How to Install Dolibarr ERP and CRM on Ubuntu Linux with Apache

This article describes steps one can take to install Dolibarr ERP and CRM platform on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support.

Dolibarr is an opensource, an all-in-one ERP and CRM platform for businesses and individuals to manage their customers, invoices, orders, products, inventories and more.

It also includes human resources and accounting components to help manage the business employees and finances.

Dolibarr is designed to allow enterprises and business owners to collaborate and automate engaging experiences with customers throughout the entire process.

For more about on Dolibarr, please check out this page.

How to install Dolibarr on Ubuntu Linux with Apache support

As described above, Dolibarr is an opensource, an all-in-one ERP and CRM platform for businesses and individuals to manage their customers, invoices, orders, products, inventories and more.

Below is how to install it on Ubuntu Linux.

Install Apache2 HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server in use. so install it, since Dolibarr needs it.

To install Apache2 HTTP on Ubuntu server, run the commands below.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

To test Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address and you should see Apache2 default test page as shown below. When you see that, then Apache2 is working as expected.


apache2 ubuntu install

Install MariaDB Database Server

MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open source database servers to use with Magento. To install MariaDB run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing MariaDB, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable MariaDB service to always start up when the server boots.

Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

Run these on Ubuntu 17.10 and 18.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service
sudo systemctl enable mariadb.service

After that, run the commands below to secure MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

  • Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter
  • Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
  • New password: Enter password
  • Re-enter new password: Repeat password
  • Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y
  • Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y
  • Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y
  • Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Restart MariaDB server

To test if MariaDB is installed, type the commands below to logon to MariaDB server

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then type the password you created above to sign on. if successful, you should see MariaDB welcome message

mariadb welcome

Install PHP 7.1 and Related Modules

PHP 7.1 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories for your system. in order to install it, you will have to get it from third-party repositories.

Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.1

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.1 libapache2-mod-php7.1 php7.1-common php7.1-curl php7.1-intl php7.1-mbstring php7.1-mcrypt php7.1-json php7.1-xmlrpc php7.1-soap php7.1-mysql php7.1-gd php7.1-xml php7.1-cli php7.1-zip

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open PHP default config file for Apache2.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.1/apache2/php.ini

Then make the changes on the following lines below in the file and save. The value below are great settings to apply in your environments.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
memory_limit = 512M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, save the file and close out.

After installing PHP and related modules, all you have to do is restart Apache2 to reload PHP configurations.

To restart Apache2, run the commands below

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Then type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file. then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php

/phpinfo.php

You should see PHP default test page.

PHP 7.2 ubuntu nginx

Create Dolibarr Database

Now that you’ve install all the packages that are required, continue below to start configuring the servers.

First run the commands below to create Dolibarr database.

Run the commands below to logon to the database server. When prompted for a password, type the root password you created above.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then create a database called dolibarr

CREATE DATABASE dolibarr;

Create a database user called dolibarruser with new password

CREATE USER 'dolibarruser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';

Then grant the user full access to the database.

GRANT ALL ON dolibarr.* TO 'dolibarruser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Download Dolibarr Latest Release

Next, visit Dolibarr site and download the latest version.

After downloading, run the commands below to extract the download file into Apache2 root directory.

cd /tmp && wget 
unzip dolibarr-7.0.2.zip
sudo mv dolibarr-7.0.2 /var/www/html/dolibarr

Then run the commands below to set the correct permissions for Dolibarr to function.

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/dolibarr/
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/dolibarr/

Configure Apache2

Finally, configure Apahce2 site configuration file for Dolibarr. This file will control how users access Dolibarr content. Run the commands below to create a new configuration file called dolibarr.conf

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/dolibarr.conf

Then copy and paste the content below into the file and save it. Replace the highlighted line with your own domain name and directory root location.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin [email protected]
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/dolibarr/htdocs
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/html/dolibarr/htdocs/>
        Options +FollowSymlinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
     </Directory>

     ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/error.log
     CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Save the file and exit.

Enable the Dolibarr

After configuring the VirtualHost above, enable it by running the commands below

sudo a2ensite dolibarr.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite

To load all the settings above, restart Apache2 by running the commands below.

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Then open your browser and browse to the server domain name followed by install. You should see Dolibarr setup wizard to complete. Please follow the wizard carefully.


Follow the wizard to install Dolibarr.

Dolibarr ubuntu install

Validate that PHP checks are good and continue.

Dolibarr ubuntu setup

Next, configure the database connection info and continue. ON the next screen, you will be able to create an admin account. and you’re done.

Dolibarr ubuntu install

Enjoy!

Dolibarr ubuntu setup

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