Install ghost CMS
A Comprehensive Guide to Installing Ghost CMS
Ghost is a powerful and open-source content management system (CMS) that focuses on simplicity, speed, and scalability. It's an excellent choice for bloggers, writers, and organizations looking for an easy-to-use, fast, and secure platform. However, like any software installation, setting up Ghost can sometimes present challenges, especially if you're new to the platform or server management. In this article, we will walk you through the installation process, share some of the common errors you may encounter, and provide solutions to help you troubleshoot effectively. 😅
Prerequisites for Installing Ghost
Before we dive into the installation process, make sure your environment meets the following requirements:
- Ubuntu Server (or a similar Linux distribution).
- Node.js (version 18.x or 20.x recommended).
- Nginx or LiteSpeed web server (if deploying live).
- MySQL or SQLite for database management (depending on your preference).
- Ghost CLI (Command Line Interface) for easy installation.
Installation Steps: The Smooth Path
1. Install Node.js (preferably v18.x or v20.x):
First, ensure that you are using the correct version of Node.js, which is required for Ghost to run smoothly. You can install Node.js via the NodeSource repository:
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
2. Install Ghost CLI:
The Ghost CLI makes it much easier to install and manage Ghost instances. Install it globally with npm:
sudo npm install -g ghost-cli
3. Create a Directory for Ghost:
Choose a directory where Ghost will be installed. The recommended location is usually in /var/www/ghost, but you can also create it in your home directory for simpler permissions management:
mkdir ~/ghost
cd ~/ghost
4. Install Ghost:
Run the ghost install command, which will handle most of the setup process for you:
ghost install
Common Errors and Difficulties in Ghost Installation
While Ghost is designed to be easy to install, there are a few hurdles that new users often encounter. Here are some of the most common errors and how to solve them:
1. Node.js Version Not Supported
Cause: Ghost has specific Node.js version requirements. Older versions of Node.js (such as v16.x) are not supported by Ghost v5.109.1 or higher.
Solution: You will need to update Node.js to a supported version (either 18.x or 20.x). Use the following commands to update Node.js:
curl -sL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs
2. Directory Not Writable
Cause: The directory you're trying to install Ghost in doesn’t have the correct permissions, preventing your user from writing to it.
Solution: You can fix the permissions by giving the directory full write access for your user:
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/ghost
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/ghost
3. Missing Dependencies
Cause: Ghost requires certain libraries and packages to be installed for a smooth installation (such as libssl-dev, libffi-dev, and python3-dev).
Solution: Install the required dependencies before proceeding with Ghost installation:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y build-essential libssl-dev libffi-dev python3-dev