What Server Do You Need to Run OpenCart
Being lightweight and fast are two of the most defining traits of OpenCart. The platform does not need much computing horsepower and can easily run on the cheapest hosting plans.
This article will help you make sense of the system requirements that can run your entire E-Commerce store effortlessly. Most importantly, we will cover the server configuration needed to make sure that your OpenCart store will run without a hitch when installing additional extensions and making modifications.
Server requirements
To run an OpenCart store and make it visible on the web, you will need a domain and hosting. They can be easily bought at affordable rates, just choose the one you like. However, you should be on the lookout for some fundamental requirements that OpenCart needs:
(According to OpenCart Documentation)
-
Web Server (Apache suggested)
-
PHP 5.3+(1.5.x at least 5.2+)
-
Database (MySQLi suggested)
Important Note:
Modules that use the API of Facebook, Twitter or Instagram require you to have PHP 5.4+.
Besides that, the plan you choose can be one of the least expensive. OpenCart is designed to run flawlessly and if you are just starting out without too much traffic and new visits, you will not need much memory and processing power.
The need for better performance only comes when your store starts growing in visitors, engagement, traffic and products. Otherwise, a new store has minimal server requirements.
Server configuration
This is actually the more important part. The server specifications are not that important, since you do not need anything too powerful.
It’s key that your settings for the PHP user, FTP user, SSH user and file permissions are properly configured. A common practice is to use the same user for PHP, FTP and SSH. This way, you will not run into any permission issues when manually installing extensions, using the extension installer, or doing modifications.
This is usually pre-configured by the hosting companies and the settings cannot be modified by you. In such cases, if you have permission issues, simply contact the hosting provider.
If you configure your own VPS server manually, and you are not sure how to configure the server settings, you can read the following articles to get you started:
Conclusion
If you have any further questions about setting up your server settings for OpenCart’s flawless performance, be sure to leave us a comment below. We hope this guide has been helpful and answered all the right questions. Good luck!
