Installing WordPress es really as easy as it is said. Is easier than other CMS I tested before (PostNuke, PhpNuke, Joomla) if it is correct to catalog WordPress as a CMS (Content Management System), but this is another subject.

Before beginning it’s recommended to check if your host has the minimun requirements , whatever you paid for it or you got it for free . These requirements are:

1. PHP 4.2 or greater.
2. MySQL 4.0 or greater.
3. The mod_rewrite Apache module.

The good news is that almost with total probability your web host carries out these requirements because WP is an quite spread out system . PHP in its 4.x version goes by 4.4.7, MySQL in its 4.x version goes by 4.1.22 (also it has 5.x version, the same with PHP), and the mod_rewrite Apache module usually is active in its default settings. The bad news…¿Did you thing there was a bad news?

After said that you have to download WordPress, you can do it from WordPress.org, and its needed to rename the file wp-config-sample.php with the name wp-config.php. Then yoy have to open it and change some data to put your database configuration. Don’t be scared, it is easier than you think. You can use any text tool to edit this file, for example the notepad. Look for this information:

// ** MySQL settings ** //
define(’DB_NAME’, ‘wordpressdb’); // your database name
define(’DB_USER’, ‘root’); // your database user name
define(’DB_PASSWORD’, ”); // your password for that user
define(’DB_HOST’, ‘localhost’); //probably you will not need to change this
define(’DB_CHARSET’, ‘utf8′);
define(’DB_COLLATE’, ”);

IMPORTANT: this setting is my localhost setting, not my public web host setting. You must not leave the database user password in blank,

After editing you have ti upload all files to your server. There are several free ftp tools you can use.

And finally let’s start the “5 minutes installation”, and you have to enter this url in your web browser:

http://mysite.com/wp-admin/install.php

Note that where it is said “myhost” you have to write the url of your web host. Then you only have ti follow the steps that appear on the screen, simple steps like putting your email address or your blog tittle. Be careful of writing the password provided during the last step of installation because if you forget it you can’t enter to manage your blog. Once in the admin panel you can change your password if you want it.

Said that you can login in your blog writing this url in your web browser:

http://mysite.com/wp-login.php

And one last thing, it is recommended to remove the install.php file. Unlike other CMS systems you can’t run again the installation process if you don’t clear the data base but it is good to be cautious.

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