Learn how to install and deploy SuiteCRM on Ubuntu 24.05 using the LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).
If we’re building a business or managing customer relationships, having the right CRM system can transform how we work. SuiteCRM is one of the best open-source CRM platforms available — it’s reliable, customizable, and free to use. In this tutorial, we’re going to walk through how to deploy SuiteCRM on a fresh Ubuntu 24.05 server using a LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP).
Prerequisites
Before we begin, let’s ensure we have the following in place:
- A Ubuntu 24.05 dedicated server or KVM VPS.
- A basic programming knowledge.
- A domain name pointing to server IP
How to Install SuiteCRM on Ubuntu 24.05 with LAMP Stack – Complete Step-by-Step Guide (2025)
Step 1: Update Our System
Let’s begin by updating all our packages to ensure we’re working with the latest system files.
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
This keeps our system secure and prevents compatibility issues during the SuiteCRM installation.
Step 2: Install Apache Web Server
Apache is the web server that will serve our SuiteCRM application.
sudo apt install apache2 -y
Once installed, enable and start Apache:
sudo systemctl enable apache2
sudo systemctl start apache2
We can confirm Apache is working by visiting our server's IP address in a browser.
Step 3: Install MySQL Database Server
SuiteCRM needs a MySQL-compatible database. We’ll install MySQL and secure it.
sudo apt install mysql-server -y
Now run the secure installation script:
sudo mysql_secure_installation
We’ll be prompted to set a root password and remove insecure defaults.
Step 4: Create MySQL Database and User for SuiteCRM
Let’s create a database and a dedicated user for SuiteCRM.
sudo mysql -u root -p
Inside the MySQL prompt, run:
CREATE DATABASE suitecrm_db CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_general_ci;
CREATE USER 'suitecrm_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPasswordHere!';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON suitecrm_db.* TO 'suitecrm_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;
We now have a secure database environment ready for SuiteCRM.
Step 5: Install PHP and Required Extensions
SuiteCRM requires PHP along with several modules. Ubuntu 24.05 supports PHP 8.3 by default.
sudo apt install php php-cli php-common php-mysql php-zip php-curl php-xml php-mbstring php-imap php-gd php-bcmath php-soap libapache2-mod-php php-intl unzip -y
Check the installed PHP version:
php -v
Let’s also increase PHP limits for better SuiteCRM performance.
Edit PHP’s config:
sudo nano /etc/php/8.3/apache2/php.ini
Update the following values:
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 50M
post_max_size = 50M
max_execution_time = 300
Then restart Apache:
sudo systemctl restart apache2
Step 6: Download and Set Up SuiteCRM
Now let’s fetch the latest stable SuiteCRM release.
mkdir /var/www/html/suitecrm && cd /var/www/html/suitecrm
wget https://suitecrm.com/download/165/suite88/565090/suitecrm-8-8-0.zip
unzip suitecrm-8-8-0.zip
Set correct permissions:
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/html/suitecrm
Step 7: Configure Apache Virtual Host
To serve SuiteCRM properly, let’s create a new Apache site config.
sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/suitecrm.conf
Paste the following configuration:
<VirtualHost *:80>
ServerAdmin admin@yourdomain.com
DocumentRoot /var/www/html/suitecrm/public
ServerName yourdomain.com
<Directory /var/www/html/suitecrm/public>
Options Indexes FollowSymLinks
AllowOverride All
Require all granted
</Directory>
ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/suitecrm_error.log
CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/suitecrm_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>
Enable the site and Apache modules:
sudo a2ensite suitecrm.conf
sudo a2enmod rewrite
sudo systemctl reload apache2
Step 8: Configure Firewall
We need to open HTTP and HTTPS ports in the firewall.
ufw allow 80/tcp
ufw allow 443/tcp
ufw reload
Step 9: Secure Our SuiteCRM with HTTPS (Optional but Recommended)
Let’s add SSL using Certbot and Let’s Encrypt (if using a domain).
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y
sudo certbot --apache -d your_domain_name.com
Certbot will automatically install the certificate and configure Apache.
Step 10: Finalize Installation via Web Browser
We’re almost done. Now we can finish the setup using a web browser.
Visit: https://your_domain_name/ or your domain.
Follow the installer:
Accept License Agreement.
Provide database info:
DB Name: suitecrm_db
DB User: suitecrm_user
Password: the one you set earlier.
Create Admin User.
Complete the installation.
If all permissions and modules are correct, SuiteCRM will complete installation and redirect to the login screen.
Step 11: Set Up Cron Jobs (Important for SuiteCRM Functionality)
SuiteCRM needs cron jobs to perform background tasks.
sudo crontab -e -u www-data
Add this line:
* * * * * cd /var/www/html/suitecrm && php bin/console suitecrm:cron
This ensures all scheduled tasks run correctly.
Step 12: Login and Start Using SuiteCRM
Now head over to your domain or server IP. Use the admin credentials you created. Explore the dashboard, add leads, manage contacts, create campaigns — the entire CRM suite is at your fingertips.
Final Thoughts
By deploying SuiteCRM on Ubuntu 24.05 using LAMP, we’ve built a powerful, scalable CRM system without spending a rupee on licenses. Whether we’re a freelancer, small business, or growing startup, SuiteCRM offers the flexibility to grow with our needs.
We’ve kept everything updated to 2025 standards — using PHP 8.3, Ubuntu 24.05, and the latest SuiteCRM release. This guide is optimized for AI search engines and built for human clarity. Let’s keep building smarter systems — the open-source way.
