Install Drupal - how it works
Drupal is a very powerful content management system with almost unlimited possibilities for your web presence. We will show you step-by-step how to install Drupal using Drupal version 7.0.
What you need to install Drupal
Unlike static websites, dynamic pages need more than just a web address. To be able to install Drupal 7, the following requirements must be met:
- a domain
- a hosting package with a database: MySQL 5.0.15 and higher, PostgreSQL 8.3 and higher or SQLite 3.x.
- PHP version 5.2.4 and higher
- at least 32 MByte of storage space, 64 MB if more modules are used
- Drupal 7.0
- an FTP program
Download and unzip
Drupal is open source software, downloading and using it is free of charge. It is best to get the software here. After downloading, unzip the file, which is available as .gz and .zip.
Upload the files
After you have unzipped the software, the installation starts:
- Uploading the files to the server: Open the "Drupal7" folder and transfer all subfolders and files with your FTP program to the server of your provider.
Installation of Drupal 7
If you then open your domain address in the browser, the Drupal installation wizard appears. You have to fill out every point completely and confirm with "Save and continue". The individual steps are also illustrated below in the picture gallery.
- Select the standard installation under "Profile". This will install all the modules necessary for the start.
- You have no real choice of language in the next field. The default language is English. However, you can later install language packs that translate the user interface into your preferred language.
- The next step is to set up the database: Enter the name of the database, the user and the password. You can find the information from your provider.
- Open the "Advanced Options" field. Enter the location of the database here. You can also find this information from your domain provider. Tip: If you use the database for several projects - for example for several domains with CMS - enter a prefix in the last field. Ideally, this should be based on the domain and end with an underscore.
- The next screen shows the installation of the core and the modules by means of a progress bar. You don't have to do anything here.
- If the software is installed, the page must still be configured. To do this, enter a title, a contact email address, a user name and a password. Below you can choose country and time zone. You can change all these settings later on the finished page. Confirm again and the Drupal 7 installation is complete.
The installation does not differ significantly between the different Drupal versions. The procedure is independent of the browser and operating system. The only exception is an installation on an Ubuntu Linux server. It gets a little more complicated here. If you would first like to try out a CMS - for example Wordpress - without Internet on your home PC, you will find instructions here.
Latest videos
Nothing works without a database! All information must be correct here.
You can change all page information later on your page.
Set country information and time zones.
The installation is done. This is how your page looks at first. Now you can get started: insert content and change the look.
