How to host OpenCart on Vultr Server - 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. When selecting a hosting solution for OpenCart, Vultr stands out as a reliable option with scalable infrastructure and simple deployment solutions. ServerAvatar makes the deployment of the OpenCart application on the Vultr platform straightforward through a simplified process.

Create a Cloud Instance in Vultr

To create a server in Vultr, follow the below-given steps. If you want to learn How to use Vultr to manage your infrastructure in Vultr, You can refer to our Vultr cloud guide.

Step 1: Go to the Instance Creation Page

Vultr provides different types of cloud instances. From the server creation page, you can create cloud instances such as Regular VMs, Dedicated, Bare Metal, Cloud GPUs, and some managed services.

To access the server creation page, log in to your Vultr account and click on the Deploy New Server option from the + button given on the dashboard.

Step 2: Choose the Server

You can create 4 different types of cloud instances which includes Optimised Cloud Compute, Cloud Compute, Cloud GPU, and Bare Metal. Select the one that fits your requirements.

Step 3: Choose Server Type

Based on your selection of the server in the second step, You will have to select a specific type of server. If you have selected the Optimised Cloud Compute instance, You will see the options like this as shown in the image below:

Step 4: Select Server Location

Location is a very important option. Make sure to select a server location closest to your major traffic source demographically. You can select locations in 5 different continents.

Step 5: Select Server Image

In simple terms, a Server image is an operating system running on the server. So here, You have to select an OS for your server.

If you are managing your servers with ServerAvatar, Select Ubuntu 20.04 or Ubuntu 22.04.

Step 6: Select Server Size

Here, Select a server size according to your requirements. The minimum requirements are 1GB or more of RAM for better performance and 1GB or more of disk space based on the size of the store, product images, and logs. The exact amount will depend on your usage and data storage needs. You can select another plan of higher configuration as per your requirements and usage.

Step 7: Add Auto Backups and Additional Features

We recommend you enable auto backups for important websites or apps. If you are creating a temporary server, You can skip the auto backups.

In addition to this feature, You can enable DDOS Protection and other options according to your requirements.

Do not enable the "No Public IPv4 Address" option. It will create the server without IPv4, which is impossible to connect with ServerAvatar.

Step 8: Select an SSH Key

If you use an SSH key to authenticate with the server, Select an SSH key in this section. If you haven't uploaded your key yet, You can do it by clicking on the Add New option.

SSH key is not mandatory. If you don’t want to use SSH keys, Ignore this option. You can still connect to your server by using the password.

Step 9: Firewall Group

If you are using the Vultr firewall, You can select the firewall group from here.

If you do not have the 43210 port enabled in your firewall group, you need to configure it to connect a server with ServerAvatar.

Step 10: Server Hostname and Label

In this step, you have to choose the hostname and the label for the server. You can set the same hostname and label. They are used for identification purposes only.

Step 11: Deploy Now!

Finally, click on the Deploy Now button to create a server. It might take a minute or two to fully boot up your server. Once it is ready, You will see it in the Products section in Vultr.

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. As 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.