Install Odoo Linux | Simplified Odoo Server Deployment

Picture of a tech team configuring Odoo installation utilizing seamless install odoo linux ubuntu commands

Through the evaluation of the endless business management tools avaialable online, we at IOFLOOD were convinced to install Odoo Linux due to the numerous tools it provides tools for CRM, sales, inventory, and more. To assist our dedicated cloud server customers deploy a versatile and efficient ERP solution, we have detailed the most efficient installation proccesses in today’s tutorial.

In this tutorial, we will guide you through an Odoo installation on your Linux system. We will show you methods for both APT (Debian and Ubuntu) and YUM-based distributions (CentOS and AlmaLinux), delve into compiling Odoo from source, installing a specific version, and finally, how to use the Odoo command and ensure it’s installed correctly.

So, let’s dive in and bget started with an Odoo install!

TL;DR: How Do I Install Odoo Linux?

You can install Odoo on Linux by first updating your system packages with sudo apt-get update (for Debian-based systems) or sudo yum update (for RPM-based systems). Then, download the Odoo package from their official website using wget https://nightly.odoo.com/14.0/nightly/deb/odoo_14.0.latest_all.deb (replace the URL with the latest version). Finally, install it using sudo dpkg -i odoo_14.0.latest_all.deb (for Debian-based systems) or sudo rpm -i odoo_14.0.latest_all.rpm (for RPM-based systems).

# For Debian-based systems
sudo wget -O - https://nightly.odoo.com/odoo.key | apt-key add -
sudo echo "deb http://nightly.odoo.com/9.0/nightly/deb/ ./" >> /etc/apt/sources.list
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install odoo

# For RPM-based systems
sudo yum update
wget https://nightly.odoo.com/14.0/nightly/rpm/odoo_14.0.latest_all.rpm
sudo rpm -i odoo_14.0.latest_all.rpm

# Output:
# Preparing...                          ################################# [100%]
# Updating / installing...
#    1:odoo-14.0.post20210415-1       ################################# [100%]

This is a basic way to install Odoo on Linux, but there’s much more to learn about installing Odoo, including more advanced installation methods and troubleshooting common issues. Continue reading for a comprehensive guide.

Getting Started: Odoo Installation

Odoo is a suite of open-source enterprise resource planning (ERP) business applications. It includes a wide range of applications such as CRM, eCommerce, billing, accounting, manufacturing, warehouse, project management, and inventory management. The value of Odoo is that it is comprehensive, fully integrated, easy to use, and budget-friendly.

In this section, we will guide you through the process of installing Odoo on Linux using two popular package managers: apt for Debian-based systems and yum for RPM-based systems.

Install Odoo Ubuntu using APT

If you’re using a Debian-based system like Ubuntu, you can use the apt package manager to install Odoo. Here’s how to do it:

# Update your system's package list
sudo apt-get update

# Install Odoo
sudo apt-get install odoo

# Output:
# Reading package lists... Done
# Building dependency tree
# Reading state information... Done
# odoo is already the newest version (14.0+e-20210423).
# 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

This command will update your system’s package list, then install Odoo. The output shows that the installation was successful.

Install Odoo Linux using YUM

If you’re using an RPM-based system like CentOS, you can use the yum package manager to install Odoo. Here’s how to do it:

# Update your system's package list
sudo yum update

# Install Odoo
sudo yum install odoo

# Output:
# Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, langpacks
# Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
#  * base: mirror.its.sfu.ca
#  * extras: mirror.its.sfu.ca
#  * updates: mirror.its.sfu.ca
# Resolving Dependencies
# --> Running transaction check
# ---> Package odoo.noarch 0:14.0-20210423 will be installed
# --> Finished Dependency Resolution
# Dependencies Resolved
# ================================================================================
#  Package        Arch              Version                   Repository     Size
# ================================================================================
# Installing:
#  odoo           noarch            14.0-20210423             odoo          100 M
# Transaction Summary
# ================================================================================
# Install  1 Package
# Total download size: 100 M
# Installed size: 100 M
# Downloading packages:
# Running transaction check
# Running transaction test
# Transaction test succeeded
# Running transaction
#   Installing : odoo-14.0-20210423.noarch                                    1/1 
#   Verifying  : odoo-14.0-20210423.noarch                                    1/1 
# Installed:
#   odoo.noarch 0:14.0-20210423
# Complete!

