Installation of Koha

Here is a more detailed step-by-step guide for the practical installation of Koha on a Ubuntu server. We will walk through every necessary command and configuration in depth.

Step-by-Step Installation of Koha on Ubuntu

Step 1: Update the System

Update the system to make sure you have the latest software packages:

sudo apt update

sudo apt upgrade -y

sudo apt dist-upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Prerequisites

Koha requires several software dependencies, such as Apache, MySQL, Perl modules, and others. Install these by running:

sudo apt install -y apache2 

mysql-server 

libapache2-mod-perl2 

libdbd-mysql-perl libxml2-perl 

libmarc-perl libcgi-pm-perl 

libdate-manip-perl 

libtemplate-perl libyaml-perl 

libimage-exiftool-perl 

libnet-ldap-perl 

libsoap-lite-perl libjson-perl 

libauthen-sasl-perl 

libio-socket-ssl-perl git curl

This command installs:

Apache Web Server

MySQL Database Server

Required Perl Modules

Git

Curl

Step 3: Create Koha User

Create a dedicated user for Koha, which improves security:

sudo adduser koha

You'll be prompted to enter a password and additional information (which you can leave blank if preferred).

Step 4: Install Koha

Now, you'll install Koha. You can either download Koha directly from the Git repository or the Koha website.

To install from the GitHub repository, follow these steps:

1. Switch to the Koha user:

sudo su - koha

2. Clone the Koha repository:

git clone https://github.com/Koha-Community/koha.git /home/koha/koha

Alternatively, you can download the stable Koha release from the official website and extract it.

3. Switch to the Koha directory:

cd /home/koha/koha

Step 5: Install Perl Dependencies

Now, install all the required Perl modules and dependencies for Koha. Koha provides an installer script to make this easier:

sudo perl installer/install.pl

This will start the installation process. It will automatically check for missing dependencies and install them. If prompted to confirm, type y for yes.

You may need to input some configuration values during this process, such as:

MySQL database username and password

Koha installation directory

Apache settings

Step 6: Configure MySQL Database

1. Log into the MySQL root account:

sudo mysql -u root -p

2. Create a Koha database and user:

CREATE DATABASE koha;

CREATE USER 'koha_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';

GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON koha.* TO 'koha_user'@'localhost';

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

EXIT;

Make sure to replace 'password' with a strong password of your choice.

3. The next step in the installation script will prompt you for the MySQL username and password, as well as the database name (koha).

Step 7: Configure Apache

1. Copy the Koha Apache configuration template:

sudo cp /home/koha/koha/etc/koha-httpd.conf /etc/apache2/sites-available/koha.conf

2. Enable the Koha site configuration:

sudo a2ensite koha.conf

3. Enable the necessary Apache modules:

sudo a2enmod rewrite headers ssl

4. Restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 8: Run the Koha Configuration Script

Run the Koha configuration script that sets up necessary configurations like the database:

sudo perl /home/koha/koha/intranet/cgi-bin/koha.pl

You'll be asked to provide the following:

MySQL database credentials (database name: koha, user: koha_user, password: the one you set earlier)

Default language

Time zone

Apache configuration file path

It will guide you through setting up your system with necessary details.

Step 9: Set Permissions for Koha

Make sure Koha has the right permissions for the files:

sudo chown -R koha:koha /home/koha/koha

Step 10: Start and Enable Koha Services

Ensure Koha services start automatically and are running:

sudo systemctl enable koha

sudo systemctl start koha

Step 11: Access Koha Web Interface

Now that Koha is installed, you can access the web interface from your browser. Open your browser and go to:

http://<server-ip>/koha

Use the default login credentials:

Username: admin

Password: admin

Step 12: Post-Installation Setup

Once you're logged into the Koha staff interface, you need to:

1. Set up your library.

2. Add your cataloging options and patrons.

3. Configure OPAC (Online Public Access Catalog) settings to allow users to search the catalog.

Step 13: Set Up Cron Jobs for Koha

To make Koha work smoothly, ensure that cron jobs are set up to handle tasks such as backups and overdue notices.

Create a cron job for Koha:

sudo crontab -u koha -e

Add the following line to the crontab to schedule Koha’s cron jobs (adjust timing as necessary):

0 0 * * * /home/koha/koha/bin/koha-cron.pl

This will run Koha’s cron tasks daily at midnight.

Step 14: Configure SSL (Optional)

To secure the connection to Koha, you can enable SSL. Here are the basic steps:

1. Install SSL certificates:

sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-apache

2. Obtain an SSL certificate:

sudo certbot --apache

Follow the prompts to secure your site with HTTPS.

Step 15: Testing and Final Setup

Test the cataloging features by adding a few books.

Set up your patrons.

Customize the OPAC settings for your library’s needs.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

1. Permissions Issues: Ensure that the Koha user has proper ownership of files. Run:

sudo chown -R koha:koha /home/koha/koha

2. Database Issues: Make sure MySQL is running and the Koha database is properly configured.

3. Apache or Web Server Problems: Restart Apache if you encounter web access issues:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

4. Missing Perl Modules: If any Perl modules are missing during installation, the installer will show errors. You can install missing Perl modules using cpan or apt.

Conclusion

With these detailed steps, Koha should now be successfully installed and accessible via your browser. You can now begin configuring your library system, adding books, patrons, and customizing the catalog according to your needs.

For more advanced configurations or issues, always refer to the official Koha documentation or community forums.