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How to Install Simple Machines Forum on NixOS Latest

Simple Machines Forum is a free, open-source forum software package that is written in PHP. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the installation process of Simple Machines Forum on NixOS.

Prerequisites

• A NixOS Latest server or virtual machine
• Root access to the server or virtual machine
• Basic knowledge of Linux commands

Step 1: Update the System

Before installing Simple Machines Forum, it is important to update your NixOS system. Use the following command to update the system:

sudo nix-channel --update && sudo nixos-rebuild switch

Step 2: Install Apache and PHP

Simple Machines Forum requires a web server and PHP to run on. You can install Apache and PHP using the following command:

sudo nix-env -iA nixos.apacheHttpd nixos.php

Step 3: Install a Database Management System

Simple Machines Forum requires a database management system to store its data. You can install the MySQL database using the following command:

sudo nix-env -iA nixos.mysql

Step 4: Create a MySQL Database

After installing the MySQL database, you need to create a database for Simple Machines Forum to use. Use the following command to create a new database:

mysql -u root -p -e "CREATE DATABASE smf_db;"

You will be prompted to enter the root MySQL password. Enter the password and press enter.

Step 5: Download and Extract Simple Machines Forum

You can download Simple Machines Forum from the official website at https://www.simplemachines.org/. Once you have downloaded the package, extract it into the Apache web directory using the following command:

sudo wget https://download.simplemachines.org/index.php/smf_2-1-1_install.tar.gz -P /var/www
sudo tar -zxf /var/www/smf_2-1-1_install.tar.gz -C /var/www

Step 6: Configuring Apache

You need to configure Apache to use Simple Machines Forum. Edit the Apache configuration file using the following command:

sudo nano /etc/nixos/configuration.nix

Add the following lines to the configuration file:

services.httpd = {
  enable = true;
  adminAddr = "admin@example.com";
  virtualHosts."example.com".locations."/smf" = {
    root = "/var/www/Install";
    index = "index.php";
    passthru = [ ".php" ];
    allowOverrides = [ "None" ];
    extraConfig = ''
      <Directory "/var/www/Install">
        AllowOverride None
        Require all granted
        php_admin_flag engine on
      </Directory>
    '';
  };
};

Save and exit the configuration file.

Step 7: Install and Configure Simple Machines Forum

To install and configure Simple Machines Forum, navigate to the Simple Machines Forum installation directory by opening the following URL in your web browser:

http://example.com/smf_2-1-1_install/index.php

Follow the instructions provided in the Simple Machines Forum installation wizard to complete the installation process. When prompted, enter the MySQL database details that you created in Step 4.

Step 8: Use Simple Machines Forum

Once the installation is complete, you can access your Simple Machines Forum by opening the following URL in your web browser:

http://example.com/smf_2-1-1/index.php

You will be prompted to log in to your Simple Machines Forum with your administrator account.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured Simple Machines Forum on NixOS Latest.

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