Install Redmine 6.0.3 on Debian 12.4 (MySQL)¶

Step 1: System Preparation¶

You need root privileges.

1. Ensure all existing packages are up-to-date
   

   apt update
   apt upgrade
   

2. install vim
   

   apt install vim
   

3. install sudo
   

   apt install sudo
   

4. Create user redmine - # set 17 random characters password
   

   adduser redmine
   

5. make redmine to have sudo priviledges
   

   usermod -aG sudo redmine
   

6. switch to redmine
   

   su - redmine
   

7. Install required dependencies
   

   sudo apt install build-essential libyaml-dev default-mysql-server default-mysql-client ruby ruby-dev libmariadb-dev-compat libmariadb-dev imagemagick libmagickwand-dev apache2 libapache2-mod-passenger curl -y
   

Step 2: Install and configure MySQL¶

1. Secure the MySQL installation - be ready for many questions
   

   sudo mysql_secure_installation
   

2. Create a database and user for Redmine - prepare <password>
   

   sudo mysql -u root -p
   

   
   

   > CREATE DATABASE redmine CHARACTER SET utf8mb4;
   > CREATE USER 'redmine'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY '<password>';
   > GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON redmine.* TO 'redmine'@'localhost';
   > FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
   > EXIT;
   

3. Check users
   

   sudo mysql -u root -p
   

   
   

   > SELECT User, Host FROM mysql.user;
   > SELECT * FROM mysql.user where User='redmine'\G;
   > EXIT;
   

Step 3: Install Redmine¶

1. Download and extract the latest stable Redmine version
   

   cd /opt
   sudo wget https://www.redmine.org/releases/redmine-6.0.3.tar.gz
   sudo tar -xzf redmine-6.0.3.tar.gz
   sudo rm redmine-6.0.3.tar.gz
   sudo mv redmine-6.0.3 redmine
   

Step 4: File Permissions¶

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /opt/redmine
sudo chmod -R 755 /opt/redmine
sudo mkdir -p /opt/redmine/tmp /opt/redmine/tmp/pdf /opt/redmine/public/plugin_assets
sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /opt/redmine/tmp /opt/redmine/public/plugin_assets
sudo chmod -R 755 /opt/redmine/tmp /opt/redmine/public/plugin_assets

Step 5: Configure Redmine¶

1. Ensure all existing packages are up-to-date
   

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt upgrade
   

2. Create the database configuration
   

   cd /opt/redmine
   sudo cp config/database.yml.example config/database.yml
   sudo vim config/database.yml
   

3. Add the following configuration (adjust as needed):
   

   production:
     adapter: mysql2
     database: redmine
     host: localhost
     username: redmine
     password: <your_password>
     encoding: utf8mb4
     tx_isolation: 'READ-COMMITTED'
   

4. Install Bundler
   

   sudo gem install bundler
   

5. Install required gems
   

   sudo bundle install --without development test
   

6. Generate the secret token
   

   cd /opt/redmine
   sudo bundle exec rake generate_secret_token
   

7. Set up the database
   

   cd /opt/redmine
   sudo RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake db:migrate
   sudo RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake redmine:load_default_data
   

Step 6: Configure Apache¶

1. Create an Apache virtual host configuration
   

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

2. Add the following configuration
   

   <VirtualHost *:80>
       ServerName <your.domain.com>
       ServerAdmin <admin_email>
       DocumentRoot /opt/redmine/public
   
       <Directory "/opt/redmine/public">
           Allow from all
           Require all granted
           Options -MultiViews
       </Directory>
   
       ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/redmine_error.log
       CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/redmine_access.log combined
   
       PassengerRuby /usr/bin/ruby
   </VirtualHost>
   

3. check the syntax of your Apache configuration
   

   sudo apache2ctl configtest
   

4. Enable the site and required modules
   

   sudo a2enmod passenger
   sudo a2ensite redmine
   sudo systemctl restart apache2
   

5. check status
   

   sudo systemctl status apache2.service
   sudo journalctl -xeu apache2.service
   

Step 7: Final Configuration¶

1. Access Redmine through your web browser at http://your.domain.com
2. If you see Apache2 Debian Default Page - Check the default Apache site is conflicting with your Redmine site
   

   sudo a2dissite 000-default
   sudo systemctl reload apache2
   

3. Log in with default credentials:
   - Username: admin
   - Password: admin
4. Change the admin password immediately after the first login!

DONE.