Installation

Whether you're using cloud hosting, a VPS, or setting up on Ubuntu/Debian, this guide will help you get your UNA-powered community up and running smoothly.

Before You Begin

Before starting the installation process, ensure your hosting environment meets the system requirements.

Installation Options

UNA CMS can be installed in several ways:

  1. UNA Cloud Hosting - The easiest option with instant deployment, automatic updates, and backups
  2. Standard Installation - Manual installation on cloud, VPS or dedicated hosting
  3. Ubuntu/Debian Installation - Specific steps for Ubuntu/Debian servers with Apache2

Standard Installation

Step 1: Download UNA

  1. Download the latest UNA package .zip archive from the official website
  2. Unzip the package on your local computer (most systems do this automatically when you double-click the file)

Step 2: Upload to Hosting Server

  1. Connect to your hosting server using an FTP client (such as FileZilla, Cyberduck, WinSCP, or Transmit)
  2. Navigate to your web root directory (usually called public_html, www, or htdocs)
  3. Upload all the contents of the unzipped UNA folder to this directory
    • Important: Upload the contents of the UNA folder, not the folder itself
    • If you want to install UNA in a subfolder (e.g., mysite.com/community), create the subfolder first and upload the files there

Important Notes:

  • Ensure the .htaccess file is included in the upload (it may be hidden on some systems)
  • For Nginx servers, you'll need to configure special rewrite rules

Step 3: Run the Installation Wizard

  1. Open your website URL in a web browser (e.g., yourdomain.com or yourdomain.com/community if installed in a subfolder)
  2. The installation wizard will start automatically
  3. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

Server Audit (Optional)

Before proceeding with installation, you can perform a server audit to check for compatibility issues:

  1. Click the "Server Audit" button on the installation page
  2. Review any warnings or errors
  3. If issues are found, contact your hosting provider with the audit results to resolve them

Setting File Permissions

The installation wizard will check if your files have the correct permissions:

  1. If permission issues are found, you'll need to adjust them using your FTP client
  2. For directories that need to be writable, set permissions to 755 or 777 (depending on server configuration)
  3. For the FFmpeg executable (plugins/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.exe), set permissions to 755 (executable)
  4. Click "Refresh" to verify the permissions are correct

Note: Only change permissions for files and directories listed by the installation wizard.

Configuration Settings

Complete the following configuration sections:

  1. Site Paths

    • Default settings are usually fine
    • Only change if advised by your hosting provider

  2. Database Configuration

    • Enter the database name, username, and password
    • If you don't have a database yet, create one through your hosting control panel (cPanel, Plesk, etc.)

  3. Site Information

    • Enter your site name
    • Provide a "no-reply" email address
    • Create an administrator account with a strong password

  4. UNA Key and Secret

    • These are required for updates and app installations
    • Obtain them from your UNA account by creating new Project

  5. Modules

    • Select your preferred language and template
    • You can add more languages and templates later

  6. Click "Submit" to complete the installation

Step 4: Post-Installation Tasks

  1. Set Up Cron Jobs

    • Copy the cron job command provided at the end of installation
    • Add it to your server's cron jobs (through cPanel or by contacting your hosting provider)
    • This is essential for scheduled tasks to run properly

  2. Delete the Install Directory

    • Using your FTP client, delete the install folder
    • This is critical for security reasons

  3. Access UNA Studio

    • Go to yourdomain.com/studio
    • Log in with the administrator credentials you created
    • Begin configuring your site, installing apps, and customizing settings

Ubuntu/Debian Installation

For Ubuntu/Debian servers with Apache2, follow these detailed steps:

Step 1: System Preparation

Update and Upgrade Packages 

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade

Install PHP and Required Extensions 

sudo apt-get install php php-cli php-curl php-gd php-mbstring php-fileinfo php-zip php-openssl php-exif php-mysql php-xml php-intl

Install and Configure MariaDB 

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server
sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service
sudo systemctl enable mariadb.service
sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted during the secure installation, follow these recommendations:

