Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing JasperReports, ensure your system is up to date. Run the following commands:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Keeping your system updated is crucial for security and performance, whether you're setting it up locally or on a VPS Windows Servers platform.

Step 2: Install Java

JasperReports requires Java to run. Install OpenJDK 11 using the following command:

sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk -y

After installation, verify the Java installation:

java -version

Step 3: Install JasperReports Server

Download the latest JasperReports Server Community Edition from the Jaspersoft Community website. Use the following commands to download and extract it:

cd /opt
sudo wget https://sourceforge.net/projects/jasperreportsserver/files/JasperReportsServer/7.8.0/jasperreports-server-7.8.0-bin.zip
sudo apt install unzip -y
sudo unzip jasperreports-server-7.8.0-bin.zip
            

Move the extracted folder to a more accessible location:

sudo mv jasperreports-server-7.8.0 jasperreports

Step 4: Configure JasperReports Server

Navigate to the JasperReports directory:

cd /opt/jasperreports

Run the installation script:

sudo ./js-install.sh

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Step 5: Install Nginx

Nginx will be used as a reverse proxy to forward requests to the JasperReports server. Install Nginx with the following command:

sudo apt install nginx -y

After installation, start and enable the Nginx service:

sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx
            

Step 6: Configure Nginx as a Reverse Proxy

Create a new Nginx configuration file for JasperReports:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/jasperreports

Add the following configuration, replacing your_domain.com with your actual domain:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name your_domain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:8080; # Default port for JasperReports
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}
            

Save and exit the file, then create a symbolic link to enable the configuration:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/jasperreports /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
            

Test the Nginx configuration for syntax errors:

sudo nginx -t

If the test is successful, restart Nginx to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart nginx

Step 7: Secure Nginx with Let's Encrypt SSL

To secure your JasperReports installation with SSL, install Certbot:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx -y

Run Certbot to obtain and install the SSL certificate:

sudo certbot --nginx -d your_domain.com

Certbot will automatically configure SSL for your JasperReports instance, ensuring secure access to the platform, whether it is hosted locally or on a Windows VPS hosting UK.

Step 8: Access JasperReports Server

Open your web browser and navigate to:

http://your_domain.com

You should see the JasperReports Server login page. Log in with the credentials you set during installation.