Install it using the following command:

sudo apt install apache2

To verify, access http://localhost or your server IP in a web browser. You should see the Apache2 Ubuntu Default Page.

Installing MySQL

MySQL is a relational database management system. Install it with:

sudo apt install mysql-server

During installation, set a secure password when prompted.

Installing PHP

Lastly, install PHP along with some common extensions:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql

One-Liner

Here is a one line command to install the lamp stack, enable Apache2 on boot, secure MySQL and allow Apache through UFW.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql -y && sudo systemctl enable apache2 && sudo mysql_secure_installation && sudo ufw allow in "Apache Full"

Securing MySQL

Run the MySQL security script:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set up a secure environment.

Install phpMyAdmin

Now, you’re ready to install phpMyAdmin:

sudo apt install phpmyadmin

During the installation, you’ll be asked to choose a web server. Select Apache2 and press Enter. When asked if you would like dbconfig-common to configure a new database for phpmyadmin, choose Yes.

Accessing phpMyAdmin

Accessing phpMyAdmin might differ based on whether you’re trying to access it on the same system where it’s installed (locally) or from a different system (remotely).

Via localhost

When you install phpMyAdmin on your local machine, the default URL to access phpMyAdmin interface would be http://localhost/phpmyadmin. Let’s break this down:

• http://: This is the protocol used for transferring data over the web.
• localhost: This is the hostname that means ‘this computer,’ or more accurately, ‘the computer I’m working on.’ It’s used to access the network services that are running on the host via the loopback network interface.
• /phpmyadmin: This is the path to the phpMyAdmin application.

To access phpMyAdmin on your local machine:

1. Open a web browser.
2. In the address bar, type http://localhost/phpmyadmin.
3. Press Enter.

You’ll be greeted with the phpMyAdmin login screen. Here, you’ll need to enter your MySQL username and password that you set during installation.

Via remote access

Accessing phpMyAdmin remotely involves connecting to phpMyAdmin installed on a server from a separate machine. Instead of using ‘localhost’ in the URL, you will need to use the server’s IP address or domain name (if it has one).

To access phpMyAdmin remotely:

1. Open a web browser.
2. In the address bar, type http://SERVER_IP_OR_DOMAIN/phpmyadmin.
3. Press Enter.

Again, you’ll see the phpMyAdmin login screen. Enter the MySQL username and password to log in.

Note: Depending on your server’s firewall rules and settings in Apache and phpMyAdmin configuration files, you might need additional steps to enable remote access. Always ensure secure access by using VPNs or SSH tunnels and avoid enabling open access to the phpMyAdmin interface on the public internet.

Troubleshooting Common Errors

Working with web applications like phpMyAdmin can occasionally lead to errors. The “Forbidden” and “Access denied” errors are quite common. However, they can typically be resolved by adjusting certain configuration settings.

‘Forbidden’ Error

The ‘Forbidden’ error usually appears when there’s an issue with Apache’s configuration files or file permissions. This error might prevent you from accessing your phpMyAdmin interface.

To resolve this issue:

1. Check your Apache configuration: Make sure the following line is present in /etc/apache2/apache2.conf: Include /etc/phpmyadmin/apache.conf This line ensures that Apache knows the location of the phpMyAdmin configuration file and can correctly process requests for the phpMyAdmin application. Open the Apache configuration file with a text editor, such as nano: sudo nano /etc/apache2/apache2.conf If the line is missing, add it to the bottom of the file, save the changes, and exit the editor.
2. Restart Apache: To apply the changes, restart the Apache service using the following command: sudo systemctl restart apache2 If Apache restarts without any error messages, try accessing your phpMyAdmin interface again.

If the ‘Forbidden’ error persists even after these steps, check the file permissions for the phpMyAdmin directory and ensure that Apache has sufficient permissions to read and execute the files.

‘Access denied’ Error

The ‘Access denied for user ‘root’@’localhost” error typically appears when you try to log into phpMyAdmin using the root user, and MySQL’s new authentication method isn’t compatible with phpMyAdmin.

To resolve this issue, you need to change the authentication method for the MySQL root user:

1. Open MySQL’s command-line client: sudo mysql -u root -p Enter your password when prompted.
2. Change the authentication method: In the MySQL shell, run the following command: ALTER USER 'root'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED WITH mysql_native_password BY 'your_password'; Replace ‘your_password’ with your actual password. This command changes the authentication method for the root user to ‘mysql_native_password’, which is compatible with phpMyAdmin.
3. Refresh MySQL’s privileges: FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
4. Exit the MySQL shell: exit Now, you should be able to log into phpMyAdmin with the root user.

Remember, when working with web applications and databases, always backup your data and configurations to prevent potential data loss during troubleshooting.

Maintaining phpMyAdmin

Regularly updating phpMyAdmin

To keep phpMyAdmin secure, regularly update it. Use:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

Setting up automatic updates

For automatic updates, install the unattended-upgrades package:

sudo apt install unattended-upgrades

Configure it to fit your needs.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully installed phpMyAdmin on Ubuntu 22.04. Remember to keep it updated to ensure a secure and smooth user experience.

FAQs

1. What is the LAMP stack?
   • LAMP stands for Linux, Apache, MySQL, and PHP. Together, they provide a complete web application platform.
2. Why can’t I log in to phpMyAdmin?
   • Check your username and password. If still unsuccessful, there might be an issue with your MySQL configuration.
3. How can I access phpMyAdmin remotely?
   • Replace ‘localhost’ with your server’s IP in the URL.
4. What do I do if I forget my phpMyAdmin password?
   • You’ll need to reset the MySQL root password.
5. How do I uninstall phpMyAdmin?
   • Use sudo apt remove phpmyadmin to uninstall. To remove configuration data, use sudo apt purge phpmyadmin.