How to Install SuiteCRM with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Apache HTTP server on Ubuntu

To install the Apache web server on Ubuntu, open your terminal and run the commands to update your package list and then install apache2.

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.

How to install Apache on Ubuntu

Install the MariaDB database server on Ubuntu

You’ll need a database for SuiteCRM, so let’s install MariaDB on Ubuntu by opening the terminal and running the update and install commands.

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 SuiteCRM database

After installing MariaDB, you need to create a new database for SuiteCRM, including a username and password, and give that user permission to access the database.

As part of the setup, we will create a suitecrmdb database and a user account called suitecrmdbuser.

Finally, we’ll grant the suitecrmdbuser full access to the suitecrmdb database.

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 suitecrmdb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER suitecrmdbuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'type_your_password_here';
GRANT ALL ON suitecrmdb.* TO suitecrmdbuser@localhost WITH GRANT OPTION;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
exit

Ensure to replace ‘type_your_password_here ‘with your password.

Install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

SuiteCRM is built with PHP, so you need to install it on Ubuntu. Run the command to install the latest PHP version along with necessary modules for Apache and SuiteCRM.

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

How to install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

Download SuiteCRM files

Now, let’s get the SuiteCRM files. Go to the SuiteCRM download page to find the latest version, then download and extract the files to your server’s temporary directory.

To always install the latest version, check the download page for SuiteCRM. Get the download link and download the archived package to your computer. Then, extract it.

First, navigate to the /tmp/ directory and download the SuiteCRM files. Next, extract the content into the SuiteCRM 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 SuiteCRM installation.

Next, run the commands below to change Apache root folder permissions so the SuiteCRM app can function correctly.

cd /tmp
wget https://suitecrm.com/download/148/suite87/564667/suitecrm-8-7-1.zip
sudo unzip suitecrm-*.zip -d /var/www/suitecrm
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/suitecrm/

Once you have completed all the above steps, continue configuring the Apache web server below to serve the SuiteCRM content.

Run the commands below to create an Apache virtual host file for SuiteCRM.

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

Then, copy and paste the content block below into the Apache server block.

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

Then, run the commands below to enable the virtual host and restart the Apache server.

sudo a2ensite suitecrm.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Setup Let’s Encrypt SSL/TLS for SuiteCRM

To make your SuiteCRM site secure, you should set up an SSL/TLS certificate using Let’s Encrypt. This process involves getting a certificate and configuring Apache to use it for HTTPS.

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://suitecrm.example.com

SuiteCRM installation wizard should appear.

Ensure all requirements are met or ignore and proceed. If you encounter an error that the memory limit and file upload size are too small, run the command below to resolve the issues.

sudo sed -i "s/memory_limit = .*/memory_limit = 512M/" /etc/php/8.3/apache2/php.ini
sudo sed -i "s/upload_max_filesize = .*/upload_max_filesize = 12M/" /etc/php/8.3/apache2/php.ini
sudo systemctl reload apache2

Next, type in the database name, account name, password, and the admin account and password for the portal.

SuiteCRM should be installed and ready to use.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

In conclusion, installing SuiteCRM with Apache on Ubuntu 24.04 is a straightforward process that enables you to manage customer relationships efficiently. Here are the key takeaways from the installation process:

• Apache Installation: Successfully set up the Apache HTTP server essential for serving SuiteCRM.
• Database Setup: Installed MariaDB and created a dedicated database for SuiteCRM, ensuring the necessary data structure for operations.
• PHP Configuration: Installed PHP and the required extensions, vital for SuiteCRM’s functionality.
• SuiteCRM Files: Downloaded and configured SuiteCRM files, allowing the software to run correctly on the server.
• Apache Configuration: Set up an Apache virtual host specifically for SuiteCRM, facilitating direct access via a dedicated domain.
• SSL/TLS Security: Considered SSL/TLS certificate installation from Let’s Encrypt to enhance the security of your SuiteCRM application.

With these steps completed, your SuiteCRM is fully operational, providing powerful tools to streamline customer relationship management. Enjoy leveraging SuiteCRM to improve your business processes!