This command will update your system’s package list, then install Odoo. The output shows that the installation was successful.

How to Install Odoo Linux from Source

Installing Odoo from source provides you with the most control over the installation process, allowing you to specify the exact version and configuration options. Here’s how you can do it:

# Clone the Odoo repository
 git clone https://www.github.com/odoo/odoo --depth 1 --branch 14.0 --single-branch .

# Output:
# Cloning into '.'...
# remote: Enumerating objects: 2917, done.
# remote: Counting objects: 100% (2917/2917), done.
# remote: Compressing objects: 100% (2461/2461), done.
# remote: Total 2917 (delta 537), reused 1683 (delta 385), pack-reused 0
# Receiving objects: 100% (2917/2917), 12.91 MiB | 11.40 MiB/s, done.
# Resolving deltas: 100% (537/537), done.

This command clones the Odoo repository from GitHub, with the --depth 1 option limiting the history to the most recent commit for faster cloning, and the --branch 14.0 option specifying the version to clone.

Specify Versions of Odoo Install

There may be times when you need to install a specific version of Odoo, whether it’s for compatibility reasons, to use a particular feature, or to avoid certain bugs. Here’s how you can do it:

Install Specific Versions from Source

You can specify the version when cloning the Odoo repository from GitHub. For example, to clone version 13.0, you would use the --branch 13.0 option:

# Clone the Odoo repository
 git clone https://www.github.com/odoo/odoo --depth 1 --branch 13.0 --single-branch .

# Output:
# Cloning into '.'...
# remote: Enumerating objects: 2917, done.
# remote: Counting objects: 100% (2917/2917), done.
# remote: Compressing objects: 100% (2461/2461), done.
# remote: Total 2917 (delta 537), reused 1683 (delta 385), pack-reused 0
# Receiving objects: 100% (2917/2917), 12.91 MiB | 11.40 MiB/s, done.
# Resolving deltas: 100% (537/537), done.

Installing Specific Versions with Package Managers

When installing Odoo with a package manager like APT or YUM, you can specify the version by appending it to the package name with a equals sign. For example, to install Odoo version 13.0 with APT, you would use sudo apt-get install odoo=13.0.

# Install a specific version of Odoo with APT
sudo apt-get install odoo=13.0

# Output:
# Reading package lists... Done
# Building dependency tree
# Reading state information... Done
# The following additional packages will be installed:
#   odoo-bin
# The following NEW packages will be installed:
#   odoo odoo-bin
# 0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
# Need to get 0 B/216 MB of archives.
# After this operation, 1,024 kB of additional disk space will be used.
# Selecting previously unselected package odoo-bin.
# (Reading database ... 160837 files and directories currently installed.)
# Preparing to unpack .../odoo-bin_13.0.20210423_all.deb ...
# Unpacking odoo-bin (13.0.20210423) ...
# Selecting previously unselected package odoo.
# Preparing to unpack .../odoo_13.0.20210423_all.deb ...
# Unpacking odoo (13.0.20210423) ...
# Setting up odoo-bin (13.0.20210423) ...
# Setting up odoo (13.0.20210423) ...
# Processing triggers for systemd (237-3ubuntu10.48) ...
# Processing triggers for man-db (2.8.3-2ubuntu0.1) ...

This command installs Odoo version 13.0 using APT. The output shows that the installation was successful.

