step-by-step: how to host WordPress under Linux (FC5/RHEL4)

Why:

• on Blogger: missing certain nice features ( static page support, import/export). Or,
  
• on WordPress.com: don't like your own html get stripped off. Your little piggy-bank gets left empty since Google Adsense code get stripped or disabled. Or,
  
• want your own professional domain name and such. Or,
  
• simply love the experience of DIY and the freedom of customization
  

Assumptions & Prerequisites:

• Fedora Core 5 stock installation (All should be applicable to CentOS 4 or RHEL 4 as well, unless the FC5 SELinux changes get in your way.)
  
• apache (httpd package) installed.
  
• php package installed.
• mysql-server package installed.
  
• The stable release (latest.tar.gz) has been downloaded from wordpress.org and extracted under /var/www/html
• comfortable with MySQL and SQL commands.
• starter's knowledge of how a blog works.
  

Steps to follow:
# set up MySQL access

This is to set up a MySQL database dedicated for WordPress and a user to access this database from the Apache/PHP combo. The schema and data for the database itself will be populated by install.php later. The names used below assume you want user 'wp_master' to have all access to a local database named 'wordpressDB'.

• /etc/init.d/mysqld start
• /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root password 'mysqlAdminpassword'
• /usr/bin/mysqladmin -u root -p create wordpressDB
• mysql -Uroot -p mysql
• insert into user (host, user, password) values ('localhost', 'wp_master', password('mastersecret'));
  
• insert into db (host, db, user) values ('localhost', 'wordpressDB', 'wp_master');
  
• the 'db' table entry should also grant the 'wp_master' user with most of the privileges to the 'wordpressDB' . So, I simply replaced the 'test' database entry therein, since I am lazy, plus I consider a wild-open test db a security risk.
  
• update db set host='localhost',db='wordpressDB',user='wp_master' where host='%' and db='test';
  
• commit;
• restart mysqld by '/etc/init.d/mysqld restart'
  

# set up MySQL PHP extension support (Otherwise you may get this error, "Your PHP installation appears to be missing the MySQL which is required for WordPress. ")

• yum -y install php-mysql
• /etc/init.d/httpd restart

# to set up wp-config.php with your own set of credentials for WP to use to access MySQL
cd /var/www/html/wordpress && cp wp-config-sample.php wp-config.php && vi wp-config.php
# RTFM using your favorite browser

point to your browser to http://localhost/wordpress/readme.html

# initialize/populate your new WP database. Do record the 'admin' account information generated.
point to your browser to follow http://localhost/wordpress/wp-admin/install.php

# Now, time to verify. If it worked, you'd see the default 'hello world' post using the 'default' theme.
point to your browser to http://localhost/wordpress/index.php

# to customize the blog right away, click on 'edit' link inside the blog and log on with the 'admin' account

# about them themes:
Only two themes are bundled (classic/default). To add a theme, find ones you like and download from a trustworthy source.

• wget http://downloads.wordpress.org/theme/pool.zip
• cd /var/www/html/wordpress/wp-content/themes && unzip pool.zip
• Now the new theme(s) would just show up if you go back to edit/presentation/themes
  

# Get them roamers home

• import existing blogs and comments from Blogger and other top blog sites.
• if new, register this new blog with technorati.com, weblogs.com
• new or updated, brief your readers of the changes [advance notice would be appreciated too]