How to Install Odoo 18 on Ubuntu 24.04

username: Replace with your server's username.

server_ip_address: Replace with your server’s IP address.

2. Connecting to a Server with a Custom SSH Port

f your server operates on a non-default SSH port, you must specify the port number while connecting. Use the following command:

ssh -p port_number username@server_ip_address

• <port_number>: Enter the specific SSH port configured on your server.
• <username>: Replace this with the username you use to log in.
• <server_ip>: Input the actual IP address of your server.

This method ensures secure access, even when your server uses a port other than the default (22).

Connecting to a Server Using a PEM Key

If your server requires authentication through a PEM key, use the following command to log in securely:

ssh -i /path/to/your/key.pem username@server_ip_address

• /path/to/key.pem: Provide the full path to your PEM key file.
• username: Replace this with your server’s designated username.
• server_ip: Enter the actual IP address of your server.

Select the appropriate login method based on your server configuration. Once connected, you can proceed with the Odoo 18 installation seamlessly.

Step 2: Updating the Server

Before proceeding with the Odoo 18 installation, it's crucial to update your Ubuntu 24.04 server. Keeping your system updated ensures you have the latest security patches and software enhancements.

Update the Package List

Run the following command to refresh the list of available packages:

sudo apt-get update

Upgrade Installed Packages

To install the latest versions of all installed packages, use:

sudo apt-get upgrade

The update process may take a few minutes, depending on the available updates. Once completed, your server will be fully optimized and ready for the next steps in the installation.

Step 3: Enhancing Server Security

Securing your server is essential to prevent unauthorized access and potential cyber threats. Follow these steps to strengthen your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS server:

1. Install OpenSSH Server

Ensure your server can accept SSH connections by installing the OpenSSH server package:

bash
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sudo apt install openssh-server -y

2. Install Fail2Ban for Brute-Force Protection

Fail2Ban helps protect against repeated failed login attempts by monitoring logs and blocking suspicious IP addresses. Install it using:

bash
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sudo apt install fail2ban -y

3. Enable and Start Fail2Ban

After installation, activate Fail2Ban to run automatically on boot:

bash
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sudo systemctl start fail2ban  
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban  

4. Verify Fail2Ban Status

Ensure that Fail2Ban is running correctly with:

bash
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sudo systemctl status fail2ban

Implementing these security measures will help safeguard your server against unauthorized access and brute-force attacks. Once secured, you can proceed with installing Odoo 18 on your server.

Step 4: Installing Required Packages and Libraries

To ensure that Odoo 18 operates smoothly, you'll need to install several essential packages and libraries. Follow these instructions to set up your system:

1. Install Python 3 Pip

Pip is the package installer for Python, essential for managing Python libraries. Install it with:

sudo apt-get install -y python3-pip

2. Install Development Libraries and Dependencies

Odoo requires several libraries for building and running efficiently. Install the necessary development packages:

sudo apt-get install -y python3-dev libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev zlib1g-dev libsasl2-dev libldap2-dev build-essential libssl-dev libffi-dev libmysqlclient-dev libjpeg-dev libpq-dev libjpeg8-dev liblcms2-dev libblas-dev libatlas-base-dev

3. Install Node.js and NPM

Node.js is crucial for various frontend tasks, and NPM is its package manager. Install both with:

sudo apt-get install -y npm

4. Create a Symlink for Node.js

Sometimes Node.js is installed as nodejs, but some applications expect it to be named node. Create a symlink to resolve this:

sudo ln -s /usr/bin/nodejs /usr/bin/node

5. Install Less and Less Plugin for Clean CSS

Less is a CSS pre-processor, and the Clean CSS plugin helps minify CSS files. Install them with:

sudo npm install -g less less-plugin-clean-css

6. Install Node-Less

Integrate Less with Node.js by installing Node-Less:

sudo apt-get install -y node-less

By completing these steps, you'll have installed all the necessary packages and libraries required for Odoo 18. Once done, you'll be ready to proceed with the next steps in the installation process.

