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English

简体中文
繁體中文
Español
العربية
Português
Русский
日本語
Deutsch
Français
Tiếng Việt
Türkçe
Italiano

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Installing and Configuring WordPress in ServBay Environment ​

Overview ​

WordPress is a powerful and widely used open-source content management system (CMS) built with PHP and MySQL. It is the world’s leading platform for creating websites and blogs, boasting extensive community support, a rich ecosystem of plugins and themes, and is suitable for everything from personal blogs to complex e-commerce projects.

ServBay is a local web development environment designed exclusively for macOS, offering an all-in-one solution. It integrates multiple PHP versions, popular databases (such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB), web servers (Caddy, Nginx), as well as Redis and other tools. With ServBay, developers can effortlessly set up an isolated, flexible, and high-performance local environment, making local WordPress installation and testing extremely convenient.

This article provides a detailed guide on how to download, install, and configure WordPress within the ServBay environment, enabling you to quickly start local WordPress development.

Prerequisites ​

Before you begin, ensure you meet the following requirements:

  1. ServBay is successfully installed and running on your macOS system.
  2. At least one PHP version (WordPress requires PHP 7.4 or later) and the MySQL or MariaDB database package are installed and started within ServBay.
  3. You have a basic understanding of web servers, database concepts, and terminal command-line operations.

Steps to Install WordPress ​

Below are the detailed steps to install and configure WordPress in the ServBay environment:

Step 1: Download and Extract WordPress ​

First, we need to obtain the latest version of the WordPress files and place them in a subdirectory under ServBay’s web root directory (/Applications/ServBay/www).

  1. Navigate to the ServBay Web Root Directory

    Open Terminal and run the following command to switch to ServBay’s default web root:

    bash
    cd /Applications/ServBay/www

  2. Download the Latest WordPress Release

    Use the curl command to download the latest WordPress archive:

    bash
    curl https://wordpress.org/latest.tar.gz -o wordpress.tar.gz

  3. Create a Project Directory and Extract WordPress

    Create a new directory for your WordPress site (for example, servbay-wordpress-app), and extract the contents of the archive into it. The --strip-components 1 option removes the top-level wordpress directory from the archive, unpacking the files directly into the target folder.

    bash
    mkdir servbay-wordpress-app
tar zxf wordpress.tar.gz --strip-components 1 -C servbay-wordpress-app

    Your WordPress files should now be located at /Applications/ServBay/www/servbay-wordpress-app.

Step 2: Create a Database and Database User ​

WordPress needs a database to store all its content and settings (such as posts, pages, comments, and plugin configurations). We will create a new database and a dedicated user for accessing it using ServBay’s database service.

  1. Access ServBay’s Built-in Database Management Tool

    ServBay ships with phpMyAdmin or Adminer (depending on your configuration) for database management. Open your browser and visit the ServBay homepage at https://servbay.host/, then click the "phpMyAdmin" or "Adminer" link to open the database management UI.

  2. Log in to the Database Management Tool

    Log in using the ServBay default database root user and the root password you set during ServBay installation.

  3. Create a New Database

    In the database tool’s interface, do the following to create a new database:

    • Usually, look for the "New" or "Create database" option in the left sidebar or main page.
    • Enter a database name, such as servbay_wordpress_db, in the "Database name" field.
    • Select utf8mb4 as the charset and utf8mb4_unicode_ci as the collation. WordPress recommends this configuration for broader character support, including Emoji.
    • Click the "Create" button.

  4. Create a Database User and Grant Permissions

    For security, it’s recommended to create a dedicated user for WordPress with access only to this database instead of using the root user.

    • Navigate to the "User accounts" page in the database tool.
    • Click "Add user account".
    • Enter the user details:
      • User name: Enter wordpress_user.
      • Host name: Choose or type localhost.
      • Password: Enter a strong password. Do not use weak passwords such as password123. It’s best to use a password generator for a secure password. Make sure to save it for later. For this guide, use the placeholder your_strong_password_here.
      • Re-type: Re-enter the password.
    • Important: In "Global privileges", do not check "Check All" or "Grant all privileges." We’ll grant privileges specific to this database only.
    • Click "Go" or "Add user" at the bottom of the page.

    After creating the user, assign permissions to access the servbay_wordpress_db database:

    • Return to the "User accounts" page.
    • Find the wordpress_user@localhost user and click "Edit privileges."
    • Scroll down to "Database-specific privileges."
    • In the "Add privileges to the following database" dropdown, select the previously created servbay_wordpress_db.
    • Click "Go."
    • On the new page, check "Check All" to grant this user all privileges (data, structure, management) on this database.
    • Click "Go" at the bottom to save.

Step 3: Configure the Website in ServBay ​

Next, we’ll tell ServBay how to route your custom domain requests to the correct WordPress files directory.

  1. Open the ServBay Application

    Launch the ServBay app.

  2. Add a New Website Configuration

    In the ServBay UI, click on the "Websites" tab in the sidebar. Then, click the "+" button at the bottom left and select "Add Website."

