Installing TYPO3 CMS on Debian 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

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TYPO3 is a free and open-source enterprise-grade content management system (CMS) offering features like scalable multisite support, multilingual installation, strong security, and high performance. It is a flexible and reliable platform supported by a vibrant community with a pluggable design and adaptable architecture.

This guide details the process of installing TYPO3 CMS using the LAMP Stack on Debian 11 (Bullseye) and includes a basic TYPO3 CMS installation walkthrough.

Prerequisites

  • A Linux server running Debian 11.
  • Access to a root user or a non-root user with root privileges.
  • A domain name pointing to your server’s IP address.

Installing the LAMP Stack

Since TYPO3 is built on PHP, you must install a LAMP or LEMP stack. Follow these steps to set up a LAMP Stack for TYPO3:

Start by updating your package index:

sudo apt update

Now, install the necessary packages:

sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server php php-common php-mysql libapache2-mod-php php-gd php-curl php-json php-xmlrpc php-intl php-bcmath php-zip php-apcu php-mbstring php-fileinfo php-xml php-soap

Confirm the installation by typing Y and pressing Enter.

Installing LAMP Stack

Next, configure PHP by editing the php.ini file:

sudo nano /etc/php/7.4/apache2/php.ini

Adjust the configuration as follows:

memory_limit = 512M
max_execution_time = 240
max_input_vars = 1500

date.timezone = Europe/Amsterdam

post_max_size = 50M
upload_max_filesize = 50M

Save the changes, then restart Apache to apply them:

sudo systemctl restart apache2
sudo systemctl status apache2

Ensure the Apache service is active and running:

Checking Apache2 service

Configuring MariaDB

Secure your MariaDB installation using mysql_secure_installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts:

  • Press Enter for no root password.
  • Switch to unix_socket authentication: Y
  • Set a new MariaDB root password: Y
  • Remove anonymous users: Y
  • Disallow root remote login: Y
  • Remove test database: Y
  • Reload privilege tables: Y

Restart and check the MariaDB service:

sudo systemctl restart mariadb
sudo systemctl status mariadb

Ensure MariaDB is active and running:

Checking MariaDB service

Creating a Database and User for TYPO3

Create a database and user for TYPO3:

mysql -u root -p

Then execute the following SQL queries:

CREATE DATABASE typo3db;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON typo3db.* TO 'typo3'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'typo3password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Create MariaDB database and user TYPO3

Installing Composer

Install the PHP Composer by downloading and verifying the installer:

php -r "copy('https://getcomposer.org/installer', 'composer-setup.php');"
php -r "if (hash_file('sha384', 'composer-setup.php') === '906a84df04cea2aa72f40b5f787e49f22d4c2f19492ac310e8cba5b96ac8b64115ac402c8cd292b8a03482574915d1a8') { echo 'Installer verified'; } else { echo 'Installer corrupt'; unlink('composer-setup.php'); } echo PHP_EOL;"

Run the installer and remove it:

php composer-setup.php
php -r "unlink('composer-setup.php');"

Move Composer to /usr/local/bin for system-wide access:

sudo mv composer.phar /usr/local/bin/composer

Install Composer

Verify Composer installation:

sudo -u www-data composer --version
sudo -u www-data composer -v

Checking Composer version

Downloading TYPO3 CMS with Composer

Create a directory for TYPO3 and ensure it is writable by www-data:

mkdir -p /var/www/typo3
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/typo3
sudo chmod u+rw /var/www/typo3

Create TYPO3 Installation directory

Download TYPO3 using Composer:

cd /var/www/typo3
sudo -u www-data composer create-project typo3/cms-base-distribution:^11 .

Download and Install TYPO3 CMS with Composer

Setting up Apache Virtual Host

Create a virtual host configuration for TYPO3:

cd /etc/apache2/sites-available/
sudo nano typo3.conf

Add the following configuration, modifying the domain and certificate paths:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName example.io
    Redirect permanent / https://example.io/
</VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:443>
    ServerAdmin admin@example.io
    DocumentRoot /var/www/typo3/public
    ServerName example.io

    Protocols h2 http/1.1

    SSLEngine On
    SSLCertificateFile /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.io/fullchain.pem
    SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.io/privkey.pem

    
        Options FollowSymlinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

    
        RewriteEngine on
        RewriteBase /
        RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
        RewriteRule ^(.*) index.php [PT,L]
    
</VirtualHost>

Save the file, then enable Apache modules and the virtual host configuration:

sudo a2enmod ssl rewrite headers
sudo a2ensite typo3.conf
sudo apachectl configtest

Ensure you receive “Syntax OK” as confirmation:

Setup Apache Virtual host TYPO3 CMS

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2
sudo systemctl status apache2

Checking Apache2 service

Installing TYPO3 CMS

Create a FIRST_INSTALL file to indicate a fresh installation:

sudo -u www-data touch /var/www/typo3/public/FIRST_INSTALL

Access the TYPO3 installation through your browser at:

https://example.io/

Ensure your environment setup is correct and proceed by clicking the green button:

Installing TYPO3 CMS

Enter database credentials and continue:

Setup Database user and password TYPO3 CMS

Select the existing empty typo3db and continue:

Setup Database TYPO3 CMS

Create an admin account and finish the installation:

Create admin user TYPO3 CMS

Upon completion, click “Open the TYPO3 Backend”:

Installation completed TYPO3 CMS

Login with your admin credentials:

TYPO3 CMS Login Page

You will be directed to the TYPO3 admin dashboard:

Typo3 CMS admin dashboard

Explore detailed information through the admin menu:

Installation info TYPO3 CMS

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully installed TYPO3 CMS using the LAMP Stack on Debian 11 Bullseye. Now, you can customize your TYPO3 setup and explore extensions to enhance its functionality.

FAQ

What are the prerequisites for installing TYPO3 CMS?
You need a Linux server running Debian 11, access to root privileges, and a domain name pointed to the server’s IP.
Why use the LAMP Stack for TYPO3?
TYPO3 is PHP-based, thus requiring a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP) to function properly.
How can I verify the Composer installation?
You can verify it by executing the command sudo -u www-data composer --version. The output will display the installed Composer version.
Is there a graphical interface for configuring Apache virtual hosts?
Apache’s virtual hosts are typically managed through configuration files, but graphical tools are available for some desktop environments or controlled situations.
Can I install TYPO3 without using Composer?
While Composer is a recommended method for managing dependencies, TYPO3 can also be installed manually by downloading the source files and managing dependencies yourself.