  • Enter current password for root: Press Enter (none by default)
  • Set root password: Y
  • Remove anonymous users: Y
  • Disallow root login remotely: Y
  • Remove test database: Y
  • Reload privilege tables: Y

Restart MariaDB:

sudo systemctl restart mariadb.service

Create a Database

Log in to MariaDB:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Create the database and user:

CREATE DATABASE una_database;
CREATE USER 'una_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL ON una_database.* TO 'una_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password' WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Set Up Apache Virtual Host

Create a directory for your site:

sudo mkdir /var/www/your_domain
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/your_domain
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/your_domain

Create a virtual host configuration:

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

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin webmaster@localhost
    ServerName your_domain
    DocumentRoot /var/www/your_domain
    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

    <Directory /var/www/your_domain>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
        AllowOverride All
        Order allow,deny
        allow from all
        Require all granted
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Enable the site and required modules:

sudo a2ensite your_domain.conf
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo apache2ctl configtest
sudo systemctl restart apache2
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache
sudo certbot --apache -d your_domain

Step 2: Install UNA

Upload UNA Files

Download UNA and extract it to your server (link to UNA download):

cd /tmp
wget https://unacms.com/REPLACE_WITH_ACTUAL_DOWNLOAD PATH -O una.zip
unzip una.zip
sudo cp -r una/* /var/www/your_domain/

Or upload via FTP to /var/www/your_domain/

Set Proper Permissions 

sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/your_domain
sudo chmod -R 777 /var/www/your_domain/inc
sudo chmod -R 777 /var/www/your_domain/cache
sudo chmod -R 777 /var/www/your_domain/cache_public
sudo chmod -R 777 /var/www/your_domain/tmp
sudo chmod -R 777 /var/www/your_domain/logs
sudo chmod -R 777 /var/www/your_domain/storage
sudo chmod +x /var/www/your_domain/plugins/ffmpeg/ffmpeg.exe

Step 3: Complete Web Installation

  1. Open your domain in a web browser
  2. Follow the on-screen installation wizard as described in the Standard Installation section
  3. Use the database credentials you created earlier

Step 4: Set Up Cron Job 

crontab -e

Add the cron job command provided by the installation wizard, which typically looks like:

* * * * * php /var/www/your_domain/periodic/cron.php

Troubleshooting Common Installation Issues

Permission Problems

If you encounter permission errors during installation:

  1. Check that all required directories have proper write permissions
  2. Ensure the web server user (www-data, apache, nobody) has access to the files
  3. For persistent issues, contact your hosting provider

Database Connection Errors

If you can't connect to the database:

  1. Verify your database credentials are correct
  2. Ensure the database server is running
  3. Check if your database user has proper permissions
  4. Confirm your hosting allows external database connections (if applicable)

Blank Page After Installation

If you see a blank page after installation:

  1. Check your PHP error logs
  2. Ensure all required PHP extensions are enabled
  3. Verify your .htaccess file was uploaded correctly
  4. Confirm mod_rewrite is enabled on your server

Installation Wizard Doesn't Start

If the installation wizard doesn't appear:

  1. Make sure you uploaded all files correctly
  2. Check if the install directory exists
  3. Verify your server meets all requirements
  4. Try accessing the install directory directly (e.g., yourdomain.com/install/)

Next Steps After Installation

After successfully installing UNA CMS:

  1. Secure Your Site

    • Set up SSL if not already done
    • Configure security settings in UNA Studio
    • Keep your UNA installation updated

  2. Install Essential Apps

    • Add functionality through the App Store
    • Configure each app according to your needs

  3. Customize Your Site

    • Modify the template and design
    • Set up navigation menus
    • Configure site settings

  4. Set Up User Roles and Permissions

    • Define membership levels
    • Configure access rights
    • Set up moderation workflows

  5. Test Your Site

    • Create test accounts
    • Verify all features work correctly
    • Test on different devices and browsers

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've successfully installed UNA CMS. Your community platform is now ready for configuration and customization. Remember to regularly back up your site and keep it updated with the latest security patches and features.

On This Page