How to Install LAMP Stack with phpMyAdmin on Arch Linux (Complete Guide)

This guide walks you through installing a full LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MariaDB, PHP) along with phpMyAdmin on Arch Linux. By the end, you’ll have a working web server with database management via a browser.

📦 Step 1: Update Your System

Always start by updating your system:

sudo pacman -Syu

🌐 Step 2: Install Apache (Web Server)

Install Apache:

sudo pacman -S apache

Configure Apache

Edit the config file:

sudo vim /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Make sure these lines are set:

Uncomment:

LoadModule mpm_prefork_module modules/mod_mpm_prefork.so

Comment out:

#LoadModule mpm_event_module modules/mod_mpm_event.so

Start and enable Apache:

sudo systemctl enable --now httpd

Test Apache

Open your browser and go to:

http://localhost

You should see the Apache test page.

🗄️ Step 3: Install MariaDB (MySQL Alternative)

Install MariaDB:

sudo pacman -S mariadb

Initialize the database:

sudo mariadb-install-db --user=mysql --basedir=/usr --datadir=/var/lib/mysql

Start and enable MariaDB:

sudo systemctl enable --now mariadb

Secure installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts (set root password, remove test DB, etc).

🐘 Step 4: Install PHP

Install PHP and Apache module:

sudo pacman -S php php-apache

Configure PHP with Apache

Edit Apache config again:

sudo vim /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Add this at the end:

LoadModule php_module modules/libphp.so
AddHandler php-script .php
Include conf/extra/php_module.conf

Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

🧪 Step 5: Test PHP

Create a test file:

sudo vim /srv/http/info.php

Add:

<?php phpinfo(); ?>

Visit:

http://localhost/info.php

You should see PHP info page.

📊 Step 6: Install phpMyAdmin

Install phpMyAdmin:

sudo pacman -S phpmyadmin

⚙️ Step 7: Configure phpMyAdmin

Create Apache config file:

sudo vim /etc/httpd/conf/extra/phpmyadmin.conf

Add:

Alias /phpmyadmin "/usr/share/webapps/phpMyAdmin"
<Directory "/usr/share/webapps/phpMyAdmin">
  DirectoryIndex index.php
  AllowOverride All
  Options FollowSymlinks
  Require all granted
</Directory>

Include it in Apache config:

Edit:

sudo vim /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Add:

Include conf/extra/phpmyadmin.conf

🧩 Step 8: Enable Required PHP Extensions

Edit PHP config:

sudo vim /etc/php/php.ini

Uncomment these:

extension=mysqli
extension=pdo_mysql
extension=mbstring
extension=zip
extension=gd

🔐 Step 9: Configure phpMyAdmin Blowfish Secret

Edit:

sudo vim /etc/webapps/phpmyadmin/config.inc.php

Find:

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = '';

Set a random string:

$cfg['blowfish_secret'] = 'your_random_secret_here';

🔄 Step 10: Restart Apache

sudo systemctl restart httpd

🌍 Step 11: Access phpMyAdmin

Open:

http://localhost/phpmyadmin

Login using:

Username: root
Password: (the one you set earlier)

---

✅ Done!

You now have a fully working LAMP stack with phpMyAdmin on Arch Linux 🎉

🧠 Tips

Store your websites in:

/srv/http/

For better security:

• Disable root login remotely
• Use a dedicated database user
• Consider adding HTTPS with Let’s Encrypt