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, web server, database system, other needed libraries like PHP, 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. Additionally, these packages may contain outdated versions of MediaWiki. Be sure to closely review compatibility information or both installation instructions and extensions. The MediaWiki development team directs users to the individual communities and companies who maintain these packages for any help with installation, configuration, or usage of these software bundles. |
MediaWiki stacks (all but operating system)
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 that is often run together. 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.
Below are full packages that include MediaWiki, with supported operating system(s) specified:
- Bitnami MediaWiki Stack is available for Windows, Linux and OS X.
- Debian package of MediaWiki will install Apache, MariaDB/MySQL and PHP by default, allowing for further customization if you want.
- 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.
MediaWiki software appliances
A MediaWiki software appliance includes MediaWiki and all other necessary 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, or container software such as Docker.
Several third-party MediaWiki software appliances exist.
- 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.
Virtual machine-based
- 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.
- Webuzo MediaWiki, based on CentOS Linux. Runs on VMware. Requires Premium Webuzo License Purchase
- Bitnami virtual machine Linux image with MediaWiki Stack. (No extensions included.) Requires VMware or VirtualBox.
- semantic::core Enterprise class MediaWiki distribution including Semantic, Visual Editor, Elasticsearch and many more powerful extensions buliding upon VirtualBox
Container-based
- See also: Docker
- MediaWiki-Docker is the official development Docker environment for MediaWiki that is included in MediaWiki itself, starting with MediaWiki 1.35.
- 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. It can be orchestrated via either Docker Compose or Kubernetes. It includes job queue runner, maintenance scripts runner, automated database backups, zero-config MySQL database, ImageMagick, FFmpeg, and transcoder. Canasta supports VisualEditor, CirrusSearch, and over 100 other extensions out-of-the-box.
Automatic installation
The following websites provide 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 such services.
Extension packages
Packages that only hold MediaWiki extensions include:
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 |
| 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. |