29. How To Install Vtiger CRM

In this article, we will check how to install vTiger CRM system (Open Source) on Debian 11 server. We will be using LAMP Stack for the installation.

For installing the vTiger CRM system (Open source) you need to fulfill the following specs

Linux server Debian 11
A user with root privileges
Domain name pointed to your server

Step 1: Installing LAMP Stack

The very first step in installing vTiger CRM system is to install the LAMP Stack on Debian server

First, make sure that your Debian repository is updated by executing the following command
```
sudo apt update
```

Once done, now install some packages and LAMP Stack using the following command

sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server php libapache2-mod-php php-common php-sqlite3 php-json php-curl php-intl php-mbstring php-xmlrpc php-mysql php-gd php-xml php-cli php-zip php-soap php-imap php-bcmath wget unzip -y

After the installation of LAMP Stack and some other packages, execute the following command to check the Apache2 and MariaDB status
```
sudo systemctl status apache2
```
```
sudo systemctl status mariadb
```
Make sure, that it shows the status of Apache2 and MariaDB as “Active”

Step 2: Configuring MariaDB Server

The second step encompasses configuring and setting up he MariaDB server

Use nano editor to make changes in the MariaDB configurations
```
sudo nano /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-server.cnf
```
Make the following changes in the mysqld section
sql_mode = “” Save the changes in the file and restart the MariaDB by executing the following command, so that the new changes can take effect
```
sudo systemctl restart mariadb
```
Afterwards we have to secure the Maria DB server, for that use the following commands, it will help in making it secure
```
sudo mysql_secure_installation
```
Set MariaDB configuration as below Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter Set root password? [Y/n]: Y New password: Re-enter new 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

Step 3: Setting Up PHP

In third step, PHP configurations will be done

Use the nano editor to make changes in /etc/php/7.4/apache2/php.ini file Make the following changes in the default configurations
```
memory_limit = 512M 
upload_max_file_size = 100M 
log_errors = Off 
max_execution_time = 100 
date.timezone =
```
Save the changes by pressing CTRL+X and then Y
Now restart the the Apache2 using following command
```
sudo systemctl restart apache2
```

Step 4: Creating Database for vTiger

In this step we will be creating Vtiger CRM database, vTiger user and vTiger password

First access the database server (Maria DB), for the password use the password that you have configured in step 2
```
sudo mysql -u root -p
```

To create a database, user and vtiger password using following command

CREATE DATABASE vtigerdb;</ul>
</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>CREATE USER vtiger@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'vtigerpassword';</ul>
</li>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>GRANT ALL ON vtigerdb.* TO vtiger@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;</ul>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Once done exit the MariaDB shell

Step 5: Download vTiger and install it

Next step is to download and install the vTiger CRM (open source) on the server. Here, we will be downloading the vTiger CRM 7.4.0, as it is the latest version of the Vtiger

Use the command wget to download the vTiger CRM

cd /var/www/<br />
wget https://onboardcloud.dl.sourceforge.net/project/vtigercrm/vtiger%20CRM%207.4.0/Core%20Product/vtigercrm7.4.0.tar.gz

Once the download is completed, now extract the vTiger open source by executing the below command
```
tar -xzvf vtigercrm7.4.0.tar.gz
```
Once done, set the correct permissions for the files. it will help in changing the ownership of the directory vtigercrm. It will make sure that the source codes can be read by the Apache2
```
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data vtigercrm
```
In next step, we have to include the DocumentRoot directory to the Virtual Host configurations. As of now, DocumentRoot directory for the installtion of vtiegr CRM is /var/www/vtigercrm.

Step 6: Configure Apache2 for Virtual host

Now, we will configure the apache for virtual host

First make sure to execute the following command before configuring the virtual host, in order to to enable required modules for the vTiger CRM
```
sudo a2enmod ssl rewrite headers
```
Create a new configuration file by the name of vtigercrm.conf, for Vtiger crm using the following command
```
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/vtigercrm.conf
```
Configure the following conditions in the config file. Make sure to change SSL certificate paths and domain name

<VirtualHost *:80> ServerName example.io Redirect permanent / https://example.io/ </VirtualHost>

<VirtualHost *:443> ServerAdmin admin@example.io DocumentRoot /var/www/vtigercrm ServerName example.io

Protocols h2 http/1.1

SSLEngine On SSLCertificateFile /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.io/fullchain.pem SSLCertificateKeyFile /etc/letsencrypt/live/example.io/privkey.pem

<Directory /var/www/vtigercrm/> Options +FollowSymlinks AllowOverride All Require all granted </Directory>

ErrorLog /var/log/apache2/vtigercrm_error.log CustomLog /var/log/apache2/vtigercrm_access.log combined </VirtualHost>

Save and exit from configuration editor.
After that, run the below provided command to enable the virtual hosts
```
sudo a2ensite vtigercrm.conf 
sudo apachectl configtest
```
A “Syntax Ok” message will be shown on the window, affirming that Apace2 configuration are correct.
Restart the Apace2 service
```
sudo systemctl restart apache2
```

Step 6: vTiger CRM installation

In this step, we will be finalizing the vTiger CRM installation

Go to your domain (that you have configured in previous steps) and the CRM installation will be accessible from there
An installation wizard will be opened. Click on the install button