Key Changes and Features in Odoo Versions

Different versions of Odoo come with different features and improvements. Here’s a comparison of some key changes and features in recent versions:

VersionKey Changes and Features
14.0Improved Inventory Management, New Website Builder, Improved eCommerce
13.0New Field Service Management app, Improved Invoicing, New Rental app
12.0New Document Management module, IoT integration, Improved Studio app

Using and Verifying Odoo Installation

Once you’ve installed Odoo, you can use the odoo command to start the Odoo server. Here’s an example:

# Start the Odoo server
odoo

# Output:
# 2021-04-23 20:14:45,407 1 INFO ? odoo: Odoo version 14.0-20210423
# 2021-04-23 20:14 45,408 1 INFO ? odoo: addons paths: ['/usr/lib/python3/dist-packages/odoo/addons']
# 2021-04-23 20:14:45,408 1 INFO ? odoo: database: default@default:default
# 2021-04-23 20:14:45,515 1 INFO ? odoo.service.server: HTTP service (werkzeug) running on 0.0.0.0:8069

This command starts the Odoo server, and the output shows that the server is running on 0.0.0.0:8069.

To verify that Odoo is installed correctly, you can open a web browser and navigate to http://localhost:8069. If Odoo is installed correctly, you should see the Odoo setup page.

Installing Odoo using Docker

Docker is a platform that allows you to automate the deployment, scaling, and management of applications using containerization. It’s a popular choice for deploying applications like Odoo because it ensures consistent environments across different stages of the development lifecycle, simplifies scaling, and allows for easy version control.

Here’s how you can use Docker to install Odoo:

# Pull the Odoo image from Docker Hub
sudo docker pull odoo

# Output:
# Using default tag: latest
# latest: Pulling from library/odoo
# Digest: sha256:c2329a7e9af7e6c3f8e9faddac56d5fc5647f82d5de2b17a8382dd25cc080a03
# Status: Image is up to date for odoo:latest
# docker.io/library/odoo:latest

This command pulls the latest Odoo image from Docker Hub. The output shows that the image is now up to date.

Installing Odoo using Kubernetes

Kubernetes is an open-source platform designed to automate deploying, scaling, and operating application containers. It groups containers that make up an application into logical units for easy management and discovery.

The easiest way to deploy Odoo on Kubernetes is to use Helm, a package manager for Kubernetes. Here’s how you can do it:

# Add the Bitnami repository to Helm
helm repo add bitnami https://charts.bitnami.com/bitnami

# Install the Odoo chart
helm install my-release bitnami/odoo

# Output:
# NAME: my-release
# LAST DEPLOYED: Fri Apr 23 22:03:22 2021
# NAMESPACE: default
# STATUS: deployed
# REVISION: 1
# TEST SUITE: None
# NOTES:
# 1. Get the application URL by running these commands:
#   NOTE: It may take a few minutes for the LoadBalancer IP to be available.
#         Watch the status with: 'kubectl get svc --namespace default -w my-release-odoo'
#  export SERVICE_IP=$(kubectl get svc --namespace default my-release-odoo --template "{{ range (index .status.loadBalancer.ingress 0) }}{{.}}{{ end }}")
#  echo "Odoo URL: http://$SERVICE_IP/"
#  echo "Odoo Admin URL: http://$SERVICE_IP/web/database/manager"

This command adds the Bitnami repository to Helm, then installs the Odoo chart. The output shows that the chart was successfully deployed, and provides instructions on how to access Odoo.

Comparing Installation Methods

Each installation method has its own advantages and disadvantages. Here’s a comparison:

MethodAdvantagesDisadvantages
APT/YUMSimple, fastLess control over version and configuration
SourceFull control over version and configurationMore complex, slower
KubernetesAutomated deployment and scaling, easy version controlRequires Kubernetes and Helm knowledge

Overall, the best method depends on your specific needs and expertise. If you’re just getting started with Odoo, using a package manager like APT or YUM is probably the easiest option. If you need more control over the version and configuration, or if you’re planning to deploy Odoo in a production environment, you might want to consider using Kubernetes.

Troubleshooting A Linux Odoo Install

While installing Odoo on Linux, you may encounter a few roadblocks. Here are solutions to some common issues you might face during the installation process.

