How to install a self-hosted WordPress blog?
Many of my Tamil blogging friends have started moving to self-hosted WordPress blogs. Most of them think that they need to install / setup WordPress manually. No need. Follow the steps below.
Installation
Control Panel -> Fantastico deluxe -> WordPress – New installation.
If you are going to have nothing but a blog in your site, then install WordPress in your root directory. If you wish to have forums, guest books, content management software etc., then it is better that you install in a sub domain called blog. For example, blog.ravidreams.net . To do this, first go to Control Panel – > Sub domains and create the sub domain name blog and then proceed for the WordPress installation. Alternatively, you can install WordPress in a subdirectory called blog. For example, ravidreams.net/blog.
Naming
blog.ravidreams.net format URL is seen widely for blogs. Your next preference can be for the ravidreams.net/blog format. Do not install WordPress in a subdirectory / domain called WordPress and have it in the URL. You should do so only if your blog is about WordPress. If your blog is focused on a topic, then you can also name the blog URL upon it. For example, if your blog is full of articles about environment, then you can name as environment.ravidreams.net . Sometimes, people have blogs in both English and Tamil. If you want to specify the language of the blog in the URL, then do so only for the secondary language blog. For example, if your whole site is in English, then it is meaningless to name your blog english.englishsite.com . It is also desirable that you specify the language and also the nature of the site explicitly by having a URL like en.blog.orkut.com . The format tamil.something.com or something.com/tamil is mostly used for portals only and you may avoid using formats. If your site is in multiple languages like French, English, Tamil etc., then it is advisable that you follow the international language codes like en.something.com, fr.something.com, ta.something.com rather than naming them as Tamil.something.com . the two letter codes clearly indicate the language version while the full letter version like Tamil.something.com can also be a site in English writing about Tamil.
Uploading
Do not use the file manager in control panel to upload files. Use Filezilla
Editing themes, plugins from WordPress dashboard
You can edit the themes, plugins using the theme editor, plugin editor in the WordPress dashboard. If you do not have this editing option then you have to change the file attributes for the themes and plugins folder. Access these folders in Filezilla. Right click on them and choose File Attributes. Check all the 9 options and choose to apply these changes for all subdirectories and files under these folders. Now you can edit your themes, plugins from your WordPress dashboard.
Backup
Do remember to backup every once in a while depending upon the frequency of changes you make in your blog. You never know when you will screw up the installation. It happens almost for everyone. You can use the backup manager in control panel. Also, remember to store a copy of your themes, plugins, uploads folder in your local disk. And backup your WordPress database by exporting the MySQL database tables every now and then. This table and the uploads folder are the most important ones to backup.
Uninstallation
Control Panel -> Fantastico deluxe -> WordPress – existing installations – remove.
No need to remove manually. Sometimes, uninstall / reinstall is lot more easier than bug fixing or making up the mistake done. If you have backed up, don’t hesitate to reinstall.
