> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://xoops.gitbook.io/xoops-installation-guide/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://xoops.gitbook.io/xoops-installation-guide/chapter-2-introduction.md). # Chapter 2: Introduction The XOOPS Installation Guide provides an overview of how to install XOOPS 2.7.0 on your web server. It assumes you already have a working **LAMP**, **WAMP**, or equivalent environment (Linux/Windows/macOS + web server + PHP + MySQL). Efforts have been made to ensure this is not merely a sequential installation document. Useful tips and pointers about XOOPS are provided as the user is guided through the installation process. If you require an installation in a language other than English, please skip now to [Appendix 3](/xoops-installation-guide/appendixes/appendix-3-translating-xoops-to-local-language.md) and review the translation information before starting the installation. ## System Requirements XOOPS 2.7.0 has explicit minimum and recommended versions for its runtime stack. | Component | Minimum | Recommended | | ---------- | ---------------------------------- | --------------- | | PHP | 8.2.0 | 8.4 or later | | MySQL | 5.7.8 | 8.4 or later | | Web server | Any server supporting required PHP | Apache or Nginx | Notes: * IIS is still possible, but Apache and Nginx are the supported and recommended examples. * XOOPS 2.7.0 is compatible with MySQL 9.0. * SELinux-enabled systems (CentOS/RHEL) may require additional security-context changes in addition to normal file permissions. ### Required PHP extensions The installer's Configuration Check page enforces the following: * **MySQLi** * **Session** * **PCRE** * **filter** * **`file_uploads`** enabled in `php.ini` * **fileinfo** ### Recommended PHP extensions * **mbstring** — multibyte character encoding * **intl** — internationalization * **iconv** — character-set conversion * **xml** — XML parsing * **zlib** — compression * **gd** — image functions * **exif** — image metadata * **curl** — HTTP client ## Downloading XOOPS 2.7.0 Download the release package from GitHub Releases: * Both ZIP and TAR archives are available. Unpack the archive with your preferred tool (for example 7-Zip — see the "Useful Tools" appendix). The resulting directory contains four subdirectories: ![](/files/-LD6MzOlI7_Fo4npl9vJ) * **`docs/`** — change log, GNU GPL license, credits file, and supporting documentation * **`extras/`** — optional files for specific configurations (read the `*.txt` files for explanations) * **`htdocs/`** — the XOOPS site code; this is what gets deployed to your web root * **`upgrade/`** — files used to upgrade an existing XOOPS site (see Chapter 9) ## Preparing files on the server 1. Copy the contents of the `htdocs/` subdirectory to the location where your web server will serve them. For a local WAMP install, this is typically the `www` folder. For a remote host, this is typically `public_html`, `httpdocs`, `html`, or `web`. > **Caution** > > Only the *contents* of `htdocs/` should be uploaded to the web root — not the `htdocs/` folder itself. Otherwise your site will live at `http://www.yoursite.com/htdocs/`. 2. For a local installation, ensure your web server is running. 3. Ensure the following files and directories are writable by the web server before launching the wizard: **File** * `mainfile.php` **Upload directories** * `uploads/` * `uploads/avatars/` * `uploads/files/` * `uploads/images/` * `uploads/ranks/` * `uploads/smilies/` **XOOPS data directories** * `xoops_data/` * `xoops_data/caches/` * `xoops_data/caches/xoops_cache/` * `xoops_data/caches/smarty_cache/` * `xoops_data/caches/smarty_compile/` * `xoops_data/configs/` * `xoops_data/configs/captcha/` * `xoops_data/configs/textsanitizer/` * `xoops_data/data/` * `xoops_data/protector/` On Linux/macOS, `chmod 0775` on directories and `0664` on `mainfile.php` is usually sufficient (adjust ownership so the web server user can write). `0777` works on shared hosts but should be tightened once the install is complete. 4. Enter the applicable address into a browser. On a local machine this is typically `http://localhost/xoops`; on a remote host, it is your domain name. If the files are in place, accessing the site launches the XOOPS Installation Wizard. > **Note** > > You can run several XOOPS sites on the same server by placing each site in its own subfolder (e.g. `www/01_xoops/`, `www/02_xoops/`, etc.). The wizard distinguishes the web server root from the individual XOOPS root. 5. The wizard opens with a language selection screen: ![](/files/-LD6MzPMQoTvTMEKgZ3P) Figure 2: Language selection page of the XOOPS installation wizard > **Resources** > > If you would like to install XOOPS in a language other than English, visit the XOOPS project site or a local XOOPS support site for translations. If a translation you need does not exist, copy `install/language/english/` to a new folder with the language name and translate the PHP constants. See [Appendix 3](/xoops-installation-guide/appendixes/appendix-3-translating-xoops-to-local-language.md) for details. New translations are always welcome. 6. Click **\[Next]** to proceed to the introduction screen. This screen summarizes XOOPS, the GPL license, system requirements, and pre-installation requirements. Figure 3: XOOPS Installation Assistant The Installation Assistant outlines the environment required for successful installation: 1. **Set up the web server, PHP, and database properly.** The web server must be active and able to process PHP files, and a MySQL server must be running. You must have database credentials. 2. **Prepare a database for your XOOPS site.** On remote hosts, create the database ahead of time through your control panel. On a local install, the wizard can create the database for you. 3. **Prepare a user account with access to the database.** 4. **Make the required directories and files writable** (see the list above). 5. **For security, move `xoops_lib/` and `xoops_data/` out of the document root** and rename them to non-obvious names. Beginners may leave them in place and move them after a successful install. 6. **Ensure the writable directories inside `xoops_data/` exist.** 7. **Turn on cookies and JavaScript in your browser.** Both are required by XOOPS. Confirm these requirements are met and click **\[Next]**.