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Installing WooCommerce on your WordPress VPS

WooCommerce is the world's most popular e-commerce plugin for WordPress. Running it on a Tilaa VPS ensures you have the dedicated resources (CPU/RAM) required for a fast and stable webshop, unlike shared hosting.

Prerequisites:
We assume you have already deployed the Tilaa WordPress Appliance and have logged in to your WordPress Admin Dashboard.

Step 1: Preparation & Updates

Before adding e-commerce functionality, ensure your base system is secure and up-to-date.

  1. Log in to your WordPress Dashboard (e.g., http://yourdomain.com/wp-admin).
  2. Click on Dashboard > Updates.
  3. If a WordPress core update or plugin updates are available, install them first.

Step 2: Installing the Plugin

You can install WooCommerce directly from the official repository.

  1. Navigate to Plugins > Add New.
  2. In the search bar (top right), type: WooCommerce.
  3. Locate the plugin by Automattic.
  4. Click Install Now.
  5. Once installed, click Activate.

Step 3: The Setup Wizard

Upon activation, the WooCommerce Setup Wizard should launch automatically. This tool configures the basic settings of your store.

Follow the on-screen steps to configure:

  • Store Details: Your address and currency settings.
  • Industry: What type of products you sell (Fashion, Electronics, etc.).
  • Product Types: Physical products (shipping required) or Downloads.
  • Theme: You can keep your current theme or install the official Storefront theme (recommended for compatibility).
Tip:
If you accidentally closed the wizard, you can always restart it via WooCommerce > Settings > Help > Setup Wizard.

Step 4: Post-Install Recommendations

Now that your store is active, check the following technical settings to ensure smooth operation on your VPS.

1. HTTPS (SSL)

An online store must run on HTTPS. Ensure you have configured an SSL certificate via Let's Encrypt or Webmin.

2. Permalinks

Go to Settings > Permalinks and ensure "Post name" is selected. This ensures your product URLs look like /product/t-shirt instead of /?p=123.

3. Caching Note

If you installed caching plugins (like W3 Total Cache), ensure you exclude the WooCommerce pages (Cart, Checkout, My Account) from being cached. Caching these pages will cause errors for your customers.