Why do we use root as user for apache2?

Question

Hi there,
I have a question, If we follow the instructions to implement a web server with apache on Ubuntu 18.04, why do we use the root user (or sudo user granted privileges) in the installation process? From what I’ve seen they use www-data user, because of security. Is that OK?
Thanks

Answer 1

alexdo April 12, 2020

Hello, @ericferrando92

Could you please let me know if you refer to to this article:

https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-linux-apache-mysql-php-lamp-stack-ubuntu-18-04

As the article says “In order to complete this tutorial, you will need to have an Ubuntu 18.04 server with a non-root sudo-enabled user account”

As for the user with which Apache (and the individual sites) run on the server this can be modified.

If you’re just running apache, serving static files and things, www-data is enough.

If you have a whole bundle of applications also running in apache (in modphp, modperl etc) you end up with lots of your own, custom, internet-facing code running as www-data, which gives the bad guys more of a chances to gain access to that user, and puts them in control of more stuff if they do.

Hope this helps!

Regards,
Alex

How To Install Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP) stack on Ubuntu 18.04

by Mark Drake

A "LAMP" stack is a group of open source software that is typically installed together to enable a server to host dynamic websites and web apps. This stack typically consists of the Linux operating system, the Apache web server, a MySQL database, and PHP, a dynamic content processor. This tutorial serves as a guide for installing these components on an Ubuntu 18.04 server.

Reply Report

ericferrando92 April 12, 2020

I understand, in my case I need the web server to run a website based on WordPress, so it would be running PHP core. So what’s the implementation should I follow?
Thanks
Reply Report
- alexdo April 13, 2020
  
  Hello, @ericferrando92
  
  You have multiple choices in order to setup this. You can use the one-click WordPress droplet available in the marketplace:
  
  https://marketplace.digitalocean.com/apps/wordpress
  
  Or you can provision a Ubuntu 18.04 droplet and then setup a LAMP or LEMP stack. I’ve already provided the link for the LAMP article and this is the one for the LEMP stack:
  
  https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-linux-nginx-mysql-php-lemp-stack-ubuntu-18-04
  
  if you’re planning to host only one website on the droplet you can go with the WordPress droplet from the marketplace. If you’re going to host multiple sites on the droplet I will recommend you to choose between the LAMP/LEMP stack and provision this manually. You can spin up a droplet with Ubuntu 18.04 and then just follow the steps listed in the article, the process it’s really straight forward.
  
  Hope this helps!
  
  Regards,
  Alex
  
  How To Install Linux, Nginx, MySQL, PHP (LEMP stack) on Ubuntu 18.04
  by Justin Ellingwood
  by Mark Drake
  This tutorial details the process for installing and configuring the components that constitute a LEMP stack on an Ubuntu 18.04 server, including Nginx, MySQL, and PHP. It also includes instructions for testing that these components can communicate effectively and serve your content correctly.
  
  Reply Report

Answer 2

ericferrando92 April 12, 2020

I understand, in my case I need the web server to run a website based on WordPress, so it would be running PHP core. So what’s the implementation should I follow?
Thanks
Reply Report
- alexdo April 13, 2020
  
  Hello, @ericferrando92
  
  You have multiple choices in order to setup this. You can use the one-click WordPress droplet available in the marketplace:
  
  https://marketplace.digitalocean.com/apps/wordpress
  
  Or you can provision a Ubuntu 18.04 droplet and then setup a LAMP or LEMP stack. I’ve already provided the link for the LAMP article and this is the one for the LEMP stack:
  
  https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-linux-nginx-mysql-php-lemp-stack-ubuntu-18-04
  
  if you’re planning to host only one website on the droplet you can go with the WordPress droplet from the marketplace. If you’re going to host multiple sites on the droplet I will recommend you to choose between the LAMP/LEMP stack and provision this manually. You can spin up a droplet with Ubuntu 18.04 and then just follow the steps listed in the article, the process it’s really straight forward.
  
  Hope this helps!
  
  Regards,
  Alex
  
  How To Install Linux, Nginx, MySQL, PHP (LEMP stack) on Ubuntu 18.04
  by Justin Ellingwood
  by Mark Drake
  This tutorial details the process for installing and configuring the components that constitute a LEMP stack on an Ubuntu 18.04 server, including Nginx, MySQL, and PHP. It also includes instructions for testing that these components can communicate effectively and serve your content correctly.
  
  Reply Report

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