Step 5: Setting Up the Database Server

Odoo 18 requires PostgreSQL as its database management system. Follow these steps to install and configure PostgreSQL on your server:

1. Install PostgreSQL

First, install the PostgreSQL database server:

sudo apt-get install -y postgresql

2. Switch to the PostgreSQL User

PostgreSQL operates under a dedicated user account, which is used for database management. Switch to this account to manage the database:

sudo su - postgres

3. Create a New Database User

You’ll need to create a new database user for Odoo with the necessary permissions to create and manage databases. The command below will prompt you to enter a password for the new user:

createuser --createdb --username postgres --no-createrole --superuser --pwprompt odoo18

• --createdb: Allows the user to create databases.
• --username postgres: Specifies the PostgreSQL superuser.
• --no-createrole: Prevents the user from creating other roles.
• --superuser: Grants the user superuser privileges.
• --pwprompt: Prompts you to set a password for the new user.
• odoo18: The name of the new user you are creating.

4. Exit the PostgreSQL User Session

Once the user is created, exit from the PostgreSQL user session and return to your regular account:

exit

This step ensures your PostgreSQL database is properly set up for Odoo 18, allowing you to proceed with the rest of the installation.

Step 6: Creating a Dedicated System User for Odoo

To run Odoo securely and with the right permissions, it's essential to create a dedicated system user that won't interfere with other processes on the server. Here's how to set it up:

1. Add a New System User

Create a new system user for Odoo with a home directory where all the application files will be installed. Run the following command:

sudo adduser --system --home=/opt/odoo18 --group odoo18

• --system: Creates a system user with a lower user ID (UID), which is generally used for running applications.
• --home=/opt/odoo18: Specifies the home directory where Odoo will be installed.
• --group odoo18: Creates a group named odoo18 and assigns the newly created user to this group.

This ensures that Odoo operates under its own dedicated system user, helping secure its operations and making it easier to manage. Now, yo

Step 7: Cloning Odoo 18 Community Edition from GitHub

To install Odoo 18, you'll need to clone the Odoo repository from GitHub. Here's how you can do it:

1. Install Git

Git is a version control system required to clone the Odoo repository. Install it using:

sudo apt-get install -y git

2. Switch to the Odoo System User

Log in as the Odoo system user that you created in Step 6. This ensures that the Odoo files will be owned by the correct user:

sudo su - odoo18 -s /bin/bash

3. Clone the Odoo Repository

Use Git to clone the Odoo 18 Community Edition repository. The following command ensures that only the latest commit is cloned, and the master branch ensures you get the latest stable release of Odoo 18:

git clone https://www.github.com/odoo/odoo --depth 1 --branch master --single-branch .

4. Exit the Odoo User Session

Once the repository is cloned, exit from the Odoo user session:

exit

After completing these steps, you've successfully cloned the Odoo repository. You're now ready to move on to the configuration and installation of Odoo 18.

Step 8: Installing Required Python Packages for Odoo 18

To ensure Odoo 18 functions properly, you'll need to set up a Python virtual environment, install necessary Python packages, and address additional dependencies. Here's how to do it:

1. Install Python 3 Virtual Environment Package

This package allows you to create an isolated Python environment to manage dependencies separately from the system Python. Run:

sudo apt install -y python3-venv

2. Create a Python Virtual Environment

Create a virtual environment in the /opt/odoo18/ directory to manage Odoo's dependencies:

sudo python3 -m venv /opt/odoo18/venv

3. Activate the Virtual Environment

Switch to the Odoo system user and activate the virtual environment:

sudo -s
cd /opt/odoo18/
source venv/bin/activate

4. Install Python Dependencies

Use pip to install the required Python packages from the requirements.txt file provided by Odoo:

pip install -r requirements.txt

5. Install wkhtmltopdf

Odoo requires wkhtmltopdf for generating PDF reports. Download and install the .deb package:

sudo wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/wkhtmltopdf/releases/download/0.12.5/wkhtmltox_0.12.5-1.bionic_amd64.deb

6. Install OpenSSL Dependency

If required, download and install the OpenSSL library:

sudo wget http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/pool/main/o/openssl/libssl1.1_1.1.1f-1ubuntu2_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i libssl1.1_1.1.1f-1ubuntu2_amd64.deb

