Installing a WordPress website is not hard, but you need to be aware of a few steps to take to make it a secure installation. We will be looking at how to do a WordPress installation, and at what point you need to move away from the standard that WordPress suggests. You could use the much-promoted Fantastico Script on your hosting cpanel, but I have found that the process described below gives you more flexibility and control.
Pre- Installation Check
First of all, before you start with your installation you need to have these items in place:
- Your own domain hosting package (this is where your installation will take place).
- The information from your database (name/username/password).
- Updated version of WordPress from wordpress.org , unzipped and uploaded via FTP to your domain hosting root (mostly public html of www)
Once you have that in place, it's time to start your installation.
Start the Installation
To install WordPress on your site, you need to call your domain in your web browser. For example:
https://wpsitebuilding.com
Notice I did not use https://www.wpsitebuilding.com? WordPress, after the installation, will redirect that www to the non-www version automatically. If you want www in front of your domain, start your installation with the www and the non-www will be redirected to the preferred domain URL.
Creating the configuration file
If you call the URL of your preference, you get a screen like the one below:
For the next step, click on the option to “Create a Configuration File.”
The WordPress Notice
The second screen tells you what you need before proceeding, so check again and make sure you have the following items:
- Database name
- Database username
- Database password
- Database host
- Table prefix (if you have full access to the database, you don't need this right now)
Using the Installation Data
In the next screen, you are going to need the data mentioned previously. Here you will need to do one step differently from what the default installation guide says…
Change the default values t0 the settings you were given or created for accessing the database you want to use for installation. On the last field labled “Table Prefix” you will notice the standard wp_. Change that value! Make it something different than wp_. Most hacker scripts will target the table called wp_users and/or wp_options, bij. Changing the prefix will prevent you from being targeted with those basic attacks.
Of course, the values in this screen are not from a live site.
Run the Installation
If the data you entered in the previous step is correct, you should see a screen that tells you that you can run the install. If not, you will get an error and then need to recheck if you entered the connection data correctly.
Finishing Up Your Installation
In the finishing screen, you need to write the name of your blog and fill in your e-mail address. This e-mail address is to send you a message with your username and password, so make sure it is a valid e-mail address! You will get an admin password assigned in the next step.
Succes! Your installation is done!
If everything ran well during the installation process, you will get a screen with the user name “admin” and a system generated password.
Copy and paste that password into a text editor like Notepad so you can use it to login to your fresh WordPress installation.
Accessing your WordPress Website Dashboard
Once your installation is done, you can click the “Log In” button on the previous screen, but you will only see this screen once.
If you want to login later, you need to enter the following after your main domain URL:
/wp-admin or /wp-login.php (for example, http://example.com/wp-admin).
You should then get the login screen for WordPress.
Your Dashboard awaits you
Once you are logged in you can start to explore your dashboard and all of the options WordPress gives you to start using and extending your basic WordPress installation.
Now where to go from here?
After Installation Options
Start with WordPress Setup to make sure to get all the options in the settings and more setup the right way.
Below is a video that shows you what steps to take for getting WordPress, setting up your database and using FTP to upload the WordPress software. The installation process in this video is different because it starts with the creating and editing of the configuration file.