  3. Enter Website Configuration Details

    In the pop-up window, enter the following information:

    • Name: Enter a recognizable name, e.g., ServBay WordPress Dev.
    • Domain: Enter the local domain you wish to use, such as servbay-wordpress.demo. ServBay will automatically create and enable this domain for local access.
    • Site Type: Select PHP.
    • PHP Version: Choose a compatible PHP version for WordPress from the dropdown (it’s best to use the latest stable version offered by ServBay, such as PHP 8.x). ServBay supports running multiple PHP versions.
    • Site Root: Click the folder icon or manually enter the directory containing the WordPress files: /Applications/ServBay/www/servbay-wordpress-app.

  4. Save Configuration

    Once complete, click "Save." ServBay will automatically apply the new configuration and may prompt you to restart the relevant web server package—confirm the restart.

    Thanks to ServBay’s automated setup, when you visit servbay-wordpress.demo, ServBay will generate and configure a locally trusted SSL certificate for a secure HTTPS connection.

Step 4: Complete the WordPress Installation Wizard ​

With your database and site configuration ready, the final step is to run the WordPress installer in your browser.

  1. Visit Your Local WordPress Site

    Open your web browser and enter the local domain you set up, e.g., https://servbay-wordpress.demo.

  2. Start the WordPress Installation Wizard

    If everything is configured correctly, you should see the WordPress welcome screen prompting you to select your language. Choose your preferred language and click "Continue."

  3. Enter Database Connection Details

    WordPress will ask for database connection information on the next page. Enter the details you set up in Step 2:

    • Database Name: servbay_wordpress_db
    • Username: wordpress_user
    • Password: your_strong_password_here (use your actual password from Step 2.4)
    • Database Host: localhost
    • Table Prefix: wp_ (this is the default; for security, you may change it to something unique such as sbwp_)

    Click "Submit." If the connection is successful, WordPress will prompt you to run the installation.

  4. Run the Installation

    Click "Run the installation."

  5. Fill in Site Details

    Next, provide your site’s basic information:

    • Site Title: Your website’s name.
    • Username: The administrator account’s username (do not use admin; pick something unique).
    • Password: Set a password for the administrator account. WordPress will indicate password strength—make sure it’s strong.
    • Your Email: Enter your email address.
    • Search Engine Visibility: For local development, it’s recommended to check "Discourage search engines from indexing this site" to prevent accidental site indexing.

  6. Complete Installation

    After filling everything in, click "Install WordPress." WordPress will automatically complete the last steps.

    Once successful, you’ll see a confirmation page and a link to the WordPress admin login.

Building Your Site with WordPress ​

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured WordPress on your local ServBay environment. You can now explore WordPress’s powerful features and use it to build your site.

Log in to the WordPress admin dashboard (usually at https://servbay-wordpress.demo/wp-admin/) where you can:

  • Install Themes and Plugins: Go to "Appearance" → "Themes" and "Plugins" → "Add New" to change your site's look and add new features. ServBay’s local environment lets you safely test different themes and plugins.
  • Create and Edit Content: Use the "Posts" and "Pages" menus to publish blog posts or create static pages.
  • Set Up Navigation Menus: Organize your site structure in "Appearance" → "Menus."
  • Customize the Site Appearance: Adjust your layout and style via "Appearance" → "Customize" or through theme options.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) ​

  • Q: I can’t access https://servbay-wordpress.demo. What should I do?

    • A: Make sure ServBay is running, and the relevant web server (Caddy/Nginx) and PHP package are started.
    • Check your ServBay “Websites” configuration: verify that the domain is spelled correctly, the site root is set to /Applications/ServBay/www/servbay-wordpress-app, and the correct PHP version is selected.
    • Clear your browser cache or try accessing the site in an incognito/private window.
    • Check whether your macOS firewall may be blocking local connections.

  • Q: I get a database connection error during WordPress installation.

    • A: Double-check that the database name, username, password, and database host (localhost) entered in the installer match those you created in ServBay’s database tool.
    • Ensure that the MySQL or MariaDB database package is running in ServBay.
    • Confirm that the database user has privileges for the servbay_wordpress_db database.

  • Q: Can I install multiple WordPress sites within the same ServBay instance?

    • A: Absolutely. Just repeat Steps 1-4 for each site: extract WordPress into a different subdirectory, create a separate database and user for each site, and in ServBay’s “Websites” section, assign each site a unique local domain and corresponding root directory.

  • Q: What PHP versions does ServBay support for WordPress?

    • A: ServBay supports multiple PHP versions. You can select the one most suitable for your WordPress version or development needs. It’s generally recommended to use the latest compatible version as recommended by WordPress.

Summary ​

By following the above steps, you’ve successfully set up your first local WordPress website in the powerful ServBay local development environment. With ServBay’s integrated tools and multi-version support, you can efficiently and flexibly develop themes, plugins, test functions, or manage content for WordPress. We hope this guide helps you get the most out of ServBay and kick-start your WordPress development journey!