Installation and Setup of Joomla CMS on WAMP server

Joomla is a Content Management System software which depends heavily on database for its operation. A database is a pre-requisite component before we install JOOMLA on localhost and luckily the setting is easy and straight forward.

In this tutorial, we are going to install JOOMLA 1.5 on top of previously installed WAMP server in tutorial ‘Localhost Development’. At the end of the tutorial, you should be able to learn on how to:

• Setting up a database
• Installing and setting up JOOMLA 1.5 website

Installing and setting up you first JOOMLA website should be easy if you follow this tutorial thoroughly and your localhost website should be running and kicking by the end of the tutorial. This tutorial is separated in three sections for ease of understanding.

1. Download and unpacking JOOMLA 1.5 package
2. Setting up the database
3. Installing JOOMLA 1.5  CMS

This is my file path to my JOOMLA root folder. Paste the installation folder in this location. The screenshot should be like the one shown below.

• Rename the folder ‘Joomla_1.5.11-Stable-Full_Package’ into your website name. Let’s rename it to ‘MySite’.

As you can see in the screenshot above, I have few web projects but let's put them aside first. Now we only need to rename your folder.


Now we can see the listed folders inside your JOOMLA root folder. Each folder represent 1 localhost website and there is no limit on how many localhost website you can create.

You did it! Now, you have already set up the pre-requisite file and folder structure for the installation. Next, we will move on to how to create your first database for JOOMLA installation.

• Download the latest version of JOOMLA1.5 package from joomla.org (5.97 MB approximate size)
• Unzip/extract the package

• Transfer (copy) and paste to your localhost root folder. Your localhost root folder was assigned during your WAMPserver installation. For this tutorial sake, my localhost root folder is D:\wamp\www.

Before we can create our database,we must start WAMPserver service. This will also apply to other function such as editing you JOOMLA website, later on.

Starting WAMP5 service

• To start you WAMP service, go to Start>All Programs>WampServer>Start WampServer

• A small desktop icon will appear at the bottom right of you screen. Wait until the semi-circle icon turn into gray color. Gray color indicates that your server is up and running

Go to PHPMyAdmin and create a database

• Left-click on the icon and go to ‘phpMyAdmin’

• Your browser will be opened and a web interface of your database management software can be seen as you can see in the screenshot.

• There are tons of functions you can see on the page but for our purpose right now, we only need to create a database which will take only a few seconds to be done.
• Give a name to your database (any name) and click on 'Create' button to start creating a database

• You will be notified on the success of your previous action. Now you will have a database called mydata

Easy isn't? Now, let's go to our primary objective-installing your JOOMLA CMS!

Now that your database has been created. It's time to the main show - installing JOOMLA CMS!

Although sound grand, the installation is quite a breeze thanks to the availability of an installation wizard. Shall we begin now?

• Left-click on WAMP5 icon and go to ‘Localhost’

• Your browser will open and the screenshot will look like below

• Go and click on ‘MySite’ under 'Your Projects' to start installation

Ok, once you click on the folder/your installation file, you will be direct to installation page. Installation will go through 7 steps as outlined in the screenshot below. Among this 7 steps, step no. 4 and 6 is the most crucial one but we will go through all the steps and you'll be explained in general.

Step 1: Choose Language

Just choose your preferred language and click on the 'Next' button at the corner top right.

Step 2: Pre-Installation check

Step 3: Licence

For the above 2 steps, just click on 'Next' button. No need to worry about the details and less head scratching

Step 4: Database

Do you still remember on how we create a database on 'Setup the Database' manual? Here we are now to key in the required info based on our input.

Hostname:
localhost (for WAMPServer, this is the default value)

Username:
root (thanks to WAMPServer, this default value has been set already. You just need to key in)

Database Name:
mydata(The database name is the one we created in 'Setup the Database' manual)

Click on 'Next' to procees

Step 5: FTP Configuration

Just like step 2 and 3, click on 'Next' button. Don't worry about this setting for the time being.

Step 6: Configuration

Now, here's the trick. Did you see the 'Install Sample Data' button? Good! Click on that button first before you do anything else. This action will install sample pages and will help you go through the hell of learning how JOOMLA behave later on.

Sitename:
Put anything (For the sake of development, you can just put any name. You can edit or modify the name anytime later on, so don't be shy to put even your Japanese name here...hehe)

Your E-mail:
Put anything as long it has '@xxx.xxx' (Same as sitename, this is just for reference)

Admin Password:
Put anything but make sure you remember it(This is going to be your password for both backend and frontend website panel)

Confirm Admin Password:
You know what this mean, don't you? (This is to make sure you still awake and not dreaming at this moment)

Finally...

Last Step: Finish

Hold on, it's not over yet.

Read the red font carefully. The installation directory is a folder name 'installation' which can be found at your JOOMLA root folder. Specifically. the file path is at:

..\wamp\www\MySite\installation

'Remove'in this context is either to rename or to delete the folder. It's up for you to delete or rename it because basically the folders' content is no longer being used at after this. It's main purposes for installation of JOOMLA has been achieved.

You should delete or rename your 'istallation' folder, not the 'Mysite' folder

By now, the installation is done and you can view your site at:

http://localhost/MySite

For admin or backend panel access, use this URL:

http://localhost/MySite/administrator