Redmine on Ubuntu 20.04

2020-09-20 System @JS

My test platform: Ubuntu Server 20.04.1

Requirements: user with root privileges or non-root user with sudo privileges.

Apache and MariaDB installation

$ sudo apt install apache2 mariadb-server libapache2-mod-passenger -y

On Ubuntu, the services should be started automatically immediately after packages pre-configuration is complete.

$ sudo systemctl status apache2.service; sudo systemctl status mariadb.service

MariaDB configuration

$ sudo mysql_secure_installation

Enter current password for root (enter for none):
Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
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

Redmine installation

Redmine package is available in the Ubuntu Server 20.04 default repository:

$ sudo apt install redmine redmine-mysql -y

During the installation, you will be asked to configure Redmine. Click on the YES button. Next select database as mysql and click on the OK button. Provide a password for Redmine to register with the database and click on the OK button to finish the installation.

Next, you will need to install gem bundler packages:

$ sudo gem install bundler

Create a symbolic link of Redmine directory to Apache web root directory:

$ sudo ln -s /usr/share/redmine/public /var/www/html/redmine

Create a lock file for Redmine:

$ sudo touch /usr/share/redmine/Gemfile.lock

Give proper permissions to the Redmine:

$ sudo chown www-data:www-data /usr/share/redmine/Gemfile.lock
$ sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/redmine

Configuration Apache for Redmine

Next, you will need to edit /etc/apache2/mods-available/passenger.conf file and add after <IfModule mod_passenger.c> PassengerDefaultUser www-data:

<IfModule mod_passenger.c>
  PassengerDefaultUser www-data
  PassengerRoot /usr/lib/ruby/vendor_ruby/phusion_passenger/locations.ini
  PassengerDefaultRuby /usr/bin/ruby
 </IfModule>

Next, create an Apache virtual host file for Redmine. Add the following content to the /etc/apache2/sites-available/redmine.conf file. Remember to replace ServerAdmin, DocumentRoot, ServerName, ServerAlias with the actual values for your environment.

<VirtualHost *:80>
     ServerAdmin admin@local.lnxorg
     DocumentRoot /var/www/html/redmine
     ServerName local.lnxorg
     ServerAlias www.local.lnxorg

     <Directory /var/www/html/redmine>
         RailsBaseURI /redmine
         PassengerResolveSymlinksInDocumentRoot on
     </Directory>

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

Enable Redmine virtual host, Apache rewrite module and restart Apache service to apply all the changes:

$ sudo a2ensite redmine && sudo a2enmod rewrite
$ sudo systemctl restart apache2.service; sudo systemctl status apache2.service

Access to Redmine Web Interface

Open your web browser and type the URL of the Redmine installation (in my example http://local.lnxorg).
Click on the Sign In button, you will be redirected to the Redmine login page.
Provide username as admin and password admin, then click on the Login button.
Change your current password and click on the Apply button. You will be logged in to Redmine.

Reference: Redmine Doc.