Install Piwik on Rackspace Cloud Server (Ubuntu 14.04)

This is a step by step guide to install Piwik analytics software on Rackspace Cloud Server running Ubuntu 14.04 LTS with all the commands. We will recommend to open this detailed guide to Install WordPress on Rackspace Cloud Server (Ubuntu 14.04 PVHVM). All the need are exactly the same for Piwik, you will definitely not proceed to install WordPress. You will stop at the sub header named What is Next Steps. This is the backend setup for one server configuration running MySQL server on the same server. You can give the server a subdomain name like piwik.thecustomizewindows.com and add the A record and CNAME pointing towards your browser under the main domain record in Cloud DNS.

Install Piwik on Rackspace Cloud Server (Ubuntu 14.04) : Important Notes

Actually, the reason to install Piwik analytics software on Rackspace Cloud Server is basically security and privacy of data. We talked about that part on Piwik Analytics vs Google Analytics For the Sake of Data Privacy. Here are some technical considerations for variation in setup :

1. You want to run Piwik on the Same Server : use either Apache2 virtual host or under a sub directory. If you are using a load balancer or Varnish Server in front, this ways are not recommended,
2. You want to install Piwik on Rackspace Cloud Sites : read Installing Piwik on Rackspace Cloud Sites guide.
3. You want to use MySQL Database as a Service not MySQL server on the same server. That is easy, simply create a new database.

Install Piwik on Rackspace Cloud Server (Ubuntu 14.04) : Steps

Basically,  the steps to install Piwik analytics software on Rackspace Cloud Server is same like WordPress like we said before; still we are providing standalone commands, do not combine two tutorials unless you are cent percent sure what you are doing.

Now, install LAMP Server in case you want to install MySQL Server too :

If you do not want to install MySQL Server, i.e. you will use MySQL Database as a Service; you need to edit the sources.list file (uncomment the recourses which are commented out) :

Then run :

For WordPress we actually installed these too, we will install them here too :

Go to the default root directory of Apache2 :

Now wget the latest version of Piwik :

unzip it :

Delete the zip file :

So, all our files are at the root now. Set permission properly :

If you have installed it on a subdomain, point your browser to :

It will trigger the web installation steps, which is very easy. For database setup – follow that linked older guide for WordPress or use MySQL Database as a Service; to visually see the next steps, you can check the official doc :