How to Install GLPI ITSM with Apache on Ubuntu Linux

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to install GLPI IT Service Management (ITSM) software on Ubuntu 18.04 | 16.04 with an Apache2 HTTP server.

GLPI is a free, open-source ITSM platform built with PHP that allows IT decision-makers with large IT infrastructures to solve problems efficiently when they emerge while getting insights into every IT asset in the company with automated inventory discovery.

Installing GLPI ITSM with Apache on Ubuntu Linux provides a free and customizable ITSM platform that allows IT decision-makers to monitor and manage all IT assets in the company easily.

GLPI includes inventory management, asset lifecycle management, incidents, requests, problems, change management, etc. Apache HTTP server is the most popular web server required to run GLPI.

Ubuntu Linux is a stable and secure operating system widely used in the industry. By following the installation steps, users can easily set up GLPI on Ubuntu Linux and start using it to improve IT service delivery and management in their organizations.

For more on GLPI, please visit its homepage

To get started with installing GLPI, follow the steps below:

Install Apache2 HTTP

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

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

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can stop, start, and enable the 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 determine if the Apache2 HTTP server is installed, simply open your web browser and type in the server’s IP or hostname.

When you see a page similar to the one below, Apache2 is installed and working.

http://localhost

Install MariaDB Database Server

GLPI also needs a database server to store its content. The MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open-source database servers to use with GLPI.

To install MariaDB, run the commands below.

sudo apt install mariadb-server mariadb-client

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

Run these on Ubuntu

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

After that, run the commands below to secure the 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 log on to the MariaDB server.

sudo mysql -u root -p

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

Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories. 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 7.2

sudo apt update

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

sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-gmp php7.2-curl php7.2-intl php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-mysql php7.2-gd php7.2-imap php7.2-ldap php-cas php7.2-bcmath php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-zip php7.2-sqlite3

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

sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini

Then, save the changes on the following lines below in the file. The value below is an ideal setting to apply in your environment.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
short_open_tag = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
max_input_vars = 1500
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, please save the file and close it.

To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in the 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

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

Create GLPI Database

Now that you’ve installed all the required packages continue below to start configuring the servers. First, create a blank database for GLPI to use.

To do that, run the commands below to log on to MariaDB. When prompted for a password, type the root password you created above.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, create a database called glpi

CREATE DATABASE glpi;

Create a database user called glpiuser with a new password

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

Next, grant the user full access to the glpiuser database.

GRANT ALL ON glpi.* TO 'glpiuser'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Download GLPI’s Latest Release

To get the latest version of GLPI, go to its download page.

You can use the commands below to download the current latest version. At the time of this writing, the current version is at 9.4.5.

cd /tmp
wget https://github.com/glpi-project/glpi/releases/download/9.4.5/glpi-9.4.5.tgz
tar -xvf glpi-9.4.5.tgz
sudo mv glpi /var/www/glpi

Since you just ran the web server as root, you should ensure the www-data user and group own any newly created files.

To do that, run the commands below:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/glpi/
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/glpi/

Configure Apache2

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

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

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

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin admin@example.com
     DocumentRoot /var/www/glpi
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/glpi/>
        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 GLPI and Rewrite the Module

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

sudo a2ensite glpi.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

Then open your browser and browse to the server domain name or hostname. This is often localhost but can be a hostname or IP address. Your server admin or hosting company will have this information available.

http://example.com/

Select the language and continue.

After that, click Install to begin the installation.

Next, type in the server hostname, database user, and password.

Select the database you created earlier and continue

After a brief moment, the platform should be installed and ready to use.

Login and begin managing your platform.

Admin Username:  pi   Password:  pi

Finally, run the commands below to delete the install directory.

sudo rm -rf /var/www/glpi/install/

Conclusion:

You have learned how to install the GLPI ITSM platform on Ubuntu with an Apache2 HTTP server. If you find any errors above, please leave a comment below.

Thanks,

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