How to host OpenCart on Racknerd VPS - ServerAvatar

OpenCart is a flexible open-source e-commerce platform known for its robust features and flexibility. It empowers businesses to create and manage online stores efficiently, offering features for product catalog management, order processing, and customer interaction. With a wide range of extensions and customizable options, OpenCart enables personalized e-commerce solutions without requiring deep technical knowledge. Racknerd is a dependable hosting option for OpenCart, providing scalable infrastructure and simple deployment solutions. ServerAvatar makes deploying the OpenCart application on the Racknerd platform easy and user-friendly.

Create a VPS in Racknerd

Getting started with Racknerd:

Creating an account and setting up a cloud VPS on RackNerd is simpler than you might imagine! Follow our easy, step-by-step guide, and you'll be ready to go quickly. Start managing your RackNerd services quickly and effortlessly with one of the top hosting providers. Let's get started!

What is Racknerd?

RackNerd is a top-notch hosting provider offering various services, from cloud servers to dedicated servers and colocation. With a reputation for affordability and reliability, RackNerd is a great choice for both individuals and businesses seeking scalable and efficient hosting solutions. They provide the infrastructure you need to manage and optimize your websites, applications, and other online services seamlessly.

Step 1: Setup Cloud VPS with Racknerd

• First, log in to your RackNerd account and navigate to the Services option. Next, click on Order New Services from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Select the plan

• At this point, you'll see a variety of Shared Hosting plans in the Categories section on the left-hand side menu. We recommend choosing the KVM VPS plan. To proceed, simply click on the KVM VPS Hosting plan.
  • KVM VPS: KVM VPS (Kernel-based Virtual Machine Virtual Private Server) uses KVM technology to create virtualized environments with dedicated resources like CPU, RAM, and storage. This type of VPS offers high performance, security, and flexibility, making it perfect for hosting websites, applications, and other online services.

Step 3: Select KVM VPS Service

• At this stage, you'll find several options available in the KVM VPS section. You can choose any KVM VPS service that suits your needs, but we recommend selecting the AMD Ryzen Linux VPS service for the best performance.
• AMD Ryzen Linux VPS uses AMD Ryzen processors and the Linux operating system, providing high performance and reliability. It's ideal for websites, applications, and online services that require robust computing power and stability.

Step 4: Select your KVM VPS Configuration

• Here in the KVM VPS service, you'll find a range of plans designed to meet your specific requirements. Once you've selected your plan, simply click on Order Now to proceed with the next steps.

Step 5: Additional VPS Options

• Now, at this stage, you have to select additional options for your VPS. Here, you can select your billing cycle from annual or biennial payments. Furthermore, you can choose a location that is most suitable for you.
• Additionally, select your preferred operating system. Generally, the OpenCart application required Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or a later version for compatibility and support. We suggest Ubuntu 22.04 64-bit for the best performance.
• Click Continue to proceed to the next step.

Step 6: Review and Finalize Details

• you can review and confirm all the choices you've made for your VPS. Once you're satisfied with your selections, proceed to complete the payment process. Your VPS will be set up quickly and will be ready for use in a minimum amount of time.

• Congratulations! You have successfully created your Racknerd VPS, which is now ready to connect with ServerAvatar.

Initial Server Configuration

The Initial server configuration includes the installation and configuration of various packages required to host your website. Usually, You have to write commands and modify configuration files. Luckily, With ServerAvatar, Your full server configuration and optimization can be automated.

Here are the three ways to automatically configure your server with ServerAvatar.

wget https://srvr.so/install
chmod +x install
./install

Install and Setup OpenCart on Cloud using ServerAvatar

Step1: Create Opencart Database

The Opencart installation process requires database Credentials. So, to create a MySQL database for Opencart, Access the Database tab on the ServerAvatar server panel to create a Database.

To create a Database, Enter the details, such as the Database Name, in the database creation form like the image below.

Database successfully created.

Steps 2: Create a PHP Application

Access the Applications tab from the server panel to create a new PHP application for Opencart.

