How to Install FreeScout on Clear Linux Latest

This tutorial will guide you through the installation of FreeScout on Clear Linux Latest. FreeScout is an open-source helpdesk and ticketing system that enables businesses and organizations to handle customer support more efficiently.

Prerequisites

  • A server running Clear Linux Latest
  • A user with sudo privileges
  • A domain name or subdomain pointing to your server's IP address
  • Access to terminal or command line interface

Step 1 - Update the System

Before installing any packages, update the system with the latest packages and security patches. To do this, run the following command in the terminal:

sudo swupd update

Step 2 - Install Required Packages

FreeScout requires several packages to work correctly. Run the following command to install them:

sudo swupd bundle-add php-basic web-server mysql

The above command installs the following packages:

  • php-basic: PHP interpreter and Apache Web Server modules for PHP
  • web-server: Apache HTTP Server
  • mysql: MySQL Database

Step 3 - Configure MySQL Database Server

FreeScout requires a database server to store its data. We will use MySQL server for this purpose.

Run the following command to install MySQL Server:

sudo swupd bundle-add mysql-server

After the installation, start the MySQL service:

sudo systemctl enable --now mysql

Then, run the following command to secure the MySQL installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

This command will prompt you to answer some questions and set a root password. Follow the instructions carefully.

After the installation is secure, create a FreeScout database and user:

sudo mysql -u root -p

mysql> CREATE DATABASE freescout;
mysql> CREATE USER 'freescoutuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
mysql> GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON freescout.* TO 'freescoutuser'@'localhost';
mysql> FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
mysql> EXIT;

Replace password with a strong and secure password.

Step 4 - Install FreeScout

We will now install FreeScout.

First, clone the FreeScout repository into your local machine:

git clone https://github.com/freescout-helpdesk/freescout.git freescout

After cloning, move the directory to the Web Server document root:

sudo mv freescout /var/www/html/freescout

Make sure the Apache HTTP Server can access the directory by changing ownership:

sudo chown -R root:apache /var/www/html/freescout

Step 5 - Configure Apache

We need to configure Apache to serve FreeScout.

Create a VirtualHost file for FreeScout:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/freescout.conf

Paste the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName freescout.example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/html/freescout/public

    <Directory /var/www/html/freescout/public>
        Options FollowSymLinks
        AllowOverride All
        Order allow,deny
        allow from all
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/freescout_error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/freescout_access.log combined

</VirtualHost>

Replace freescout.example.com with your domain name or subdomain.

Save and exit the file.

Restart the Apache service:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Step 6 - Finalizing Installation

We will now finalize the installation.

Open your web browser and type in your domain name or subdomain.

Follow the instructions and fill in the necessary information, including the MySQL database details you created earlier.

After finishing the installation, you should be able to access FreeScout from your web browser.

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have successfully installed FreeScout on Clear Linux Latest. If you have any issues, feel free to consult the official FreeScout documentation or seek assistance from the FreeScout community.