Tech AI Insights

Laravel Deployment on Linux: Fix Permission, Command, and Server Issues

By /

Laravel Deployment on Linux can feel smooth during local development but suddenly turn frustrating on a production server. Permissions break, logs stop writing, artisan commands fail, and servers behave unpredictably.

If you are a Laravel developer or PHP backend engineer, chances are you have faced at least one of these issues during Laravel Deployment on Linux. The good news is that most problems are not caused by Laravel itself—but by how Linux handles users, permissions, and services.

In this guide, we will walk through real Laravel deployment issues on Linux and explain practical, production-safe solutions that you can confidently apply on live servers.

Understanding Laravel Deployment on Linux

Before fixing anything, it’s important to understand why Laravel Deployment on Linux behaves differently than local environments.

  • The web server user is different from your SSH user
  • PHP-FPM runs as a system service
  • Linux enforces strict file permissions
  • Deployment tools may change file ownership

This separation is the root cause of most Laravel deployment problems.

Why Permission Issues Are Common in Laravel Deployment on Linux

Laravel needs write access to certain directories at runtime. If Linux permissions are misconfigured, Laravel fails silently or throws confusing errors.

Directories That Must Be Writable

  • storage/
  • bootstrap/cache/

These directories store logs, cache, sessions, compiled files, and queue data.

Fixing Permission Issues in Laravel Deployment on Linux

Step 1: Identify the Web Server User

On most Ubuntu servers, the web server user is www-data.

ps aux | grep php-fpm

Step 2: Set Correct Ownership

sudo chown -R $USER:www-data /var/www/laravel-app

This ensures your deployment user owns the files while the web server has group access.

Step 3: Set Safe Permissions

sudo chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache

This setup is secure and production-approved.

What You Should Avoid

chmod -R 777 storage

This introduces serious security risks and should never be used in production.

Fixing Laravel Logs Not Writing on Linux

One of the most common Laravel Deployment on Linux issues is logs silently stopping.

Solution

sudo chown -R $USER:www-data storage/logs
sudo chmod -R 775 storage/logs
sudo systemctl restart php8.2-fpm
sudo systemctl restart nginx

Laravel logging should resume immediately.

Permission Issues After Git Pull or Deployment

During Laravel Deployment on Linux, running git pull can silently change ownership.

Fix After Every Deployment

sudo chown -R $USER:www-data .
sudo chmod -R 775 storage bootstrap/cache

Automate this step in your CI/CD pipeline.

Fixing php artisan Command Issues on Linux

Common issues include failed migrations or cache commands.

Root Cause

Artisan commands were previously run with sudo, creating root-owned files.

Solution

sudo chown -R $USER:www-data .
php artisan migrate
php artisan cache:clear

Never run artisan commands with sudo in production.

Port and Process Issues During Laravel Deployment on Linux

Port conflicts are common when services fail to shut down properly.

Find the Process Using a Port

sudo lsof -i :8000

Kill the Process

sudo kill -9 <PID>

Fixing Nginx Permission Denied Errors for Laravel

403 errors or missing assets are often permission-related.

Solution

sudo chown -R $USER:www-data /var/www/laravel-app
sudo chmod -R 755 public

Queue and Worker Issues in Laravel Deployment on Linux

Queues often fail silently due to incorrect permissions.

Fix

sudo chown -R $USER:www-data storage
sudo chmod -R 775 storage
php artisan queue:restart
sudo supervisorctl restart all

Common Linux Command Mistakes Laravel Developers Make

  • Running artisan with sudo
  • Using chmod 777
  • Deploying as root
  • Mixing users during deployment
  • Ignoring permissions after CI/CD

Security Best Practices for Laravel Deployment on Linux

  • Use least privilege access
  • Separate deployment and server users
  • Restrict writable directories
  • Audit permissions after each deployment

Laravel Deployment on Linux Checklist

  • Correct file ownership
  • Storage writable
  • Cache writable
  • Logs working
  • Artisan commands tested
  • Queues running

External Resources

Conclusion

Laravel Deployment on Linux issues are rarely caused by Laravel itself. Most problems come from permissions, ownership, and command misuse.

By applying the correct Linux practices and avoiding unsafe shortcuts, Laravel applications can be deployed securely and reliably on production servers.

For more insightful tutorials, visit our Tech Blogs and explore the latest in Laravel, AI, and Vue.js development

Related Posts

Scroll to Top