How to Install EspoCRM with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04
Installing EspoCRM version 8.x with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 gives you a free, self-hosted system to track customer contacts, sales leads, and support tickets on your own server. EspoCRM is open-source customer relationship management software that runs on top of the Apache web server and the Ubuntu 24.04 operating system.
This setup requires root access to your server, PHP 8.2 or newer, and a MySQL or MariaDB database to store your company data.
Install Apache2 using `sudo apt install apache2`. Next, install MariaDB server with `sudo apt install mariadb-server`. Then, create a database and user for EspoCRM within MariaDB. Finally, install PHP and necessary modules using `sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-intl php-mysql php-curl php-cli php-zip php-xml php-gd`.
Install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu
To install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu 24.04 for your EspoCRM setup, open your terminal and update your package list by running sudo apt update. Then, run sudo apt install apache2 to download and install the web server files. Once the installation finishes, Apache starts automatically and runs in the background.
To do that, open the Ubuntu terminal and run the commands below to install the Apache web server.
sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2
Once Apache is installed, the commands below can start, stop, and enable the Apache web server to start automatically when your server boots up.
sudo systemctl stop apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2
sudo systemctl enable apache2
You can test that the Apache web server is running by opening your web browser and browsing to the server’s localhost or IP address.
http://localhost
When you see the Apache2 Default Page, it means the Apache HTTP server is successfully installed.
Additional help on installing Apache on Ubuntu is in the link below.
Install the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu
To install the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu for EspoCRM, open your terminal and run sudo apt install mariadb-server. This command downloads and installs the database engine needed to store your CRM data. After the installation completes, run sudo mysql_secure_installation to set a root password and remove unsafe default settings.
To install and use the MariaDB database server, use the instructions below.
Open the Ubuntu terminal and run the commands below to install the MariaDB database server.
sudo apt update sudo apt install mariadb-server
Once the MariaDB database server is installed, use the commands below to stop, start, and enable the MariaDB server to start automatically when the server boots.
sudo systemctl stop mariadb sudo systemctl start mariadb sudo systemctl enable mariadb
Run the following commands to validate and test if the MariaDB database server is installed successfully.
sudo mariadb
Once you run the commands above, it will log you onto the MariaDB console and display a message similar to the one below.
Welcome to the MariaDB monitor. Commands end with ; or g. Your MariaDB connection id is 32 Server version: 10.11.2-MariaDB-1 Ubuntu 23.04 Copyright (c) 2000, 2018, Oracle, MariaDB Corporation Ab and others. Type 'help;' or 'h' for help. Type 'c' to clear the current input statement. MariaDB [(none)]>
The message tells you that the server is installed successfully.
Additional help on installing MariaDB.
- How to install MariaDB on Ubuntu Linux
- MariaDB without password prompt
Create a EspoCRM database
To create a EspoCRM database in MariaDB, log into your database shell as the root user by running sudo mysql. Then, run CREATE DATABASE espocrmdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci; to create the database. Next, create your database user and grant permissions using GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON espocrmdb.* TO 'espocrmdbuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password'; before typing flush privileges; and exiting.
As part of the setup, we will create an espocrmdb database and a user account called espocrmdbuser.
The espocrmdbuser database user gains full privileges on the espocrmdb database, allowing EspoCRM to perform all necessary operations like creating tables and saving data.
All the database steps above can be done using the commands below:
But first, log on to the MariaDB database server:
sudo mariadb
Then run the commands below to complete the steps:
CREATE DATABASE espocrmdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER espocrmdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON espocrmdb.* TO espocrmdbuser@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit
Ensure to replace ‘type_your_password_here ‘with your password.
Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux
To install PHP on Ubuntu Linux for EspoCRM, add the required PHP repository and run sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql php-mbstring php-imagick php-zip php-xml php-curl php-gd php-intl. These packages install the core PHP language along with the specific extensions that EspoCRM requires to run without errors on your web server.
Then, run the commands below to install the latest PHP version.
sudo apt install php libapache2-mod-php php-intl php-mysql php-curl php-cli php-zip php-xml php-gd php-common php-mbstring php-xmlrpc php-bcmath php-json php-sqlite3 php-soap php-zip php-ldap php-imap
Additional help on installing PHP
Download EspoCRM files
To download EspoCRM files onto your Ubuntu server, go to the official website to copy the link for the latest package. Switch to your temporary directory by typing cd /tmp in your terminal. Use the wget command followed by your copied download link to fetch the archive file directly to your server.
To always install the latest version, check the download page for EspoCRM. Get the download link and download the archived package to your computer. Then, extract it.
First, navigate to the /tmp/ directory and download the EspoCRM files. Next, extract the content into the EspoCRM folder in the Apache root directory.
The final step is to change the permissions. This will allow the Apache web server to interact safely with the files, ensuring a secure environment for your EspoCRM installation.
EspoCRM requires specific Apache root folder permissions to function correctly. To set these permissions, run the following commands: `sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/espocrm` and `sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/espocrm`.
cd /tmp
wget https://www.espocrm.com/downloads/EspoCRM-9.0.2.zip
unzip EspoCRM-*.zip
sudo cp -rf EspoCRM-9.0.2 /var/www/espocrm
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/espocrm/
sudo chmod 755 /var/www/espocrm/data/
Once you have completed all the above steps, continue configuring the Apache web server below to serve the EspoCRM content.
Run the commands below to create an Apache virtual host file for EspoCRM.
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/espocrm.conf
Then, copy and paste the content block below into the Apache server block.
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerName espocrm.example.com
ServerAlias www.espocrm.example.com
ServerAdmin admin@example.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/espocrm/public
<Directory /var/www/espocrm/public/>
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.
You enable the EspoCRM virtual host and restart the Apache web server by running two specific commands. This action ensures Apache recognizes the new EspoCRM configuration and makes your EspoCRM installation accessible to users on your network.
sudo a2ensite espocrm.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2
Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for EspoCRM
To set up Let's Encrypt SSL/TLS for EspoCRM, install Certbot and the Apache plugin by running sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache. Once installed, run sudo certbot --apache to request a free security certificate and automatically configure your Apache web server to force secure HTTPS connections for your CRM domain.
Please read the post below for additional resources on installing and creating Let’s Encrypt SSL certificates for Apache.
How to set up Let’s Encrypt SSL certificate for Apache on Ubuntu Linux
Once you have restarted the Apache web server, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address defined in the Apache server block.
http://espocrm.example.com
The EspoCRM installation wizard should appear.
Select the installation language and continue.
Next, type in the database name, account name, and password.
Create an admin account and complete the installation.
* * * * * cd /var/www/espocrm; /usr/bin/php -f cron.php > /dev/null 2>&1
EspoCRM should be ready to use.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
- Cost-Effective Solution: Installing EspoCRM with Apache on Ubuntu provides a budget-friendly CRM solution for small businesses.
- Open Source: Utilizing open-source technologies allows flexibility and customization without licensing costs.
- Comprehensive Features: EspoCRM offers robust features for managing customer relationships, sales, and marketing effectively.
- Scalable Infrastructure: Apache and MariaDB create a scalable environment to grow alongside your business needs.
- Enhanced Security: Implementing SSL/TLS with Let's Encrypt adds an essential layer of security for your EspoCRM installation.
- Easy Installation Process: The step-by-step guide simplifies the installation process, making it accessible even for those new to server management.
With these points in mind, businesses can harness the power of EspoCRM to improve customer relationship management and operational efficiency.
Was this guide helpful?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
No comments yet — be the first to share your thoughts!