How to Easily Install Drupal | A Complete Guide

Have you heard of a software called Drupal and wondered how to install it? If you’re an amateur web developer, this might be your first time hearing about it, as beginners rarely use it.

It’s understandable if you haven’t heard of Drupal. However, it’s important to know that professional web developers often use it to build their websites.

Drupal is similar to popular Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress. CMSs are essential for creating websites.

One of the best things about Drupal is that it’s open-source. This makes it easier for web developers to create, develop, and manage their web projects.

If you want to try using Drupal to build a website quickly and professionally, you need to understand what Drupal is and how to install it.

This guide will explain what Drupal is and how to install and configure it to build a website. Here’s everything you need to know.

What is Drupal?

Drupal is a type of Content Management System (CMS) that comes with advanced modules. These modules allow developers to create and manage different kinds of websites effectively.

It’s widely used by developers and big companies because it’s great for building high-traffic websites. This is because Drupal has lots of modules and versatile features.

Compared to other CMSs, Drupal can be a bit harder to learn. Developers need to understand some technical stuff, so they often rely on tutorials to get started.

Drupal is built using PHP. The good thing is, it’s free to use, just like other CMSs.

People choose Drupal because it helps them make websites that work well. It’s flexible, so developers can create and manage different types of sites easily.

Drupal can also work as a database for content marketing, which is useful for many users. This flexibility is why big companies use it for their official websites.

One more thing about Drupal is that it can speed up websites by caching data.

There are different versions of Drupal, and developers are always working on new ones. Some start with Drupal 7, but many are moving to versions 8 and 9 because they have better features and updates.

Each version has its own set of modules. Drupal 7 has more modules and tutorials, while Drupal 8 has fewer but more modern ones.

After Drupal 9 came out, more developers switched to it because it fixed some issues and made things easier.

Installing Drupal

Once you understand what it is and why it’s great, you can learn how to install Drupal for making and managing websites. But first, you need to know what your system needs to avoid installation errors, especially if you’re using Drupal 8 or newer versions.

First, make sure your browser is up-to-date, like Google Chrome, Mozilla, Opera, or others. Also, update your database management system to the latest version. You can use MySQL, PostgreSQL, or MariaDB, among others, as long as they’re up-to-date.

Your web server, such as Apache or Nginx, should also be running the latest version. For PHP, use version 7.3 or higher. Adjust these requirements based on your web hosting.

You can install Drupal automatically or manually. Here are the steps for installing it.

Automatic Drupal Installation

If you’ve bought hosting that meets the requirements mentioned earlier, installing Drupal becomes easier. You can do this installation through the registrar where you purchased your hosting. Here’s how:

Step 1: Log in to the Client Area. Find the cPanel service under hosting and click on View All cPanel Features.

Step 2: In cPanel, go to Softaculous Apps Installer and click on Portals/CMS in the categories.

Step 3: Scroll down and click on the Drupal logo to start the installation. Choose the latest version in the Software Setup section and enter the domain name where you want Drupal installed.

Step 4: Fill in the required details like site name, admin username and password, and email. Click Install and wait for the installation to finish.

Manual Drupal Installation in Plesk

Step 1: Setup Plesk Ensure that Plesk is installed on the hosting server via SSH. Open Plesk, navigate to the Applications menu, and locate the option to install Drupal. Click on Install to proceed.

Step 2: Accept Terms Agree to the License Agreement terms by checking the box, then click Next to continue

Step 3: Choose Installation Location Select the file directory where Drupal will be installed. Set the admin password as required. Finally, click on Install to start the installation process.

Step 4: Completion Wait for the Drupal installation to complete. Once finished, you will receive a confirmation message indicating that Drupal has been successfully installed for your registered domain.

Installing Drupal is commonly done through Softaculous’ App Installer. Currently, other App Installers don’t support making Drupal CMS installation easier.

Softaculous not only offers an easy and automated installation process but also provides script updates, making it safer for the website server.

It’s available on various hosting servers or cPanels, allowing users to install necessary applications for website development and management, like Drupal CMS.

For offline or local website development, users can install Drupal on XAMPP on their devices. However, this is only for local purposes.

When ready to publish the website, users need to manually upload the database to the server, which can be cumbersome. It’s better to install directly on the purchased hosting server.

Following the above method for installing Drupal makes it easier and automated for developers

Drupal for Big Companies and High Traffic

Drupal is a Content Management System developed as open-source software. It’s free for developers to use and manage websites.

Many big companies choose Drupal for their high-traffic websites. However, using Drupal isn’t as simple as other CMSs. It requires more technical expertise and can be a bit complex.

Installing Drupal is straightforward once developers meet the prerequisites. They can install it automatically through the client area where they purchased the hosting server.

Drupal makes managing large websites easier with its extensive module support and updated mechanisms. It’s also very flexible and can be customized to suit users’ needs.