Odoo 19: Complete Installation Guide for Ubuntu 24.04 (Community & Enterprise)

Introduction

Deploying an ERP system often seems like a complex task, but the right architecture turns the process into a clear algorithm. In this guide, we will cover how to set up Odoo 19 on a fresh Ubuntu 24.04 using the source installation method within an isolated virtual environment.

The primary highlight of this method is its versatility. We establish a folder and permission structure that allows you to run the free Community version while maintaining the ability to instantly upgrade to Enterprise by simply adding modules to the addons folder. No manual hacks – just a clean Python venv workflow and automatic SSL via Caddy.

Technical Stack (Verified):

• OS: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• Environment: Python 3.12 (Virtual Environment)
• Web Server: Caddy (Automatic HTTPS and Proxying)
• Database: PostgreSQL 16.11
• VM Specs: 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40 GB NVMe

Step 1: System Preparation

Update the system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install the required packages:

sudo apt install -y git python3-pip python3-dev python3-venv \
  libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev zlib1g-dev libsasl2-dev \
  libldap2-dev build-essential libssl-dev libffi-dev \
  libmysqlclient-dev libjpeg-dev libpq-dev libjpeg8-dev \
  liblcms2-dev libwebp-dev libharfbuzz-dev libfribidi-dev \
  libxcb1-dev nodejs npm

Step 2: Database (PostgreSQL)

Install PostgreSQL and create a database user:

sudo apt install -y postgresql
# Create the DB user
sudo -u postgres createuser -s odoo19

Step 3: System User and Source Code

Create the odoo19 user and download the 19.0 branch:

sudo useradd -m -d /opt/odoo19 -U -r -s /bin/bash odoo19
sudo su - odoo19

git clone https://www.github.com/odoo/odoo --depth 1 --branch 19.0 /opt/odoo19/odoo

Step 4: Virtual Environment (Required for 24.04)

While still in the odoo19 user session:

python3 -m venv odoo-venv
source odoo-venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install wheel phonenumbers
pip install -r /opt/odoo19/odoo/requirements.txt

Exit the odoo19 session:

exit

Step 5: PDF Generator (wkhtmltopdf)

For Ubuntu 24.04, it is recommended to use the package from the Jammy (22.04) version or download the current binary, as the default repositories may lack QT support.

wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/0.12.6.1-2/wkhtmltox_0.12.6.1-2.jammy_amd64.deb
sudo apt install ./wkhtmltox_0.12.6.1-2.jammy_amd64.deb -y

Step 6: Configuration

Create a configuration file and set a strong admin_passwd. You will need this for the first login and database initialization:

sudo nano /etc/odoo19.conf

Insert the following configuration:

[options]
admin_passwd = YOUR_SUPER_PASSWORD
db_host = False
db_port = False
db_user = odoo19
db_password = False
addons_path = /opt/odoo19/odoo/addons
logfile = /var/log/odoo/odoo19.log
proxy_mode = True

Set permissions:

# Create log directory and empty log file
sudo mkdir /var/log/odoo
# Transfer ownership to odoo19 user
sudo chown odoo19:odoo19 /var/log/odoo
sudo chown odoo19:odoo19 /etc/odoo19.conf
# Restrict access to the config (owner and group only)
sudo chmod 640 /etc/odoo19.conf

Step 7: Automation (Systemd)

Create the service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/odoo19.service

Insert the following configuration:

[Unit]
Description=Odoo 19
After=network.target postgresql.service

[Service]
Type=simple
User=odoo19
Group=odoo19
ExecStart=/opt/odoo19/odoo-venv/bin/python3 /opt/odoo19/odoo/odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo19.conf
StandardOutput=journal+console

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Start the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now odoo19

Step 8: Reverse Proxy Setup – Caddy

Install the official Caddy repository for Ubuntu

sudo apt install -y debian-keyring debian-archive-keyring apt-transport-https curl
curl -1sLf 'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/caddy/stable/gpg.key' | sudo gpg --dearmor -o /usr/share/keyrings/caddy-stable-archive-keyring.gpg
curl -1sLf 'https://dl.cloudsmith.io/public/caddy/stable/debian.deb.txt' | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/caddy-stable.list
sudo apt update
sudo apt install caddy -y

Configuring Odoo for Reverse Proxy

Ensure proxy_mode = True is in your /etc/odoo19.conf (as done in Step 6), then restart Odoo:

sudo nano /etc/odoo19.conf

sudo systemctl restart odoo19

Configure the Caddyfile

sudo nano /etc/caddy/Caddyfile

Insert the following block:

# Replace :80 with YOUR_DOMAIN for automatic SSL
:80 {
  request_body {
    max_size 300MB
  }

  # Longpolling
  reverse_proxy /longpolling/* localhost:8072

  # Main traffic
  reverse_proxy localhost:8069 {
    header_up X-Forwarded-Host {host}
    header_up X-Forwarded-Proto {scheme}
    header_up X-Real-IP {remote_host}
  }
}

Validate and restart Caddy:

sudo caddy validate --config /etc/caddy/Caddyfile

sudo systemctl restart caddy

Step 9: Initial Login

Navigate to:

• Via IP: http://YOUR_SERVER_IP
• Via Domain: https://YOUR_DOMAIN (if configured in Caddy)

Complete the database creation form:

• Master Password: Use the password created in Step 6.
• Database Name: e.g., mycompany.
• Email: Your login email.
• Password: Your system access password.
• Language & Country: Select as appropriate.
• Demo Data: Leave unchecked for a clean production database.

Click Create database and wait (1-2 minutes).

Domain Name Configuration

To enable automatic SSL via Let's Encrypt:

Step 1. Set DNS: Point an A-record from YOUR_DOMAIN to your server IP.

Step 2. Edit Caddyfile: Replace :80 with YOUR_DOMAIN.

Step 3. Restart Caddy:

sudo systemctl restart caddy

Caddy will automatically provision the SSL certificate. Access Odoo at https://YOUR_DOMAIN.