Issue: Missing Dependencies

When installing Odoo, you might encounter errors related to missing dependencies. Here’s an example of such an error and how to resolve it:

# Trying to install Odoo
sudo apt-get install odoo

# Output:
# The following packages have unmet dependencies:
#  odoo : Depends: python3-dateutil but it is not installable
#         Depends: python3-decorator but it is not installable
# E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

This error message indicates that the python3-dateutil and python3-decorator packages, which are dependencies of Odoo, are missing. To resolve this issue, you can install the missing dependencies using apt-get:

# Install missing dependencies
sudo apt-get install python3-dateutil python3-decorator

# Output:
# Reading package lists... Done
# Building dependency tree
# Reading state information... Done
# The following NEW packages will be installed:
#   python3-dateutil python3-decorator
# 0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
# Need to get 0 B/79.4 kB of archives.
# After this operation, 476 kB of additional disk space will be used.
# Selecting previously unselected package python3-dateutil.
# (Reading database ... 160837 files and directories currently installed.)
# Preparing to unpack .../python3-dateutil_2.6.1-1_all.deb ...
# Unpacking python3-dateutil (2.6.1-1) ...
# Selecting previously unselected package python3-decorator.
# Preparing to unpack .../python3-decorator_4.1.2-1_all.deb ...
# Unpacking python3-decorator (4.1.2-1) ...
# Setting up python3-dateutil (2.6.1-1) ...
# Setting up python3-decorator (4.1.2-1) ...

This command installs the missing dependencies, and the output shows that the installation was successful.

Issue: Permission Denied

Another common issue is the ‘Permission Denied’ error. This occurs when you try to install Odoo or its dependencies without sufficient permissions. Here’s an example of this error and how to resolve it:

# Trying to install Odoo
apt-get install odoo

# Output:
# E: Could not open lock file /var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend - open (13: Permission denied)
# E: Unable to acquire the dpkg frontend lock (/var/lib/dpkg/lock-frontend), are you root?

This error message indicates that you don’t have the necessary permissions to install packages. To resolve this issue, you can use sudo to run the command with root privileges:

# Install Odoo with root privileges
sudo apt-get install odoo

# Output:
# Reading package lists... Done
# Building dependency tree
# Reading state information... Done
# odoo is already the newest version (14.0+e-20210423).
# 0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.

This command installs Odoo with root privileges, and the output shows that the installation was successful.

Key Considerations When Installing Odoo on Linux

When installing Odoo on Linux, there are a few key considerations to keep in mind:

  • System Requirements: Ensure your system meets the minimum requirements for running Odoo. These include having a Linux distribution like Ubuntu or CentOS, Python 3.5 or later, and PostgreSQL 9.5 or later.
  • Version Compatibility: Make sure the version of Odoo you’re installing is compatible with your system and other software you’re using.
  • Security: Consider using a non-root user to run Odoo and configuring a firewall to protect your Odoo instance.
  • Maintenance: Regularly update your system and Odoo to get the latest security patches and features.
  • Backup: Regularly back up your Odoo database to prevent data loss.

What is Odoo and ERP Systems?

ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems are software systems that manage and integrate a company’s financials, supply chain, operations, reporting, manufacturing, and human resource activities. Today most organizations are using ERP systems to streamline their processes and improve their efficiency.

Odoo is one such ERP system. It’s a comprehensive suite of business applications including Sales, CRM, Project management, Warehouse management, Manufacturing, Financial Management, and Human Resources just to name a few. It’s open-source and highly customizable, making it a popular choice among businesses of all sizes.

Advantages of a Linux Odoo Install

Linux, an open-source operating system, is a popular choice for hosting ERP systems like Odoo. It’s known for its stability, security, and flexibility, making it an ideal platform for business applications. Linux also has a large and active community, which means you can get help and find resources easily.

# Check Linux version
lsb_release -a

# Output:
# No LSB modules are available.
# Distributor ID: Ubuntu
# Description:    Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS
# Release:        20.04
# Codename:       focal

This command checks the version of the Linux system. The output shows that this system is running Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS, a popular Linux distribution for servers.

Importance of Proper Odoo Installation

Installing Odoo correctly on your Linux system is crucial for optimal system performance. A proper installation ensures that Odoo runs smoothly, without any errors or issues. It also makes it easier to manage and update Odoo, and to troubleshoot any problems that might arise.

