Complete Guide: Install LAMP Stack on Oracle Cloud Always Free (Ubuntu 20.04)

Below is a complete, beginner-friendly, step-by-step guide to install the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) on Ubuntu 20.04 running on an Oracle Cloud Always Free instance.

This guide is written assuming:

✔ Oracle Cloud Always Free VM
✔ Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
✔ You connect via SSH (PuTTY / Terminal)

🧱 What is LAMP?

Linux → Ubuntu 20.04
Apache → Web server
MySQL → Database
PHP → Server-side scripting

STEP 0️⃣ Prerequisites (Oracle Cloud)

Create Oracle Cloud Always Free VM
Choose:
- Image: Ubuntu 20.04
- Shape: VM.Standard.E2.1.Micro (Always Free)
- Public IP: Enabled
- SSH key: Downloaded

https://documentation.ubuntu.com/oracle/_images/1_latest_ubuntu_image.png
https://learncodeshare.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/getPublicIp.png
https://docs.oracle.com/en/learn/generate_ssh_keys/images/cloudshellopen.png

STEP 1️⃣ Connect to Your Instance (SSH)

Linux / Mac

ssh ubuntu@YOUR_PUBLIC_IP

Windows (PuTTY)

Host Name: YOUR_PUBLIC_IP
Port: 22
Auth → Select .ppk key
Login user: ubuntu

STEP 2️⃣ Update System (IMPORTANT)

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

👉 Always do this first to avoid package errors.

STEP 3️⃣ Install Apache Web Server

sudo apt install apache2 -y

Enable Apache on boot

sudo systemctl enable apache2

Start Apache

sudo systemctl start apache2

Check Apache status

sudo systemctl status apache2

STEP 4️⃣ Open Port 80 (HTTP) in Oracle Cloud

A. Oracle Cloud Security List / NSG

Allow:

Source: 0.0.0.0/0
Protocol: TCP
Port: 80

https://cleavr.io/images/oracle/oracle-port-5.png
https://docs.oracle.com/en/solutions/oci-security-checklist/img/vcn-config-png.png

B. Ubuntu Firewall (UFW)

sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw allow 'Apache Full'
sudo ufw allow 80
sudo ufw allow Apache
sudo ufw reload
sudo ufw enable 
sudo ufw status

Need to Reboot?
Not mandatory now, but recommended later.
You can continue installing LAMP without reboot.
(Optional reboot after LAMP install):

sudo reboot

Reconnect via SSH after 1–2 minutes.

Check again:

sudo ufw status

STEP 5️⃣ Test Apache

Open browser:

http://YOUR_PUBLIC_IP

✅ You should see Apache2 Ubuntu Default Page

https://ubuntucommunity.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/original/2X/7/771159b35c97e429247aac754ad44bf06cc1efa8.png

STEP 6️⃣ Install MySQL Server

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Start & Enable MySQL

sudo systemctl start mysql
sudo systemctl enable mysql

Secure MySQL (VERY IMPORTANT)

sudo mysql_secure_installation

STEP 7️⃣ Install PHP (Compatible with Ubuntu 20.04)

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

Check PHP version

php -v

STEP 8️⃣ Configure Apache for PHP

Edit Apache config:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/mods-enabled/dir.conf

Ensure this order:

DirectoryIndex index.php index.html index.cgi index.pl index.xhtml index.htm

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

STEP 9️⃣ Test PHP

Create PHP test file:

sudo nano /var/www/html/info.php

Paste:

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Save → CTRL+O, ENTER, CTRL+X

Open browser:

http://YOUR_PUBLIC_IP/info.php

✅ PHP info page should load

https://kinsta.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/phpinfo-page-example.png

⚠️ After testing, delete it for security:

sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php

STEP 🔟 Install phpMyAdmin

sudo apt install phpmyadmin -y

During setup:

Select Apache2 ✔
Configure database → Yes
phpMyAdmin password → Set

Enable extensions:

sudo phpenmod mbstring
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Access:

http://YOUR_PUBLIC_IP/phpmyadmin

STEP 1️⃣1️⃣ Create MySQL Database & User

Login to MySQL:

sudo mysql

Run:

CREATE DATABASE mydb;
CREATE USER 'myuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPassword@123';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON mydb.* TO 'myuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

STEP 1️⃣2️⃣ Auto-Start Services on Boot

sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl enable mysql

STEP 1️⃣3️⃣ Final Service Check

systemctl status apache2
systemctl status mysql
php -v

✅ LAMP Stack Installed Successfully 🎉

You now have:

✔ Ubuntu 20.04 (Always Free)
✔ Apache Web Server
✔ MySQL Database
✔ PHP
✔ phpMyAdmin

🔒 Security Tips (Recommended)

Use strong MySQL passwords
Remove test PHP files
Keep system updated:
bash
```
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
```

Enjoy your new LAMP stack on Oracle Cloud Always Free! 🚀