Software bundles
Manual installation of MediaWiki can be painful and time consuming, especially for users lacking technical proficiency. Some users find it easier to get up and running with MediaWiki using a software bundle. These software bundles include some combination of operating system, AMP package, MediaWiki software, extension package and/or template package.
 Warning: | Third-party packages are not reviewed by core developers, and there is no guarantee that they will work.
Also, packages may contain older versions of MediaWiki, so pay close attention to compatibility information for directions and extensions. The MediaWiki development team refers you to the individual communities and companies who maintain these packages for assistance with installing, configuring or using these software bundles. |
MediaWiki stacks (MediaWiki-bundled-with-AMP)
Use this solution if you want MediaWiki installed on your hard disk and executed in the conventional way (like most application software, more or less)...
A stack, short for "solution stack", is a set of software required to run together to be able to run at all. MediaWiki can't run on its own, and requires several other programs to be loaded before it can work. Fortunately, easy-to-install bundled stacks, that include MediaWiki in them, are available...
AMP stands for (Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, Perl/PHP/Python), all of which are software that must be installed in order for MediaWiki to run. Once installed, the stack will include your operating system: LAMP is for Linux, MAMP designates Mac OS X, and WAMP is for MS Windows. So, if you were talking about it to somebody else, and you have MediaWiki running on your Windows machine, you might say "I have a WAMP MediaWiki stack installed".
Below are AMP packages that include MediaWiki, with supported operating system(s) specified:
Bitnami MediaWiki Stack
Bitnami MediaWiki Stack is available for Windows, Linux and OS X. See Installing MediaWiki on Windows for available options.
Canasta
Canasta is a Docker-based stack comprising everything needed to run a full-featured MediaWiki stack. It includes the Canasta Docker image, which runs MediaWiki and the Apache web server. Can be orchestrated via either Docker Compose or Kubernetes. Includes job queue runner, maintenance scripts runner, automated database backups, zero-config MySQL database, ImageMagick, FFmpeg, and transcoder. Supports VisualEditor, CirrusSearch, and over 100 other extensions out-of-the-box.
Debian packages
Debian package of MediaWiki will install Apache, MariaDB/MySQL and PHP by default, allowing for further customization if you want.
Meza
Meza is a MediaWiki administration program that enables the easy install and maintenance of Apache, MariaDB, PHP 7, MediaWiki including Semantic MediaWiki, Visual Editor, Elasticsearch, and many other extensions. All you need is a minimal RedHat/CentOS install. Requires VirtualBox to run using Vagrant.
Docker
See Docker.
MediaWiki software appliances
A MediaWiki software appliance is a MediaWiki and AMP software preintegrated in a just-enough operating system. It allows users to altogether skip manual installation of MediaWiki and its dependencies, and instead deploy a self-contained, ready-to-use system that requires little to no setup, especially in combination with virtual machine software such as VirtualBox or VMware.
MediaWiki-Vagrant is a set of configuration scripts for Vagrant that automate the creation and update of a virtual machine that runs MediaWiki and your choice of extensions and services (source code). This is ideal for MediaWiki developers.
Several third-party MediaWiki software appliances exist. These are LAMP software bundles (Linux+AMP) including a MediaWiki server:
- Cloudron makes it easy to run web apps on your server and keep them up-to-date and secure. The MediaWiki app installs MediaWiki on Cloudron and can be configured to be a public or private wiki. The installation can be tested at the demo (username: cloudron password: cloudron)
- TurnKey MediaWiki, based on Debian includes a pre-integrated collection of popular extensions.
- rPath MediaWiki, based on rPath Linux. (No extensions included.)
- Webuzo MediaWiki, based on CentOS Linux. Runs on VMware. NOTE: Requires Premium Webuzo License Purchase
- Bitnami virtual machine Linux image with MediaWiki Stack. (No extensions included.) Requires VMware or VirtualBox.
- Meza - A MediaWiki administration program which enables the easy install and maintenance of Apache, MariaDB, PHP 7, MediaWiki including Semantic MediaWiki, Visual Editor, Elasticsearch, and many other extensions. All you need is a minimal RedHat/CentOS install. Requires VirtualBox to run using Vagrant.
Automatic installation
The following website provides a free service that enables MediaWiki to be installed, configured, and maintained using a website's FTP information.
For increased security, a separate FTP account and MySQL/MariaDB database should be created for use with this service.
Extension packages
These are packages of several MediaWiki extensions, requiring MediaWiki software, AMP and an operating system:
MediaWiki enterprise solutions
These are MediaWiki distributions customized and prepackaged for the use of the enterprise.
| Name | Description | Producer |
|---|---|---|
| BlueSpice | A free MediaWiki distribution for corporate use, which is constantly expanded and improved. Paid-level service available as well. | Hallo Welt! |
| Canasta | A flexible and comprehensive Docker-based MediaWiki distribution. | A consortium of MediaWiki consultants and hosting providers |
| MyWikis | Premium MediaWiki Software as a service (SaaS) built for ease of use, customization, extensibility, and performance. Easily manage your wiki with our proprietary, in-house Self Service portal. | MyWikis LLC |
| semantic::core | Enterprise class MediaWiki distribution including Semantic, Visual Editor, Elasticsearch and many more powerful extensions. | gesinn.it GmbH & Co. KG. |
| semantic::apps | Plug-and-play Semantic MediaWiki applications for e.g. business process, project or contact management. Available on-premise, as secure cloud or public hosting solution. | gesinn.it GmbH & Co. KG. |
| Dokit | A MediaWiki distribution for creating and sharing digital user guides, work instructions and best practices. | Dokit SAS |
AMP packages without MediaWiki
There are also AMP packages available that are not bundled with MediaWiki. If you go this route, you have to install MediaWiki and extensions as a separate step. Depending on your operating system, you would want a LAMP (for Linux), a WAMP (for Windows), a SAMP (for Solaris), or a FAMP (for FreeBSD).
One AMP package that has worked well is XAMPP. See Manual:Installing MediaWiki on XAMPP. The current version of XAMPP uses PHP 5.4.27.
Another AMP package is BitNami LAMPStack. For downloads and a step-by-step tutorial, see MediaWiki with BitNami.
Another WAMP package is Uniform Server. See Manual:Installation on Uniform Server (Windows).