Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is a powerful open-source web application that provides a range of features, from wikis to forums and blogs. However, there might be instances where you need to uninstall it from your Ubuntu server.
Whether you’re migrating to a different platform, or simply cleaning up unused software, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Backup Your Data
Before making any changes to your server, it’s always a good idea to backup your data. This ensures that you can restore your website if something goes wrong during the uninstallation process.
Navigate to the Tiki Wiki installation directory.
cd /path/to/tiki-wiki
Use the tar command to create a backup of your Tiki Wiki directory.
tar -czvf tiki-wiki-backup.tar.gz /path/to/tiki-wiki
Step 2: Remove Tiki Wiki Files
Once you’ve backed up your data, you can proceed to remove the Tiki Wiki files from your server.
Navigate to the directory where Tiki Wiki is installed.
cd /path/to/tiki-wiki
Use the rm command to delete the Tiki Wiki directory.
sudo rm -r /path/to/tiki-wiki
Step 3: Remove the Tiki Wiki Database
Tiki Wiki uses a database to store its content. You’ll need to remove this database to completely uninstall Tiki Wiki.
Log in to your MySQL/MariaDB server.
mysql -u root -p
Drop the Tiki Wiki database.
DROP DATABASE tiki_wiki_database_name;
Step 4: Remove Associated Users and Privileges
For security reasons, it’s a good idea to remove any database users and privileges associated with Tiki Wiki.
Still within the MySQL/MariaDB interface, revoke all privileges from the Tiki Wiki user.
REVOKE ALL PRIVILEGES ON tiki_wiki_database_name.* FROM 'tiki_user'@'localhost';
Drop the Tiki Wiki user.
DROP USER 'tiki_user'@'localhost';
Flush the privileges to apply the changes.
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
Step 5: Clean Up Additional Dependencies
If you installed additional software or dependencies specifically for Tiki Wiki, you might want to remove them to free up space.
Use the apt command to remove unwanted packages.
sudo apt remove package-name
Step 6: Clean Up Configuration Files
Over time, applications like Tiki Wiki may leave behind configuration files that are no longer needed after uninstallation.
Navigate to the Apache or Nginx configuration directory, depending on which web server you’re using.
cd /etc/apache2/sites-available
OR
cd /etc/nginx/sites-available
Look for any configuration files related to Tiki Wiki and remove them.
sudo rm tiki-wiki.conf
Step 7: Restart Your Web Server
After removing configuration files, it’s essential to restart your web server to apply the changes.
For Apache:
sudo systemctl restart apache2
For Nginx:
sudo systemctl restart nginx
Step 8: Check for Orphaned Packages
When you install software on Ubuntu, it often comes with dependencies—additional packages that the software needs to function correctly. After uninstalling Tiki Wiki, some of these dependencies might no longer be necessary.
Use the following command to list orphaned packages:
sudo apt autoremove
Confirm the removal of these packages when prompted.
Commands Mentioned
- tar -czvf – creates a compressed backup of a directory
- rm -r – removes a directory and its contents
- mysql -u root -p – logs into the MySQL/MariaDB server
- DROP DATABASE – deletes a database
- REVOKE ALL PRIVILEGES – revokes all privileges from a user
- DROP USER – deletes a database user
- FLUSH PRIVILEGES – applies privilege changes
- sudo apt remove – removes a software package
- cd /etc/apache2/sites-available – navigate to Apache’s configuration directory
- cd /etc/nginx/sites-available – navigate to Nginx’s configuration directory
- sudo rm – removes a file with administrative privileges
- sudo systemctl restart – restarts a service
- sudo apt autoremove – removes orphaned packages
FAQ
-
Do I need to backup my data before uninstalling?
Yes, it’s always recommended to backup your data before making any changes to ensure you can restore your website if needed.
-
Can I reinstall Tiki Wiki after uninstalling?
Yes, you can reinstall Tiki Wiki anytime after uninstalling. Just ensure you have the necessary backups if you wish to restore previous data.
-
What happens to the data after uninstalling?
Once Tiki Wiki is uninstalled and its database is dropped, the data is permanently deleted unless you have a backup.
-
Is it necessary to remove associated users and privileges?
For security reasons, it’s recommended to remove any database users and privileges associated with Tiki Wiki after uninstalling.
-
Can I use the same database for another application after uninstalling Tiki Wiki?
Yes, once the Tiki Wiki database is dropped, you can create a new database with the same name for another application if needed.
Conclusion
Uninstalling software like Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is more than just deleting its main files. It involves ensuring that all associated files, databases, users, and configurations are appropriately removed to maintain a clean and secure server environment.
By following this comprehensive guide, you ensure that Tiki Wiki is entirely removed from your Ubuntu server, leaving no remnants behind.
If you’re considering other web hosting solutions or platforms after uninstalling Tiki Wiki, remember to explore options like dedicated server, VPS server, cloud hosting, or shared hosting to find the best fit for your needs.