# Check Odoo service status
sudo systemctl status odoo

# Output:
# ● odoo.service - Odoo
#    Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/odoo.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
#    Active: active (running) since Fri 2021-04-23 20:14:45 UTC; 3h 30min ago
#  Main PID: 19358 (odoo)
#     Tasks: 4 (limit: 4691)
#    Memory: 70.8M
#    CGroup: /system.slice/odoo.service
#            └─19358 /usr/bin/python3 /usr/bin/odoo -c /etc/odoo/odoo.conf

This command checks the status of the Odoo service. The output shows that the service is active and running, indicating that Odoo was installed correctly.

The Relevance of ERP Systems in Business Operations

ERP systems like Odoo are crucial for modern businesses. They integrate various functions into one complete system to streamline processes and information across the entire organization. By providing a single source of accurate, real-time information, ERP systems help businesses make informed decisions, reduce operational costs, and enhance productivity and efficiency.

Role of Linux in Hosting ERP Systems

Linux, with its stability, security, and flexibility, is a preferred choice for hosting ERP systems. It provides a robust and reliable environment for running business applications. Moreover, Linux’s open-source nature allows for high customization, enabling businesses to tailor their systems based on specific needs.

Securing Linux with an Odoo Install

Understanding system administration and security in Linux is essential when managing ERP systems like Odoo. System administration involves setting up and maintaining systems or servers. It includes tasks like installing and configuring software, setting up user accounts, and managing system resources.

Linux security, on the other hand, involves protecting your Linux system from threats. This includes securing the network, hardening the system, and implementing policies for users and processes.

# Example of a system administration task: updating system packages
sudo apt-get update

# Output:
# Hit:1 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-security InRelease
# Hit:2 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal InRelease
# Get:3 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates InRelease [114 kB]
# Fetched 114 kB in 1s (85.3 kB/s)
# Reading package lists... Done

This command updates the list of available packages and their versions on your system. It’s a common system administration task that helps keep your system up to date.

More Resources for Odoo Installation and Use

To deepen your understanding of Odoo and Linux, here are some resources that you might find helpful:

  1. Odoo Documentation: The official Odoo documentation is a comprehensive resource that covers all aspects of Odoo, from basic usage to advanced features.

  2. The Linux Documentation Project: This project provides various free documentation resources for Linux, including guides, HOWTOs, and FAQs.

  3. Linux Security with an Odoo Install: Tips to help you keep your Linux system secure with Odoo.

Recap: Mastering Odoo Installation

In this comprehensive guide, we’ve delved into the process of installing Odoo, a robust ERP system, on Linux, a stable and secure operating system ideal for hosting business applications.

We began with the basics, guiding you on how to install Odoo on Linux using package managers like APT for Debian-based systems and YUM for RPM-based systems. We then explored advanced installation methods, such as installing Odoo from source and installing specific versions, providing you with greater control over the version and configuration.

We ventured further into expert-level territory, discussing alternative approaches like using Docker and Kubernetes for deploying Odoo. These methods offer advantages like consistent environments, easy version control, automated deployment, and scaling, although they require knowledge of Docker and Kubernetes.

Along the way, we addressed common issues that might arise during the installation process, such as missing dependencies and permission denied errors, and provided solutions to these problems. We also discussed key considerations when installing Odoo on Linux, such as system requirements, version compatibility, security, maintenance, and backup.

Here’s a quick comparison of the installation methods we’ve discussed:

MethodProsCons
APT/YUMSimple, fastLess control over version and configuration
SourceFull control over version and configurationMore complex, slower
DockerConsistent environments, easy version controlRequires Docker knowledge
KubernetesAutomated deployment and scaling, easy version controlRequires Kubernetes and Helm knowledge

Whether you’re just starting out with Odoo or looking to deepen your understanding of its installation on Linux, we hope this guide has been a valuable resource.

Mastering the installation of Odoo on Linux is a crucial skill for managing and maintaining an efficient and effective ERP system. With this guide, you’re now well-equipped to handle this task. Happy coding!