How to install Mantis Bug Tracker (MantisBT) with Apache on Ubuntu Linux

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The tutorial instructs on installing Mantis Bug Tracker on Ubuntu 18.04 | 16.04 with Apache2 HTTP server. Procedures detailed include installing Apache2 HTTP Server; MariaDB Database Server; PHP 7.2 and related modules; creating a Mantis database; downloading the Mantis latest release; configuring Apache2; enabling the Mantis and Rewrite Module; and logging in to Mantis using…

This brief tutorial shows students and new users how to install Mantis Bug Tracker (MantisBT) on Ubuntu 18.04 | 16.04 with an Apache2 HTTP server.

MantisBT is an open-source issue tracker platform designed to be flexible and user-friendly. It helps a tool you collaborate with different teams to resolve bugs and issues as quickly and professionally as possible.

For more about Mantis, please check its homepage

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

Install Apache2 HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server, so install it since Mantis 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 test the Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address. You should see the Apache2 default test page, as shown below. When you see that, then Apache2 is working as expected.

http://localhost

Install MariaDB Database Server

Mantis 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 Mantis.

To install MariaDB, run the commands below.

sudo apt-get 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-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-zip

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, save the file and closet.

Create Mantis Database

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

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 Mantis

CREATE DATABASE mantis;

Create a database user called mantisuser with a new password

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

Then, grant the user full access to the mantis database.

GRANT ALL ON mantis.* TO 'mantisuser'@'localhost' WITH GRANT OPTION;

While still connected to the MariaDB database server, the steps below allow the MariaDB root user to connect from the app to the databases.

You’ll need the root account and password to set up Mantis. The steps below will turn off plugin authentication for the root user.

use mysql;
update user set plugin='' where User='root';
flush privileges;
exit

Restart and run the commands below to set a new password.

sudo systemctl restart mariadb.service

After installing PHP and related modules, you must restart Apache2 to reload PHP configurations.

To restart Apache2, run the commands below

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

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.

Download Mantis Latest Release

To download and install Mantis, run the commands below to get the latest as of this writing from this link.
On the Ubuntu server, simply run the commands below to get it to download. Then, extract its content into the Apache2 root directory.

cd /tmp
wget https://excellmedia.dl.sourceforge.net/project/mantisbt/mantis-stable/2.22.1/mantisbt-2.22.1.zip
unzip mantisbt-2.22.1.zip
sudo mv mantisbt-2.22.1 /var/www/mantis

After that, run the commands below to set the correct permissions for Mantis to function.

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

Configure Apache2

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

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/mantis.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/mantis
     ServerName example.com
     ServerAlias www.example.com

     <Directory /var/www/mantis/>
        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 Mantis and Rewrite Module

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

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

Then open your browser and browse to the server domain name. You should see the Mantis setup wizard.

http://example.com/

Type in the database name, username, and root credentials.

After that, Mantis BT should be installed and ready to use.

Login with default:

Username: administrator
Password: root

Log in and begin configuring your environment.

Conclusion:

You have learned to install the Mantis bug tracker on Ubuntu with the Apache2 HTTP server. If you find any error above, please leave a comment below.

Thanks,

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4 responses to “How to install Mantis Bug Tracker (MantisBT) with Apache on Ubuntu Linux”

  1. babu Avatar
    babu

    after installation completed,

    http://example.com/
    if i entered in my browser i am getting error page

    404 not found

    1. Louis Avatar
      Louis

      Try below step:
      1. Check Apache Syntax configuration:
      sudo apachectl -t
      2. Disable the default Apache site:
      sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf
      3. Enable MantisBT site:
      sudo a2ensite mantis.conf
      4. Change the ownership of the MantisBT web root directory:
      sudo chown -R www-data: /var/www/mantis
      5. Restart Apache
      sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

      Info reference from here:
      https://kifarunix.com/install-mantis-bug-tracker-on-ubuntu-20-04/

  2. Trilok Avatar
    Trilok

    Hi,

    i had configure the setup of mantis according to your guidelines i have installed it successfully.
    But now i am getting one issue email is not configured i am not getting the emails.
    My configuration is:
    $g_hostname = ‘localhost’;
    $g_db_type = ‘mysqli’;
    $g_database_name = ‘bugtracker’;
    $g_db_username = ‘mantisuser’;
    $g_db_password = ‘admin’;

    $g_default_timezone = ‘Africa/Abidjan’;

    $g_crypto_master_salt = ‘anearHWTUnTAaGwKK510grUJaQ1MXi73wEXSNGzOHu8=’;

    $g_phpMailer_method = PHPMAILER_METHOD_SMTP;
    $g_smtp_host = ‘smtp.gmail.com’;
    $g_smtp_port = 465;
    $g_smtp_connection_mode = ‘ssl’;
    $g_smtp_username = ‘sharmatriloknath@gmail.com’;
    $g_smtp_password = ‘June@1995’;
    $g_administrator_email = ‘gaurav.g@arkess.com’;
    $g_webmaster_email = ‘gaurav.g@arkess.com’;
    $g_from_email = ‘gaurav.g@arkess.com’; # the “From: ” field in emails
    $g_return_path_email = ‘gaurav.g@arkess.com’; # the return address for bounced mail

  3. VINCENT ANDREW NAVARRO Avatar
    VINCENT ANDREW NAVARRO

    Hi,

    how can i receive an email for creating a new account?

    This function is not working. need help.

    Thanks!

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