Install On The Command Line

We only recommend this method for advanced users who are familiar with WHMCS, database management, and the command line.
Configuration and database issues can prevent you from using this method. Always create file and database backups before you use this method.
This installation method doesn't perform system requirement checks.

Input

The installation script uses the following syntax:

php -f bin/installer.php –- [options]

Options

Defaults
The script enables non-interactive mode (-n or --non-interactive) and performs an upgrade (-u or --upgrade) by default.

You can use these options with the installation script:

Option	Description
`-c` or `--config`	Provide configuration data in the JSON format. Use this with the `-n` or `--non-interactive` option. For more on how to use this, see Supplying configuration data below. Added in WHMCS 7.10 We added this option in WHMCS version 7.10.
`-h` or `--help`	View help information.
`-i` or `--install`	Perform a new installation.
`-n` or `--non-interactive`	Don't require user input while the script runs.
`-s` or `--status`	Provide status information about the installation's files and databases.
`-u` or `--upgrade`	Upgrade an existing installation.
`-v` or `--verbose`	Run the script with verbose output.

Supplying configuration data

If you use the -c or --config option, you must supply configuration data to STDIN as a single line of input in the JSON format.

You can supply data for two elements:

Array	Description
`admin`	Provide information for the initial administrator account using the `username` and `password` parameters. If you don't supply these, the system generates and displays them at the end of installation.
`configuration`	Provide variable data for the creation of a new configuration file. For a list of parameters to use, see our documentation on creating a new configuration file for WHMCS. The system creates a `configuration.php` file when your input contains the `configuration` element. If you supply the `configuration` element and a `configuration.php` file already exists, an error will occur. If your input doesn't contain the `configuration` element, the installation process requires that a valid `configuration.php` file is present. For an example of installation using this element, see the Example installation with configuration data section below.

Warning
Exercise caution when you supply sensitive information on the command line.

Example installation with configuration data

When you use the configuration element, your JSON data could resemble this example:

#!/bin/env bash
# The following assumes the respective environment variables are populated

CONF='{
"admin":{
  "username":"name",
  "password":"'$ADMIN_PASS'"
},
"configuration":{
  "license": "'$LICENSE_KEY'",
  "db_host": "'$DB_HOST'",
  "db_username": "'$DB_USER'",
  "db_password": "'$DB_PASS'",
  "db_name": "'$DB_NAME'",
  "cc_encryption_hash": "'$ENCRYPT_HASH'",
  "mysql_charset": "utf8"
}
}'

You would then supply this data via the following command:

echo $(echo $CONF | tr -d "\n") | php -f bin/installer.php – -i -n -c

Important
The encryption hash value must be 64 characters long and contain only a–z, A–Z, and 0–9 ASCII values. Generate this value with a high-entropy random data source or a cryptographic password generation tool. For example:

# Example hash value generation with the OpenSSL utility
ENCRYPT_HASH=$(openssl rand -base64 128|tr -d "\n\/+="|cut -c 1-64)

Documentation

Install On The Command Line

Contents

Installing from the command line

Input

Options

Supplying configuration data

Example installation with configuration data