1. Get MediaWiki

Download the most recent zip version from http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Download onto your own computer, then extract the files. This creates a folder named something like "mediawiki-1.12.0". Rename this to something simpler like "wiki".

2. Create a MySQL database

MediaWiki uses a MySQL database to store its entries. We recommend creating a new database specifically for MediaWiki, rather than using an existing one. To create the database on our servers, follow our instructions explaining how to create a MySQL database.

There's no specific format you need to follow when naming the database. The rest of these instructions will assume that your database is called "mwexample" — if you use a different name, just use that name instead of "mwexample" when following the instructions below.

3. Upload the MediaWiki files

Upload the entire "wiki" folder — and all of the files in it — to the top level of your website using an FTP program.

4. Run the Installation Script

MediaWiki has a simple installation script that creates the users and configures the database. To start this go to:

http://example.com/wiki/config/index.php

After a few seconds the installation page should load. Scroll down to the "Site Config" section:

Enter a name like "My Wiki" under the Wiki Name box. This will be displayed in the browser title bar when anyone visits your wiki.

Then enter an email address in the Contact email box.

Enter an admin username and password.

Now scroll down to the "Database Config" section. You can leave the default settings for the "E-mail, email notification and authentication setup" section:

Select MySQL as the database type.

Enter localhost as the database host.

Enter mwexample as the username and database name, then enter the password you choose when creating the database.

Everything else can be left with the default values.

Click Install MediaWiki!

The installer should then run:

The final stage is to use FTP to move the LocalSettings.php file up one level out of the wiki/config folder into the wiki folder. Once this is complete click "follow this link to your wiki". This should take you to the following page:

http://example.com/wiki/index.php

http://example.com/wiki/index.php?title=Main_Page

http://wiki.example.com/Main_Page

RewriteEngine On
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
RewriteCond %{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-d
RewriteRule ^(.*)$ /index.php?title=$1 [L,QSA]

$wgScriptPath = "";
$wgArticlePath = "/$1";
$wgUsePathInfo = false;