Installing 1CRM on Ubuntu

When we first released 1CRM in 2005 it was still normal for clients to run their own servers, and install their business applications on them. They licensed their applications using perpetual licenses, with optional annual support. But in the years since then Cloud services and subscriptions have come to dominate the scene for their simplicity, speed and flexibility of implementation. 

If you are thinking of implementing 1CRM, we recommend you use the 1CRM Cloud – you can see a pro’s and con’s comparison with On Premise implementation here. And you can see pricing for both options here. 

If you are intent on installing on your own server for some reason, then we recommend you install on the Ubuntu Linux operating system. And this series of four blog posts detail that install process. 

Functionally, 1CRM will run on any web server running supported versions of Apache, PHP, and MySQL – so it could be on a server running Windows, macOS, or some other version of Linux or Unix. See Phase 4 of these posts for details on supported versions of these key system software components. 

You can also see sample installation processes for CentOS Linux, Windows Server, Windows 10, Azure Cloud, and macOS in past versions of Implementation Guides here. But with release 8.7 we have removed those installation chapters as in recent years they have come to be used infrequently. 

Before we start, a word of caution. As ever, User and Implementation instructions are written, but not always read! We encourage you to make sure that this post on installing your new software on Ubuntu 21.10 is something that you do read – if only because if you do not follow the instructions here, we cannot effectively support your installation.

Particularly critical are the php.ini configuration instructions, and the chart of compatible software revisions at the end of this post.

To install 1CRM on Linux, we recommend, and have documented here, the use of the Ubuntu 21.10 Linux distribution. You will need a Ubuntu 21.10 installation DVD or USB key, as well as the 1CRM installation Zip file.

An ISO image of a Ubuntu 21.10 (64-bit) Server installation image may be downloaded from https://ubuntu.com/download/server#releases .

The Desktop version may be downloaded from https://releases.ubuntu.com/21.10/ubuntu-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso.

Make sure that you download the correct version (21.10). The Server version filename is ubuntu-21.10-live-server-amd64.iso, and the Desktop version filename is ubuntu-21.10-desktop-amd64.iso. You can choose to install either one, as you prefer – so in the following sections just use either the Desktop installation instructions, or the Server installation instructions.

Once downloaded, you must use an ISO image burning utility capable of burning a bootable installer image onto a DVD or USB key from an ISO image. We used etcher to make a USB key installer for Ubuntu. And we tested this process on a MacBook Air 2021 (M1).

1. Insert the Ubuntu 21.10 Linux installation DVD or USB key and boot your server from it. (Make sure the server’s BIOS is configured to allow booting from an external drive.)
2. You will be prompted to select a GRUB version – please select “Ubuntu”.
3. At the first screen, the system will ask to Try Ubuntu or Install Ubuntu – select Install Ubuntu.

4. Next, select your Keyboard layout and continue.

5. Select “Normal Installation” – if you have access to the internet, it would be good to select “Download updates while installing Ubuntu”.

6. Continue and select your installation disk and click on Install Now, then read the notice and continue if you agree.

7. Your location should be detected automatically, but you can change it if needed, this would be used to determine your timezone.

8. You will now be required to name your server and create a user with a secure password. Once done, click Continue.

9. Ubuntu will now start the installation, this may take a few minutes to complete.

10. Once the installation is complete, restart your computer and remove the installation disk.

Note: Make sure your server is connected to the Internet for this entire process.

11. Once logged in, run the following commands in the Terminal in the sequence provided to install the required software for 1CRM: 

• sudo su   (to gain admin privileges – you’ll need to provide your password)
• apt install apache2 mariadb-server mariadb-client
• systemctl start mariadb.service   (to run the mariadb mysql service) 
• systemctl enable mariadb.service   (to run the mariadb mysql service at every boot)
• mysqladmin -u root password yourpassword   (use your own password here)
• systemctl start apache2.service   (to run the apache service)
• systemctl enable apache2.service   (to run the apache service at every boot)
• apt -y install php php-{opcache,curl,mysqlnd,pdo,gd,pear,mbstring,soap,xml,imap,zip,apcu} (performs the actual php install with required extensions)

Note: This command loads a number of PHP extension modules. You may be asked to confirm the action to be taken by this command once it resolves dependencies. 

