This article provides you with steps to install Moodle via cPanel. Please note that this is only valid for Business VPS customers.




Step 1 - Download Moodle

Head to the Moodle website to download the latest release of the software. Select the Zip file and then unzip it on your local computer once downloaded.


Moodle website

Step 2 - Create a subdomain if required


Now is a good time to decide where you wish to access Moodle on your server. You can choose to install Moodle in a folder and access the software in your web browser at http://[yoursite.com]/moodle. Alternatively, you can create a subdomain for the software and use http://moodle.[yoursite.com].

Find out more about creating subdomains in this 1-grid  knowledge base article and create the subdomain (if desired) in cPanel before proceeding.


Step 3 - Upload the files to your server

Now upload the Moodle files to your server. You can use an FTP client or cPanel File Manager. If you experience issues uploading the uncompressed files, try uploading the zip file and use cPanel File Manager’s Extract button to unarchive the files.



cPanel File Manager


You must secure the files before proceeding. It is vital that the files are not writeable by the webserver user. Right-click the Moodle folder and select Change Permissions. Ensure permissions are set to 755.


Permissions

Now enter the Moodle folder and check that the regular files within have permissions set to 0644.


Permissions column

Step 4 - Create an empty database

From the cPanel main menu, select Databases > MySQL Database Wizard.


MySQL Database Wizard

Follow the wizard steps to create a new database for Moodle. Create the database name, username, and password, then click Create User.


Create user

In the next screen, ensure All Privileges is checked and complete the database setup.



Step 5 - Create a data directory


Moodle also requires a secure data directory for storage. This must be placed in a location that is not accessible via the web. Head back to the cPanel File Manager (or your FTP client) and create a new folder called moodledata in your home directory (/home/yourusername].


Data directory

Step 6 - Install Moodle

In your web browser, visit your Moodle URL to begin the installation.

Moodle installer

Follow the steps in the installation wizard to confirm the Web address for the Moodle directory and data directory.

Select Improved MySQL as the database driver, then enter the database user settings you created earlier. Remember that cPanel adds an account name prefix to your database name and user name. So if you entered “moodle” as the database name, it will be saved as “foo123_moodle”. Check Databases > MySQL Databases in cPanel if you experience issues.


Choose database driver