How to Install Koha on OpenBSD

Koha is an open-source integrated library system (ILS) that provides comprehensive functionality for managing all aspects of a library. In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of installing Koha on OpenBSD.

Prerequisites

Before we start with the installation, make sure that you have the following:

  • An OpenBSD machine running with sudo access.
  • A stable internet connection.
  • Basic knowledge of the OpenBSD operating system.

Step-by-Step Installation

The installation process of Koha on OpenBSD is simple and straightforward. Follow the steps below to install it on your machine:

Step 1: Update the system

Always start by updating the package lists and upgrading any existing packages.

sudo pkg_add -u
sudo pkg_add -uuv

Step 2: Install required packages

Before installing Koha, we need to install the required packages.

sudo pkg_add perl p5-Dancer2 p5-DBD-Pg p5-Plack
sudo pkg_add postgresql-server apache

Step 3: Install Koha

Download the Koha latest version from the official website.

curl -o koha.tar.gz https://download.koha-community.org/koha-20.11.05.tar.gz

Extract the downloaded package.

tar -xzvf koha.tar.gz

Move into the extracted directory.

cd koha-20.11.05

Run the installer script.

sudo perl installer.pl

The installer script will prompt you with some questions regarding the installation configuration. Please answer the questions accordingly.

After successful installation, add the Koha system user and group.

sudo useradd -d /usr/local/koha -m -s /sbin/nologin koha

Step 4: Setup the PostgreSQL database

Start the PostgreSQL service.

sudo rcctl enable postgresql
sudo rcctl start postgresql

Login to the PostgreSQL shell.

sudo -u postgres psql -h localhost

Create a new user and database for Koha.

CREATE USER koha WITH PASSWORD 'password';
CREATE DATABASE koha WITH OWNER = koha ENCODING = 'UTF8' TEMPLATE = template0;
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON DATABASE koha TO koha;

Exit from the PostgreSQL shell.

\q

Step 5: Setup Apache web server

Enable the Apache service.

sudo rcctl enable apache
sudo rcctl start apache

Create a new configuration file for Koha in the Apache web server.

sudo vi /etc/httpd/conf.modules.d/koha.conf

Add the following lines to the new configuration file.

Alias /koha /usr/local/koha/koha
<Directory "/usr/local/koha/koha">
     AllowOverride All
     Options +ExecCGI
     Order allow,deny
     Allow from all
     Require all granted
</Directory>

Save and exit the file.

Step 6: Restart all services

After making all the necessary changes, restart all the services for the changes to take effect.

sudo rcctl restart postgresql
sudo rcctl restart apache

Step 7: Access Koha

Open up your web browser and navigate to the URL: http:///koha/installer to access Koha.

Enter the required details and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Koha on your OpenBSD machine. You can now manage your library through the Koha web interface.