Introduction

vTiger CRM is a popular open-source customer relationship management software that helps businesses manage their customer interactions and data. In this guide, you will learn how to install vTiger CRM on Debian 11, which can be effectively hosted on a Windows VPS UK for optimal performance and reliability.

Prerequisites

• A server running Debian 11 with root access
• Basic knowledge of Linux commands
• A registered domain name pointed to your server's IP address (optional but recommended)

Step 1: Update Your System

Start by updating your package index and upgrading existing packages:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Required Packages

Install Apache, MySQL, and PHP along with necessary PHP extensions:

sudo apt install apache2 mysql-server php php-mysql libapache2-mod-php php-xml php-curl php-mbstring php-zip php-gd php-json -y

Step 3: Configure MySQL Database for vTiger

Log in to MySQL to create a database for vTiger:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Run the following SQL commands to create the database and user:

CREATE DATABASE vtiger_db;
CREATE USER 'vtiger_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON vtiger_db.* TO 'vtiger_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace your_password with a strong password of your choice.

Step 4: Download vTiger CRM

Download the latest version of vTiger CRM:

wget https://github.com/vtiger/vtigercrm/archive/refs/tags/7.3.0.zip

Unzip the downloaded file:

unzip 7.3.0.zip

Move the vTiger files to the web root directory:

sudo mv vtigercrm-7.3.0 /var/www/html/vtiger

Step 5: Configure Apache for vTiger

Create a new configuration file for vTiger:

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

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin admin@yourdomain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/vtiger
    ServerName yourdomain.com

    <Directory /var/www/html/vtiger>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/vtiger-error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/vtiger-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Replace yourdomain.com with your actual domain name.

Step 6: Enable the vTiger Site and Rewrite Module

Enable the vTiger site and the Apache rewrite module:

sudo a2ensite vtiger
sudo a2enmod rewrite

Restart Apache to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 7: Complete vTiger Installation

Open your web browser and navigate to http://yourdomain.com (or your server's IP address). You should see the vTiger installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 8: Secure Your Installation

Once the installation is complete, it’s crucial to secure your vTiger installation by removing the installation directory:

sudo rm -rf /var/www/html/vtiger/install

Step 9: Conclusion

You have successfully installed vTiger CRM Open Source Edition on Debian 11. This CRM solution can greatly benefit from being hosted on a Windows VPS. For additional options, explore various VPS UK Windows solutions, including Windows Virtual Private Server Hosting and Windows VPS Hosting UK for optimal performance and reliability.