This guide provides two methods for configuring Amazon S3 with the FluentBoards Plugin: using the plugin’s UI and using WordPress’s wp-config.php file.
Prerequisites
– An Amazon Web Services (AWS) account
– The FluentBoards Plugin installed and activated in your WordPress site
Steps to Configure Amazon S3 #
1. Create an Amazon S3 Bucket #
1. Log in to your AWS Management Console.
2. Navigate to the S3 service.
3. Click “Create bucket” and choose a unique name for your bucket.
4. Configure the bucket settings as needed, ensuring appropriate permissions for your use case.
2. Create an IAM User for Access #
1. In the AWS Management Console, go to the IAM (Identity and Access Management) service.
2. Click “Users” in the left sidebar, then “Add user”.
3. Choose a username and select “Programmatic access” for the access type.
4. For permissions, you can either:
– Attach the `AmazonS3FullAccess` policy directly (not recommended for production).
– Create a custom policy with more restricted permissions (recommended).
5. Complete the user creation process.
6. On the final page, you’ll see the Access Key ID and Secret Access Key. Save these securely.
3. Configure FluentCommunity Plugin #
You have two options for configuring the plugin: using the UI or using wp-config.php.
Option A: Using the Plugin UI #
1. In your FluentBoards panel, navigate to FluentBoards Plugins > Settings > Features & Module > Media Storage Settings.
2. Find the CloudStorage Amazon S3 Form.
3. Fill in the following fields:
– Storage Provider: Select “Amazon S3” from the dropdown menu.
– Access Key: Paste the Access Key ID from your IAM user.
– Secret Key: Paste the Secret Access Key from your IAM user.
– Bucket: Enter the name of your S3 bucket.
– Sub Folder (Optional): If you want to store files in a specific subfolder within the bucket, enter the path here.
4. Click “Save Changes” to store your settings.
Option B: Using wp-config.php #
Add the following definitions to your `wp-config.php` file, adjusting the values according to your Amazon S3 setup:
```php
// Amazon S3 Configuration
define('FLUENT_BOARDS_CLOUD_STORAGE', 'amazon_s3');
define('FLUENT_BOARDS_CLOUD_STORAGE_REGION', 'your-region'); // us-east-1
define('FLUENT_BOARDS_CLOUD_STORAGE_ACCESS_KEY', '********************');
define('FLUENT_BOARDS_CLOUD_STORAGE_SECRET_KEY', '********************');
define('FLUENT_BOARDS_CLOUD_STORAGE_BUCKET', 'your-bucket-name'); // change with your bucket name
define('FLUENT_BOARDS_CLOUD_STORAGE_SUB_FOLDER', 'site-name'); // optional
```Replace the placeholder values with your actual Amazon S3 credentials and information.
Notes #
– If you use both methods, the wp-config.php settings will take precedence over the UI settings.
– The UI method is more user-friendly and doesn’t require direct file access to your WordPress installation.
– The wp-config.php method is more secure as it keeps sensitive information out of the database.
– Ensure that all the credentials are correctly entered, regardless of the method you choose.
– The sub-folder setting is optional and can be used if you want to organize your files within the bucket.
Security Best Practices #
1. Use IAM roles instead of access keys when possible, especially if running on AWS EC2.
2. Create a specific IAM user for this purpose with minimal required permissions.
3. Regularly rotate your access keys.
4. If using wp-config.php, never commit this file with sensitive information to version control.
Troubleshooting #
– If you encounter permission issues, review your bucket policy and IAM user permissions.
– Ensure that your S3 bucket is in the correct region and that it’s accessible from your WordPress server.
– Check that your access key and secret key are entered correctly without any extra spaces.
For further assistance, contact the support team.
