How to Deploy Laravel on Ubuntu With Apache: A Comprehensive Guide

Did you know that Laravel, a PHP framework with a mere 12% market share, powers some of the world’s most popular websites like Twitch and 9GAG? Let’s dive into how you can harness this powerhouse by deploying Laravel on Ubuntu with Apache.

Prerequisites

Table of Contents

Before we jump in, make sure you’ve got:

An Ubuntu server (Ubuntu 20.04 or later is ideal)
SSH access to your server
A user with sudo superpowers
A stable internet connection (no dial-up, please!)
Basic command line know-how

Step 1: Install Required Software

Let’s get your server decked out with the necessary software:

Update your package list:
```
sudo apt update
```
Install Apache:
```
sudo apt install apache2
```
Set up MySQL:
```
sudo apt install mysql-server
```

Get PHP and its sidekicks:

sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-curl php-gd php-json php-mbstring php-xml php-zip

Bring in Composer, the PHP dependency wizard:

curl -sS https://getcomposer.org/installer | php
sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer

Don’t forget Git:
```
sudo apt install git
```

Step 2: Configure MySQL

Time to make MySQL play nice with Laravel:

Lock down MySQL:
```
sudo mysql_secure_installation
```

Create a cozy database for your Laravel app:

sudo mysql -u root -p
CREATE DATABASE laravel_db;
EXIT;

Step 3: Clone or Create Your Laravel Application

Let’s get your Laravel app on the server:

Head to Apache’s web root:
```
cd /var/www/html
```

Clone your existing Laravel treasure trove or start fresh:

# For existing projects:
git clone https://github.com/your-username/your-laravel-repo.git
# Or for a brand new Laravel adventure:
composer create-project --prefer-dist laravel/laravel your-project-name

Step into your project directory:
```
cd your-project-name
```

Step 4: Install Dependencies and Set Permissions

Get those PHP dependencies sorted:
```
composer install
composer dumpautoload
```

Set permissions so Laravel can do its thing:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data storage bootstrap/cache
sudo chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache

Step 5: Configure Laravel Environment

Create your .env file:
```
cp .env.example .env
```
Generate a shiny new app key:
```
php artisan key:generate
```

Open up .env and tweak your database settings:

nano .env

Update these lines with your MySQL info:

DB_DATABASE=laravel_db
DB_USERNAME=your_mysql_username
DB_PASSWORD=your_mysql_password

Step 6: Configure Apache Virtual Host

Create a new Apache config file for your Laravel app:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/laravel.conf

Add this config, swapping your-domain.com with your actual domain or server IP:

<VirtualHost *:80>
 ServerName your-domain.com
 ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
 DocumentRoot /var/www/html/your-project-name/public
 <Directory /var/www/html/your-project-name>
 AllowOverride All
 </Directory>
 ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
 CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Enable your new site:
```
sudo a2ensite laravel.conf
```
Show the default Apache site the door:
```
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
```
Turn on Apache’s rewrite module:
```
sudo a2enmod rewrite
```
Restart Apache to make it all stick:
```
sudo systemctl restart apache2
```

Step 7: Final Touches and Testing

Optimize Laravel for prime time:

php artisan config:cache
php artisan route:cache
php artisan view:cache

One last permissions check:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/your-project-name
sudo find /var/www/html/your-project-name -type f -exec chmod 644 {} \;
sudo find /var/www/html/your-project-name -type d -exec chmod 755 {} \;

Fire up your browser and visit your domain or server IP to see your Laravel masterpiece in action.

Also Read: How To Install LAMP On Ubuntu 16.04 With A Single Command

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Hit a snag? Don’t sweat it. Here are some common hiccups and how to fix them:

HTTP ERROR 500: Usually a permissions problem. Double-check those permissions from Step 4 and Step 7.
“No input file specified” error: Make sure your Apache config is pointing to the right spot – the public directory of your Laravel app.
Database connection woes: Triple-check your .env file for correct database credentials and ensure MySQL is up and running.
Blank page or PHP errors: Take a peek at the Apache error logs (/var/log/apache2/error.log) for clues and tackle them one by one.

Following this guide should have your Laravel app up and running on Ubuntu with Apache faster than you can say “Artisan command”. Remember to keep your server and Laravel app updated to stay ahead of the game.

For more in-depth information on running Laravel locally on Ubuntu, check out this guide on running Laravel locally on Ubuntu using Apache virtual host. If you’re looking to deploy your Laravel app on a production server, this StackOverflow thread offers some great insights.

Want to dive deeper into Laravel deployment? This comprehensive guide covers everything from prerequisites to troubleshooting. And if you’re hungry for more Ubuntu-specific deployment tips, this detailed tutorial has got you covered.

Now go forth and Laravel like a pro!