In this guide, I’ll walk you step by step through how to install Odoo 19 on Ubuntu, and then show you how to tune it for a responsive, stable production setup. Whether you’re setting up a test server or a production instance, this article will give you everything you need—from dependencies to performance tweaks.
Let’s jump in.
Table of Contents
How to Install Odoo 19 on Ubuntu
Prerequisites & Assumptions
Before we start the guide on how to install odoo 19 on Ubuntu, make sure:
- You have a fresh Ubuntu 24 LTS server (or VM) with SSH access.
- You’re using a non-root sudo user (or root directly, but sudo is safer).
- The server has at least 2 CPU cores / 4 GB RAM (higher is better for production).
- You have basic familiarity with Linux command line, file editing, and services.
Also, make sure your system is up to date before installing anything:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yStep 1: Install Required System Dependencies
Odoo is a Python-based application, but it also depends on many system libraries. To avoid missing libraries, install this large set of dependencies:
sudo apt install -y \
git wget python3 python3-pip python3-dev python3-venv python3-wheel \
build-essential libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev libzip-dev libsasl2-dev libldap2-dev \
libjpeg-dev libfreetype6-dev libtiff-dev libpng-dev libpq-dev libssl-dev libffi-dev \
nodejs npm rtlcss node-less \
xfonts-75dpi xfonts-base fontconfig libxrender1 libxcb1-devWhy these?
- The
libxml2-dev,libxslt1-devetc. are needed for XML processing, which Odoo uses heavily. libpq-devis needed to compile Python’s PostgreSQL driver.nodejsandnpmare required to generate web assets (CSS, JavaScript).xfonts&fontconfigare needed by wkhtmltopdf (for PDF generation).
Make sure all dependencies are in place before proceeding.
Step 2: Install PostgreSQL & Create Database User
Odoo relies on PostgreSQL as its database engine. Let’s install and configure it:
sudo apt install -y postgresql
sudo systemctl enable postgresql
sudo systemctl start postgresqlOnce PostgreSQL is running, create a PostgreSQL user:
sudo -u postgres createuser --createdb --username postgres --no-superuser --no-createrole odoo19- createdb: allows the user to create new databases.
- username postgres: specifies that the PostgreSQL superuser will execute the command.
- no-createrole: prevents the user from creating additional roles.
- superuser: grants the user full superuser privileges.
This command makes a user odoo19 who can create databases (but is not a superuser). That’s typically enough; we don’t give it extra privileges for security.
Step 3: Create a System User for Odoo
It’s best practice not to run apps as root. Create a system user that will own and run Odoo:
sudo adduser --system --home=/opt/odoo19 --group --shell=/bin/bash odoo19This gives you a user odoo19, with a home at /opt/odoo19. You can adjust the path if you prefer. We’ll use this account for installing and running Odoo.
Step 4: Download Odoo 19 Source & Set Up Environment
We’ll install Odoo from its Git repository so you can apply updates, custom modules, etc.
Switch to the odoo19 user:
sudo su - odoo19 -s /bin/bash
cd /opt/odoo19Clone the Odoo 19 branch:
git clone --depth 1 --branch 19.0 https://github.com/odoo/odoo.git odooNow, create a Python virtual environment and install Python dependencies:
cd odoo
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install --upgrade pip wheel setuptools
pip install -r requirements.txt
deactivateThis ensures the Odoo environment is isolated and easier to maintain.
Exit back to your sudo user:
exitStep 5: Install wkhtmltopdf for PDF Reporting
Odoo generates reports (PDFs) using the wkhtmltopdf tool. The recommended version is one with patched Qt support. Here’s how to install it:
cd /tmp
wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/packaging/releases/download/0.12.6-1/wkhtmltox_0.12.6-1.focal_amd64.deb
sudo dpkg -i wkhtmltox_0.12.6-1.focal_amd64.deb
sudo apt install -f -yAfter that, ensure wkhtmltopdf and wkhtmltoimage are accessible:
which wkhtmltopdf
which wkhtmltoimageIf this won’t work, then try to install version 0.12.5:
sudo wget https://github.com/wkhtmltopdf/wkhtmltopdf/releases/download/0.12.5/wkhtmltox_0.12.5-1.bionic_amd64.debStep 6: Configuration File & Log Directories
Create a log directory and configuration file:
sudo mkdir -p /var/log/odoo19
sudo chown odoo19:odoo19 /var/log/odoo19Now, create a config file /etc/odoo19.conf (you’ll need sudo to edit):
[options]
admin_passwd = your_master_password_here
db_host = False
db_port = False
db_user = odoo19
db_password = False
logfile = /var/log/odoo19/odoo.log
addons_path = /opt/odoo19/odoo/addons
xmlrpc_port = 8069
; Workers (we’ll adjust later)
; limit_memory_hard = 2684354560
; limit_time_cpu = 1200
; limit_time_real = 2400Replace your_master_password_here with a strong password; this is your “super-admin” password used in the Odoo UI.
