WHMCS is a powerful and popular web hosting billing and automation platform. This guide provides a step-by-step process for installing WHMCS on Ubuntu 23.4, setting up the database, installing PHPMyAdmin, and completing the initial setup through the browser.

Prerequisites:

• Ubuntu 23.4 server with root access
• Web server (Apache or Nginx)
• PHP 8.1 or later
• MySQL database server
• WHMCS license key

Step 1: Update System and Install Packages

Before proceeding, update the system and install necessary packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y curl wget unzip git

Step 2: Install and Configure Web Server

For this guide, we’ll use Apache as the web server. Install and enable it:

sudo apt install -y apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2

Step 3: Install PHP

Install PHP 8.1 and required modules:

sudo apt install -y php8.1 php8.1-mbstring php8.1-xml php8.1-gd php8.1-mysql

Step 4: Install and Configure MySQL

Install MySQL and secure it:

sudo apt install -y mysql-server
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Step 5: Create Database for WHMCS

Log in to MySQL:

mysql -u root -p

Create a database and user for WHMCS:

CREATE DATABASE whmcs_db CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
CREATE USER whmcs_user@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON whmcs_db.* TO whmcs_user@localhost;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 6: Install PHPMyAdmin

Install PHPMyAdmin for managing MySQL databases:

sudo apt install -y phpmyadmin

Follow the on-screen instructions to configure PHPMyAdmin.

Step 7: Download WHMCS

Download the latest WHMCS version:

wget https://download.whmcs.com/releases/latest/whmcs.zip

Step 8: Extract and Move WHMCS Files

Extract the downloaded file and move its contents to the web root directory:

unzip whmcs.zip
sudo mv whmcs/* /var/www/html/
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/

Step 9: Install WHMCS from Browser

Open the web browser and navigate to your server’s IP address or domain name. The WHMCS installation wizard will start.

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process:

• Select the “Standard Installation” type.
• Enter the database details (name, user, password, host).
• Enter your WHMCS license key.
• Configure the system settings like company name, administrator details, etc.

Step 10: Secure WHMCS Installation

After completing the installation, perform the following security steps:

• Delete the installation directory (/var/www/html/install).
• Update WHMCS to the latest version.
• Set up strong passwords for all WHMCS users.
• Use a security plugin or firewall to protect your WHMCS installation.

Ioncube is part of whmcs and must be installed on the server.

Installing IonCube Loader on Ubuntu 23.4 for PHP 8.1 and 8.2

IonCube Loader is a necessary extension for running encoded PHP scripts and applications. This guide shows you how to install IonCube Loader on Ubuntu 23.4 for both PHP 8.1 and 8.2.

Prerequisites:

• Ubuntu 23.4 server with root access
• Web server (Apache or Nginx)
• PHP 8.1 and/or PHP 8.2 installed

Step 1: Install Dependencies

First, update your system and install required packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y unzip curl

Step 2: Download IonCube Loader for PHP 8.1

Download the appropriate IonCube Loader version for PHP 8.1:

wget https://downloads.ioncube.com/loader_downloads/ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.x.zip

Step 3: Install IonCube Loader for PHP 8.1

Extract the downloaded file and copy the ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.x.so file to the appropriate extension directory:

unzip ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.x.zip
sudo cp ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.x.so /usr/lib/php/8.1/

Step 4: Edit PHP Configuration (PHP 8.1)

Open the php.ini configuration file for PHP 8.1:

sudo nano /etc/php/8.1/cli/php.ini
sudo nano /etc/php/8.1/apache2/php.ini

Add the following line at the end of the file:

zend_extension=/usr/lib/php/8.1/ioncube_loader_lin_8.1.x.so

Step 5: Restart Web Server (PHP 8.1)

Restart the web server to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 6: (Optional) Install IonCube Loader for PHP 8.2 (Repeat steps 2-5)

If you also use PHP 8.2, repeat steps 2 to 5, but download the appropriate IonCube Loader version for PHP 8.2:

wget https://downloads.ioncube.com/loader_downloads/ioncube_loader_lin_8.2.x.zip

Replace 8.1.x.so with 8.2.x.so in the copy and configuration steps.

Step 7: Verify Installation

Create a simple PHP file named info.php with the following content:

PHP

<?php
phpinfo();
?>

Place the file in your web root directory and access it through your web browser. Scroll down to the “Loaded Extensions” section and ensure “IonCube Loader” is listed.

Troubleshooting:

If you encounter problems loading IonCube Loader, check the following:

• You downloaded the correct version for your PHP version.
• The ioncube_loader.so file is in the correct extension directory.
• The zend_extension line is added correctly to the php.ini file.
• The web server has been restarted after making changes.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured WHMCS on your Ubuntu 23.4 server. You can now manage your web hosting business efficiently with the powerful features of WHMCS.