Docs › Installing Piwik
Things to Know Before You Begin
Before you begin the install, there are few things you need to have and do. These are:
- An access to your web server (via shell or FTP)
- An FTP Client (if you need to install Piwik on a remote server)
Begin your installation
- Check to ensure that your web host meets the minimum requirements to run Piwik.
- Download the latest release of Piwik.
- Unzip the downloaded file to a folder on your hard drive. This should create a "piwik" folder containing files and directories.
- Upload the Piwik files using your FTP client in the desired location on your web server, for example on http://yourdomain.com/piwik.
- Navigate to the URL you installed Piwik on via your web browser. If everything is uploaded properly, you should see the Piwik Installation Welcome screen.
The 5-minute Piwik Installation
Welcome
Navigate to the URL you installed Piwik on via your web browser. You should be greeted with a welcome message:
System Check
Piwik will proceed to check your system to ensure the server meets the Piwik requirements (the right versions of php, MySQL, PDO extension, etc).
MySQL Database Setup
Piwik will ask for the information it needs to set up a valid MySQL database.
If you are unsure of the values it requests, ask your web host for information regarding your MySQL database. Once the fields are filled in, Piwik will create a database if needed, as well as all the necessary Piwik tables.
Tables Creation
Piwik will now create all the necessary tables in your database. All you have to do is click Next.
General Setup
Piwik will now ask for the super user’s name and password in order to create the super user account:
It is important that you do not forget this information, as it is the only way to login to Piwik for the first time. There can only be one super user per Piwik installation. The super user can create websites, users, change user permissions, enable/disable plugins, etc.
First Website Setup
Enter the name and URL of the website Piwik will be monitoring.
You can add an unlimited number of websites to monitor once the installation is complete.
Display JavaScript Code
Piwik will issue you with a JavaScript tag. This tag must appear on every page you want Piwik to analyze. We recommend that you put this code just before your </body> at the bottom of your pages (or in a general "footer" file that is included at the bottom of your pages).
And that’s it!
Now you just have to wait for visitors to come to your website. Piwik reports are generated in real time, so you should see data very soon.
If your website is a medium or high-traffic website (a few hundred visits per day or more) you may have to setup auto archiving so that Piwik computes all your reports every night. More information about How to setup Piwik auto archiving.
Enjoy… and let us know your feedback!