• systemctl restart apache2.service (to restart the web server with php and these new extensions)

12. Now use your Web Browser on a machine on the same network to browse the the IP address of your server or use the built in browser on the Ubuntu installation to access the CRM by using the URL: localhost. You should see the Apache Test Page. If you do, you know Apache is now running properly.  

1. Insert the Ubuntu 21.10 Linux installation DVD or USB key and boot your server from it. (Make sure the server’s BIOS is configured to allow booting from an external drive.) 
2. You will be prompted to install Ubuntu Server or do a memory test. Select Install Ubuntu Server.
3. The server will now start installing – Your next input would be to choose the desired language. (English will be default)
4. Once you have selected your language, press the return key to select your keyboard layout.

5. If you are satisfied with the keyboard layout selected, use the arrows on your keyboard to navigate to the “Done” button and press the return key.

6. The next step will allow you to choose the type of server you would like to install, the best option here is to install the full Ubuntu server, not the minimized version. Use the spacebar on your keyboard to select the version to be installed. This should be defaulted to Ubuntu Server – if so, leave this selected.

7. Scroll to the “Done” button and hit the return key.

8. Next you will need to configure your network. Here you can set a static IP address for your server. Unfortunately we can’t go more into detail on this as most networks will be different.

9. Once your network is configured, scroll to “Done” and hit the return key.

10. The next page allows you to connect via a proxy should this be needed. If not, scroll to “Done” and go to the next step.

11. On this page you can change the default mirror address, although this is not recommended as Ubuntu will automatically determine the best mirror for you.

12. The next page will allow you to select the hard drive on which Ubuntu will be installed. Once configurations are complete, go to the next page. This will show a summary of your current filesystem on the hard drive, review this to make sure you are not overwriting existing data. If you are satisfied, continue to the next page.

13. Confirm usage of the selected hard drive as displayed by Ubuntu.
 

14. Next, you will be asked to enter your details (as the server administrator).

15. Once your details are entered, the next page will ask if you would like to install OpenSSH. This will allow you to access the server remotely (or from another computer within your network) via SSH. If you would like this installed, select it by pressing the spacebar key on this “Install OpenSSH Server” option.

16. On the next page, select any additional add-ons you would like to install. None of these are required to run 1CRM.

17. Select the “Done” button and Ubuntu will start the install. When the install is complete, a “Reboot Now” option will appear. Scroll to and select this option.

18. Wait for all services to load. Then the login screen will appear and you should enter the username and password configured in step 14. 

Note: Make sure your server is connected to the Internet for this entire process.

Once logged in, run the following commands in the sequence provided to install the required software for 1CRM: 

• sudo su   (to gain admin privileges – you’ll need to provide your password)
• apt install apache2 mariadb-server mariadb-client
• systemctl start mariadb.service   (to run the mariadb mysql service) 
• systemctl enable mariadb.service   (to run the mariadb mysql service at every boot)
• mysqladmin -u root password yourpassword   (use your own password here)
• systemctl start apache2.service   (to run the apache service)
• systemctl enable apache2.service   (to run the apache service at every boot)
• apt -y install php php-{opcache,curl,mysqlnd,pdo,gd,pear,mbstring,soap,xml,imap,zip,apcu} (performs the actual php install with required extensions)

Note: This command loads a number of PHP extension modules. You may be asked to confirm the action to be taken by this command once it resolves dependencies. 

• systemctl restart apache2.service (to restart the web server with php and these new extensions) 

20. Now use your Web Browser on a machine on the same network to browse the the IP address of your server. You should see the Apache Test Page. If you do, you know Apache is now running properly.