Now fill up the required details in the application form, as seen in the image below.

Note that:

If you want to host Opencart on your domain, then make sure to point your domain to the current IP address of your server, and for that:

1. Log in to your domain provider site, where you buy your domain. Click here for more info about your domain name.
2. Access DNS Manager to edit your DNS records (contact the support team if you don’t find them)
3. Change the IP address of A Record of your website to the > current server’s IP address.

To host Opencart on your subdomain, for example, Opencart.yourdomain.com, create a new application with the subdomain as your primary domain and follow the same procedure. For accessing Opencart on the subdomain, you need to add your subdomain on A Record that points to the current IP address of your server. To point to an IPV6 address, you would need to use an AAAA record.

Click on Next Step.

Now, choose the method and service provider: Git and GitHub (follow as per the snapshot).

Continue the process by entering the necessary information as provided below:
Repository Type: Public
Clone HTTPS URL: https://github.com/opencart/opencart.git
Branch: master
Deployment script: (keep this Script box empty)

Proceed by clicking the "Next Step".

You can either create a new System User or select an existing one.

Next, choose PHP version 8.0 or above. We're specifically seeking "index.php" or "index.html" within the custom setup. It is available in the upload directory of Opencart. So, our custom webroot is upload.

Custom Webroot: upload

Proceed to the next steps and ensure your details and requirements are accurately entered.

After confirming, click on Create Application to initiate the application creation process.

Step 3: Rename a file

On the file manager, go to the upload folder and check the Show Hidden Files box and rename the .htaccess.txt file to .htaccess.

Follow Snapshot to rename files.

Similarly rename,

1. config-dist.php to config.php at same directory path (public_html -> upload).
2. config-dist.php to config.php at directory path (public_html -> upload -> admin).

Note: - To rename a file follow the same procedure as visualized in the snapshot. Check the directory path of the file.

Step 4: Change file permissions

Select both config.php files one by one and click the Change Permission button. To access config.php follow the same directory path used in step 3.

Follow the given snapshot to change the file permission for both files.

Change the permission to 755, like the following image.

Successfully change the permission.

Step 5: Code Modification

To configure OpenCart, you may need to make some code modifications. Follow the provided directory path to open the file and make the necessary code changes.

To modify, Open: upload/system/storage/vendor/twig/twig/src/Loader/FilesystemLoader.php

On line 90, replace

$checkPath = $this->isAbsolutePath($path) ? $path : $this->rootPath.$path;

With

$checkPath = $this->rootPath.$path;

Follow the Snapshot Procedure to modify code.

Save the changes(ctrl + s).

Successfully deploy Opencart on the server through the ServerAvatar.

Step 6: Install and setup Opencart

Now access the site URL from the Application panel to install and set up Opencart.

Click on Continue.

Configuration

We have already created a database for Opencart in step 1. To establish a connection between the database and the application, enter the database credential we have already made. You can access all your database credentials, like database name, username, and password, by accessing the database tab from the server panel.

1. Enter the following database credential we have already created in ServerAvatar:
   DB Driver: MySQLi
   Hostname: localhost
   Username: Username of database
   Password: Database password
   Database Name: Database name
   Prefix: Change the database table prefix as you want

2. To create administrator enter the following details:
   Username: any username
   Password: your password
   Email: your email

Note:- Please remember the credentials you entered above for logging into Opencart.

Click Continue.

Login as admin with admin username and password on the next page to access the admin panel.

Successfully install and setup Opencart on the server through the ServerAvatar.

Step 7: Secure OpenCart admin panel

Follow the Security Notification popup to the admin panel. It points-
• To delete the installation directory after accessing the store admin panel.
• To move the storage directory outside of the web directory(e.g. public_html).
• To rename the admin directory to your choice.
That’s it. Use the power of an open-source tool flexibly to make an impressive e-Commerce store.
Check OpenCart documentation for more information related to installation and functionalities.

Thank you for choosing ServerAvatar! We warmly welcome you to our vibrant community of ServerAvatar.