How to Install Apache OFBiz CRM and ERP Platform on Ubuntu Linux

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to install Apache OFBiz on the Ubuntu 18.04 | 16.04 LTS system.

Apache OFBiz is an open source, Java-based web framework that provides an enterprise-wide ERP / CRM platform for businesses that want to manage their customer relationships and employees…

OFBiz is very flexible and comes with a wide range of modules, including Accounting, Order Management & E-Commerce, Warehousing, Inventory, and much more right out of the box.

When looking for an enterprise ERP, CRM, and Product & Catalog Management platform for your business, OFBiz is an excellent place to start. This open source is built on the Java framework and offers features that help you run your business and collaborate with your customers.

People, companies, projects, or opportunities can be managed easily and intuitively interface…

When you’re ready to install OFBiz, follow the steps below:

Install OpenJDK 8

Since Apache OFBiz is a Java-based framework, you must install JAVA to run it. To do that, run the commands below…

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jdk

That should get OpenJDK 8 installed and configured….

Run the commands below to see if Ubuntu recognizes Java and whether it is correctly installed.

java -version

You should see the output below:

openjdk version "1.8.0_212"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_212-8u212-b03-0ubuntu1.18.04.1-b03)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.212-b03, mixed mode)

The commands above should configure Java to work and function with Ubuntu.

Install and Configure Apache OFBiz

Now that Java is installed and configured, run the commands below to download the latest Apache OFBiz.

At the time of this writing, the latest version is 16.11.05

cd /tmp
wget http://apache.claz.org/ofbiz/apache-ofbiz-16.11.05.zip

After downloading, run the commands below to extract and move into the local bin folder.

unzip apache-ofbiz-16.11.05.zip
sudo mv apache-ofbiz-16.11.05 /usr/local/apache-ofbiz

Next, change into the OFBiz directory and run the commands below to load its default data. This may take a while for some systems.

cd /usr/local/apache-ofbiz
./gradlew cleanAll loadDefault

When all packages are downloaded and installed, you should see a completion message below:

BUILD SUCCESSFUL

Total time: 8 mins 21.608 secs
This build could be faster, please consider using the Gradle Daemon: https://docs.gradle.org/2.13/userguide/gradle_daemon.html

After that, load some more demo data. You may not want to include demo data if you’re installing in a production environment. If you’re just testing, then run the commands below:

./gradlew "ofbiz --load-data readers=seed"
./gradlew "ofbiz --load-data readers=seed,seed-initial,ext"

Finally, start OFBiz by running the commands below:

./gradlew ofbiz

That should start up OFBiz service.

Open a browser and go to

https://localhost:8443/ordermgr/control/main
https://localhost:8443/ecommerce ==> for the eCommerce application
https://localhost:8443/ecomseo ==> for the eCommerce application
https://localhost:8443/webtools ==> for the WebTools application or
https://localhost:8443/catalog ==> for the Catalog Manager application.

The default administrative account is username: admin password: ofbiz.

Enjoy!

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured the Apache OFBiz application on Ubuntu 18.04 | 16.04 LTS

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I install Apache OFBiz on Ubuntu?

To install Apache OFBiz on Ubuntu, first install OpenJDK 8 using sudo apt install openjdk-8-jdk, then download the latest version from apache.claz.org, extract it to /usr/local/apache-ofbiz, and run ./gradlew cleanAll loadDefault to load default data. Finally, start the service with ./gradlew ofbiz and access it at https://localhost:8443/ordermgr/control/main.

Do I need Java to run Apache OFBiz?

Yes, Apache OFBiz is a Java-based framework and requires Java to run. You must install OpenJDK 8 or a compatible Java version before installing and running OFBiz on your system.

What are the main features of Apache OFBiz ERP?

Apache OFBiz is an open-source ERP/CRM platform that includes modules for Accounting, Order Management, E-Commerce, Warehousing, Inventory, and Product & Catalog Management. It provides an intuitive interface for managing people, companies, projects, and customer opportunities within an enterprise-wide system.

How long does it take to install Apache OFBiz?

The installation time varies depending on your system, but the gradlew cleanAll loadDefault step typically takes around 8-10 minutes to download and install all packages. Additional demo data loading may add extra time depending on your internet connection and system performance.

Can I use Apache OFBiz in production environments?

Yes, Apache OFBiz can be used in production environments, but it's recommended to skip loading demo data during production installations. You should use only the seed data with ./gradlew "ofbiz –load-data readers=seed" instead of including test and demo data.

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