How to Install Focalboard on Ubuntu 22.04

Prerequisites

Before beginning the installation, ensure you have:

A server running Ubuntu 22.04 (We recommend using a KVM-based NVMe VPS from EcoStack Cloud for optimal performance)
A user account with sudo privileges
Basic familiarity with the command line

Step 1: Update the System

First, update your system packages to the latest versions.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Focalboard requires certain dependencies to run properly. Install them using the following command:

sudo apt install wget unzip -y

Step 3: Download Focalboard

Download the latest version of Focalboard from the official GitHub repository:

wget https://github.com/mattermost/focalboard/releases/download/v7.9.2/focalboard-server-linux-amd64.tar.gz

Note: Check the Focalboard releases page for the latest version and update the URL accordingly.

Step 4: Extract the Archive

Extract the downloaded tarball:

tar -xvzf focalboard-server-linux-amd64.tar.gz

Step 5: Move Focalboard to the appropriate directory

Move the extracted files to a suitable location:

sudo mv focalboard /opt/

Step 6: Configure Focalboard

Create a configuration file for Focalboard:

sudo nano /opt/focalboard/config.json

Add the following content, adjusting as needed:

{
  "serverRoot": "http://localhost:8000",
  "port": 8000,
  "dbtype": "sqlite3",
  "dbconfig": "/opt/focalboard/focalboard.db",
  "useSSL": false,
  "webpath": "./pack",
  "filespath": "./files",
  "telemetry": true,
  "session_expire_time": 2592000,
  "session_refresh_time": 18000,
  "localOnly": false,
  "enablePublicSharedBoards": true,
  "featureFlags": {}
}

Save and close the file.

Step 7: Create a Systemd Service File

Create a systemd service file to manage Focalboard:

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

Add the following content:

[Unit]
Description=Focalboard Server
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
Restart=always
RestartSec=5s
ExecStart=/opt/focalboard/bin/focalboard-server
WorkingDirectory=/opt/focalboard

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and close the file.

Step 8: Start and Enable Focalboard Service

Start the Focalboard service and enable it to start on boot:

sudo systemctl start focalboard
sudo systemctl enable focalboard

Check the status of the service:

sudo systemctl status focalboard

Step 9: Configure Firewall (Optional)

If you're using UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall), allow traffic on port 8000:

sudo ufw allow 8000/tcp
sudo ufw reload

Step 10: Access Focalboard

You can now access Focalboard by opening a web browser and navigating to:

http://your_server_ip:8000

Replace your_server_ip with your server's actual IP address or domain name.

Conclusion

You have successfully installed Focalboard on Ubuntu 22.04. You can now start creating boards, tasks, and collaborating on projects. For more information on using Focalboard, refer to the official Focalboard documentation.

Remember to keep your system and Focalboard updated regularly for security and performance improvements. If you're using an EcoStack Cloud KVM-based NVMe VPS, you'll benefit from their optimized infrastructure, ensuring smooth operation of your Focalboard instance.

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