Installing Redmine with MySQL on Ubuntu 24.04

This comprehensive guide will walk you through the installation process of Redmine, a powerful project management tool, with MySQL as the database on Ubuntu 24.04. Redmine is a popular open-source platform that offers a wide range of features for managing projects, tasks, bugs, and more. Its flexibility and robust functionality make it an excellent choice for teams of all sizes.

Why Choose Redmine?

Redmine's appeal lies in its powerful features and user-friendly interface. Here are some key advantages of using Redmine:

• Open-source and free : Redmine is available under the GNU General Public License, meaning it's free to use and modify.
• Comprehensive project management : Redmine allows you to track tasks, bugs, issues, time spent, and more. It provides powerful reporting and analytics features.
• Customization and extensibility : Redmine offers a wide range of plugins and themes to tailor the platform to your specific needs.
• Version control integration : Redmine seamlessly integrates with popular version control systems like Git, SVN, and Mercurial.
• Collaborative environment : Redmine fosters collaboration through its wiki, forums, and file sharing capabilities.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the installation, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• Ubuntu 24.04 server : A fresh installation of Ubuntu 24.04 is recommended.
• Root access or sudo privileges : You'll need administrative privileges to install software and configure the system.
• A domain name or IP address : You'll need a domain name or IP address to access Redmine. This can be a local IP if you are only accessing it within your network.
• Basic understanding of Linux commands : Familiarization with basic commands will help you navigate the installation process smoothly.

Installation Steps

Let's break down the installation process into manageable steps:

1. Update the System

Start by updating your Ubuntu system to ensure you have the latest packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install MySQL

Redmine requires a database to store its data. We'll install MySQL as the database server:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

During the installation process, you'll be prompted to set a root password for the MySQL database. Make sure to choose a strong password and keep it secure. You can access the MySQL console using the following command:

sudo mysql -u root -p

3. Create a Database and User for Redmine

Within the MySQL console, create a dedicated database and user for Redmine:

CREATE DATABASE redmine_db;
CREATE USER redmine_user@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON redmine_db.* TO redmine_user@localhost;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Replace 'your_password' with a strong and secure password. This will create a database named `redmine_db` and a user named `redmine_user` with full permissions on the database.

4. Download and Extract Redmine

Use wget to download the latest stable version of Redmine from the official website. This example uses the 4.2.x version, but you may choose a different one depending on your needs.

wget https://www.redmine.org/releases/redmine-4.2.x.tar.gz
tar -xzf redmine-4.2.x.tar.gz

This will download the Redmine package, extract it, and create a new directory. Replace `redmine-4.2.x.tar.gz` with the correct filename if needed.

5. Install Dependencies

Redmine depends on several other packages. Install these using the following command:

sudo apt install libapache2-mod-passenger libmysqlclient-dev imagemagick libmagickwand-dev rmagick -y

This will install the necessary libraries for Redmine to function properly. If you are using a different web server, you might need to adjust the packages accordingly.

6. Configure Redmine

Navigate to the Redmine directory you extracted earlier. Edit the `config/database.yml` file with your preferred editor, for example, nano:

cd redmine-4.2.x
sudo nano config/database.yml

Replace the following values with your MySQL database credentials:

development:
  adapter: mysql2
  encoding: utf8
  reconnect: false
  database: redmine_db
  pool: 5
  username: redmine_user
  password: your_password
  host: localhost

Remember to replace `your_password` with the actual password you set for the Redmine user.

7. Configure Apache Virtual Host

Create a new virtual host configuration file for Redmine in the Apache sites-available directory:

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

Add the following configuration within the file, modifying the DocumentRoot and ServerName accordingly:

<virtualhost *:80="">
 ServerName redmine.example.com
  DocumentRoot /var/www/redmine-4.2.x/public
 <directory public="" redmine-4.2.x="" var="" www="">
  Options FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride All
    Order allow,deny
    Allow from all
 </directory>
 PassengerEnabled on
  PassengerRoot /usr/lib/ruby/gems/2.7.0/gems/passenger-6.0.10
  RailsEnv production
  RailsBaseURI /
</virtualhost>

Replace `redmine.example.com` with your actual domain name or IP address. Also, adjust the `PassengerRoot` path if necessary to match your installed Passenger version.

8. Enable the Virtual Host

Enable the newly created virtual host and restart Apache:

sudo a2ensite redmine.conf
sudo systemctl restart apache2

9. Configure Redmine for Production

To finalize the installation, navigate to the Redmine directory and run the following command:

cd /var/www/redmine-4.2.x
sudo RAILS_ENV=production bundle install --without development test

This command will install the required gems and prepare Redmine for production use.

10. Access Redmine

Open your web browser and navigate to the domain name or IP address you specified in the virtual host configuration. You should now be greeted with the Redmine installation screen. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation and configure your Redmine instance.

Additional Considerations

Here are some additional tips and considerations for your Redmine installation:

• SSL/TLS configuration : For security and privacy, it's highly recommended to enable SSL/TLS for your Redmine installation. This involves obtaining an SSL certificate and configuring Apache to use it.
• Backup strategy : Implement a regular backup plan for your Redmine database and files to ensure data recovery in case of failures.
• Security hardening : Take necessary security measures to protect your Redmine installation from unauthorized access. Update Redmine regularly and keep your system up-to-date with security patches.
• Performance optimization : For large installations or high traffic, consider performance optimization techniques like caching, database tuning, and server hardware upgrades.
• Plugins and themes : Explore the available Redmine plugins and themes to extend its functionality and customize its appearance.

Conclusion

Installing Redmine with MySQL on Ubuntu 24.04 is a straightforward process that empowers you to manage projects effectively. By following the detailed steps outlined in this guide, you'll be able to set up a robust and feature-rich Redmine instance. Remember to prioritize security, implement a solid backup strategy, and explore the various plugins and themes to tailor Redmine to your specific needs. With its open-source nature and comprehensive features, Redmine is an excellent choice for project management in various settings.