7. Install Additional Fonts

wkhtmltopdf needs additional fonts to render PDFs properly. Install them using:

sudo apt-get install -y xfonts-75dpi

8. Install wkhtmltopdf Package

Install the wkhtmltopdf package you downloaded earlier:

sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox_0.12.5-1.bionic_amd64.deb

9. Fix Dependency Issues

If there are missing dependencies, resolve them using:

sudo apt install -f

10. Deactivate the Virtual Environment

Once you've completed the setup, deactivate the virtual environment:

deactivate

These steps ensure that all necessary Python packages and system dependencies are installed, preparing your system for Odoo 18's smooth operation.

Step 9: Set Up the Configuration File for Odoo 18

To configure Odoo 18, you need to create and edit the configuration file, which includes essential settings like the database connection and logging options.

1. Copy the Default Configuration File

Copy the sample configuration file to the /etc directory and rename it:

sudo cp /opt/odoo18/debian/odoo.conf /etc/odoo18.conf

2. Edit the Configuration File

Open the configuration file in a text editor to customize it:

sudo nano /etc/odoo18.conf

3. Modify the Configuration File

Update the configuration file with the following settings. Replace placeholders with your actual values:

[options]
; This is the password that allows database operations:
; admin_passwd = admin
db_host = localhost
db_port = 5432
db_user = odoo18
db_password = 123456
addons_path = /opt/odoo18/addons
default_productivity_apps = True
logfile = /var/log/odoo/odoo18.log

• db_host: Set to localhost if the database is hosted on the same server.
• db_user: The PostgreSQL user you created for Odoo.
• db_password: The password for the PostgreSQL user.
• addons_path: The path to the Odoo addons directory.
• logfile: Path to the log file for Odoo.

4. Set File Permissions

Change the ownership and permissions of the configuration file for security:

sudo chown odoo18: /etc/odoo18.conf
sudo chmod 640 /etc/odoo18.conf

5. Create a Log Directory

Create the directory for Odoo logs and set appropriate permissions:

sudo mkdir /var/log/odoo
sudo chown odoo18:root /var/log/odoo

Create and Manage the Odoo Service

1. Create the Service File

To manage Odoo as a service, create a systemd service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/odoo18.service

2. Add the Service Configuration

Paste the following content into the service file:

[Unit]
Description=Odoo18
Documentation=http://www.odoo.com

[Service]
# Ubuntu/Debian convention:
Type=simple
User=odoo18
ExecStart=/opt/odoo18/venv/bin/python3.12 /opt/odoo18/odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo18.conf

[Install]
WantedBy=default.target

• Type=simple: Means the service runs in the foreground.
• User=odoo18: The service will run as the odoo18 user.
• ExecStart: Specifies the command to start Odoo, with the Odoo binary and configuration file.

3. Set Permissions for the Service File

Secure the service file by setting proper permissions:

sudo chmod 755 /etc/systemd/system/odoo18.service
sudo chown root: /etc/systemd/system/odoo18.service

4. Start the Odoo Service

Start the Odoo service using systemctl:

sudo systemctl start odoo18.service

5. Access Odoo in Your Browser

Open your browser and go to:

http://<your_domain_or_IP_address>:8069

Replace <your_domain_or_IP_address> with your server’s IP address or domain.

6. Monitor the Odoo Log

Monitor Odoo's log output using the tail command:

sudo tail -f /var/log/odoo/odoo18.log

7. Enable the Odoo Service at Boot

Make sure Odoo starts automatically when the server boots:

sudo systemctl enable odoo18.service

8. Restart the Odoo Service

If you make any changes, restart the Odoo service:

sudo systemctl restart odoo18.service

With these steps, you have successfully configured and started Odoo 18 on your server. You can now access it through your web browser and start using it!

By following this installation guide, you now have Odoo 18 running on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS server, ready to support your business operations. With its modular structure and extensive customization options, Odoo 18 can be tailored to meet specific business needs. If you encounter any issues, refer to the Odoo documentation or community forums for support. Now that your system is set up, you can start exploring the various features Odoo 18 offers and optimize your workflow for greater efficiency.