Installing PixelFed on FreeBSD

PixelFed is an open-source, federated image sharing platform. This tutorial will guide you through the steps to install PixelFed on FreeBSD.

Before proceeding, ensure that your server meets the following requirements:

• A minimum of 2GB of RAM
• At least 10GB of available disk space
• FreeBSD 13
• A user account with sudo privileges

Step 1: Update and Upgrade FreeBSD

Update the FreeBSD package manager and upgrade the system to the latest version.

sudo pkg update && sudo pkg upgrade

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

PixelFed requires Apache, PHP, and a database. Install the required packages:

sudo pkg install apache24 php74 php74-extensions php74-pdo_mysql mysql57-server

During the installation of the MySQL server, set a root password and run the script to secure the installation.

Start the Apache and MySQL services:

sudo sysrc apache24_enable=yes
sudo sysrc mysql_enable=yes
sudo service mysql-server start
sudo service apache24 start

Step 3: Install Git

Install Git to fetch the PixelFed source code:

sudo pkg install git

Step 4: Configure PHP

PixelFed requires several PHP modules. Edit the php.ini file to enable the required modules:

sudo vi /usr/local/etc/php.ini

Add the following lines to enable the required modules:

extension=bz2
extension=ctype
extension=curl
extension=dom
extension=exif
extension=fileinfo
extension=gd
extension=gettext
extension=gmp
extension=intl
extension=json
extension=mbstring
extension=mysqli
extension=openssl
extension=pdo
extension=pdo_mysql
extension=posix
extension=session
extension=tokenizer
extension=xml
extension=zip

Save and close the file.

Step 5: Clone the PixelFed Repository

Clone the PixelFed repository from GitHub:

sudo git clone https://github.com/pixelfed/pixelfed.git /usr/local/www/pixelfed

Set the correct file permissions:

sudo chown -R www:www /usr/local/www/pixelfed
sudo chmod -R 755 /usr/local/www/pixelfed

Step 6: Configure Apache

Create a new virtual host configuration file for Apache:

sudo vi /usr/local/etc/apache24/Includes/pixelfed.conf

Add the following content to the file:

<VirtualHost *:80>
  ServerName your-domain.com
  DocumentRoot /usr/local/www/pixelfed/public

  <Directory /usr/local/www/pixelfed/public>
    Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride All
    Require all granted
  </Directory>

  ErrorLog /var/log/pixelfed-error.log
  CustomLog /var/log/pixelfed-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Replace your-domain.com with your domain name, then save and close the file.

Restart the Apache service:

sudo service apache24 restart

Step 7: Configure PixelFed

Copy the example configuration file to the configuration folder and rename it to pixelfed.env:

sudo cp /usr/local/www/pixelfed/.env.example /usr/local/www/pixelfed/.env

Edit the configuration file:

sudo vi /usr/local/www/pixelfed/.env

Update the following settings:

APP_URL=http://your-domain.com
DB_CONNECTION=mysql
DB_HOST=127.0.0.1
DB_PORT=3306
DB_DATABASE=pixelfed
DB_USERNAME=root
DB_PASSWORD=your-mysql-root-password

Save and close the file.

Step 8: Create the Database

Log in to the MySQL server:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Enter the MySQL root password when prompted.

Create a new database named pixelfed:

CREATE DATABASE pixelfed;

Create a new user and grant access to the pixelfed database:

CREATE USER 'pixelfed'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your-pixelfed-db-password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON pixelfed.* TO 'pixelfed'@'localhost';

Replace your-pixelfed-db-password with a strong password.

Exit the MySQL prompt:

exit;

Step 9: Run Database Migrations

Run the database migration script to create the required tables and data:

sudo php /usr/local/www/pixelfed/artisan migrate

Step 10: Configure SMTP

PixelFed requires an SMTP server to send emails. Edit the configuration file to set up the SMTP server:

sudo vi /usr/local/www/pixelfed/.env

Update the following settings:

MAIL_DRIVER=smtp
MAIL_HOST=your-smtp-server
MAIL_PORT=587
MAIL_USERNAME=your-smtp-username
MAIL_PASSWORD=your-smtp-password
MAIL_ENCRYPTION=tls
MAIL_FROM_ADDRESS=noreply@your-domain.com
MAIL_FROM_NAME=PixelFed

Replace your-smtp-server, your-smtp-username, and your-smtp-password with your SMTP server information.

Save and close the file.

Step 11: Create an Admin User

Create a new user account with administrator privileges:

sudo php /usr/local/www/pixelfed/artisan user:create admin

Follow the prompts to set up the username, email, and password.

Step 12: Start the Service

Start the PixelFed service:

sudo php /usr/local/www/pixelfed/artisan queue:work

Access the PixelFed web interface by visiting http://your-domain.com in your web browser.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed PixelFed on FreeBSD.

If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!

Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!