Make sure to set ownership:
sudo chown odoo19:odoo19 /etc/odoo19.conf
sudo chmod 640 /etc/odoo19.confStep 7: Systemd Service for Odoo
To manage Odoo as a service (start on boot, restart, etc.), we’ll create a systemd service file:
Create /etc/systemd/system/odoo19.service:
[Unit]
Description=Odoo19 server
Requires=postgresql.service
After=network.target postgresql.service
[Service]
Type=simple
User=odoo19
Group=odoo19
PermissionsStartOnly=true
ExecStart=/opt/odoo19/odoo/venv/bin/python3 /opt/odoo19/odoo/odoo-bin -c /etc/odoo19.conf
StandardOutput=journal+console
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.targetThen, in the terminal, enable and start:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now odoo19
sudo systemctl status odoo19You should see the service active (running). Check logs if there are errors:
journalctl -u odoo19 -fStep 8: Access Odoo via Web Browser
Now, open your browser and point it to:
http://your_server_ip:8069You should see the Odoo database creation page. Use the master_password one you set in config. Create a new database, install a few apps (Sales, CRM, etc.) to confirm everything is running smoothly.
Step 9: Basic Tuning & Performance Tips
To make Odoo 19 performant and stable, especially under load, here are some tuning tips:
Worker Mode & Concurrency
By default, Odoo runs in single-threaded “non-worker” mode, which is okay for small testing. But for production, enable worker mode in your config:
# In /etc/odoo19.conf
workers = 4
max_cron_threads = 1
limit_time_cpu = 120
limit_time_real = 240
limit_memory_soft = 2147483648 ; ~2 GB
limit_memory_hard = 2684354560 ; ~2.5 GBNumber of workers = roughly (CPU cores × 2) + 1. You can adjust these numbers based on your hardware.
Database Connection Pooling
If your installation serves a large number of users, consider using pgbouncer or other pooling mechanisms to manage PostgreSQL connections more efficiently.
Reverse Proxy & SSL (Nginx)
Use Nginx as a reverse proxy, manage the domain name, and enable SSL:
Install Nginx:
sudo apt install nginxCreate an Nginx config (e.g. /etc/nginx/sites-available/odoo19):
# how to install odoo 19 on ubuntu
upstream odoo {
server 127.0.0.1:8069;
}
server {
listen 80;
server_name example.com;
access_log /var/log/nginx/odoo.access.log;
error_log /var/log/nginx/odoo.error.log;
location / {
proxy_pass http://odoo;
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
}
# For longpolling (chat, live features)
location /longpolling {
proxy_pass http://odoo;
}
# static / media, if needed
}Enable site and reload:
sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/odoo19 /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t && sudo systemctl reload nginxUse Let’s Encrypt Certbot to secure SSL:
sudo apt install certbot python3-certbot-nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d example.comThis ensures your Odoo site is served over HTTPS with proper headers and performance.
PostgreSQL Tuning
Edit PostgreSQL’s postgresql.conf (often under /etc/postgresql/…/main/) and adjust:
shared_buffersto ~25% of RAMwork_memmoderate (e.g., 16MB)max_connectionsappropriate (if using pooling)
Restart PostgreSQL after changes:
sudo systemctl restart postgresqlLog Rotation & Monitoring
Set up logrotate for Odoo logs, and monitor memory / CPU usage using tools like htop, top, or system monitoring (Prometheus, Grafana).
Final Tips & Checklist
- Always back up your PostgreSQL database and Odoo custom modules.
- Keep both Ubuntu and Odoo up to date (security patches).
- Test performance under the expected user load before going into production.
- Use a staging server before applying updates to production.
- Limit public access to only necessary ports (e.g., 80, 443) via a firewall (e.g., ufw or iptables).
Related Post:
>> Guide for Odoo PostgreSQL Performance Tuning
>> What is Odoo Runbot and How to Access It?
>> How to Install Odoo 17 on Windows
Conclusion on How to Install Odoo 19 on Ubuntu
Setting up Odoo 19 on Ubuntu 24 LTS might seem challenging at first, but with the right steps and a little attention to detail, you can easily get a fully functional Odoo environment up and running. By installing essential dependencies, configuring PostgreSQL, setting up a dedicated Odoo user, and fine-tuning your server performance, you ensure your ERP system runs efficiently and securely.
Ubuntu 24 LTS provides an incredibly stable and reliable foundation for Odoo, making it ideal for both development and production environments. With proper system tuning, such as enabling worker optimization, caching, and using Nginx as a reverse proxy, your Odoo 19 instance can handle even heavy workloads smoothly.
Whether you’re an Odoo developer, system administrator, or a business owner deploying ERP for the first time, following this guide on How to Install Odoo 19 on Ubuntu 24 LTS gives you the perfect roadmap for a successful installation.
