How to host HumHub on AWS Lightsail VM Instance - ServerAvatar

HumHub is an open-source social networking platform designed to enhance collaboration and communication within organizations. It features tools for creating social intranets, managing content, and promoting community interaction. When considering hosting HumHub, deploying it on AWS Lightsail is a dependable choice due to its scalable infrastructure and user-friendly deployment solutions. ServerAvatar assists with AWS Lightsail VPS and simplifies the deployment of the HumHub application on the AWS Lightsail platform through easy steps.

Create VM Instance in AWS Lightsail

To create a server in AWS Lightsail, First log in to the AWS Lightsail console. Once you are there, Follow the steps given below.

Step 1: Go to the Instance Creation Form

To access the instance creation form, Go to the AWS Lightsail dashboard and click on the orange button with the Create Instance text. See the following image for reference.

Step 2: Select the Location of your Instance

First of all, You have to select the location for your instance. It is always better to select a location closest to your major traffic source. It will decrease the latency for the majority of your website visitors.

If you want to change the location of your server, You can simply update the current region in your AWS account.

Step 3: Select the OS for your Instance

After selecting the location, Select the operating system for your instance. In this case, First, click on OS Only and then select Ubuntu 20.04 as an operating system just like the following image.

Step 4: Select SSH Key and Launch Script (Optional/Advanced)

This is an optional step. Here you can set the Launch script and the main SSH key for your server. If you don't understand the launch script and SSH keys, Just ignore this step.

Step 5: Select the Plan

In this step, select the size of your VM instance. AWS Lightsail provides lots of different options when it comes to plans and pricing.

The minimum requirement is at least 2 GB of RAM, though 4 GB or more is recommended for better performance, and a minimum of 2 GB of disk space for installation, still more will be needed as the application and user data grow.

The plan and pricing selection completely depend on the requirements of your site(s). So, select the plan based on the complexity and traffic of your sites.

Step 6: Verify and Create the Instance

Finally, Enter the name of your instance, and the number of instances you want to create and assign the tags accordingly for identification. Once done, click on the Create Instance button to start the instance creation process.

It might take a few minutes to deploy the instance. Once done, follow the below-given step to update the firewall rules for the VM instance.

Step 7: Update Firewall Rules

ServerAvatar requires 43210 port open. In total, You need to keep the following ports open on the instance.

• 22 (SSH): To access your server via SSH.
• 80 (HTTP): To access your sites on HTTP.
• 443 (HTTPS): To access your sites on HTTPS.
• 43210 (ServerAvatar): To allow communication between ServerAvatar and your instance.

To update the firewall rules for a specific instance, Go to the AWS Lightsail dashboard and click on the name of the instance you want to update. Then go to the Networking section and add the missing firewall rules. After updating the firewall rules, the networking section of your Instance should look like the following image.

Initial Server Configuration

The Initial server configuration includes the installation and configuration of various packages required to host your website. Usually, You have to write commands and modify configuration files. Luckily, With ServerAvatar, Your full server configuration and optimization can be automated.

Here are the three ways to automatically configure your server with ServerAvatar.

wget https://srvr.so/install
chmod +x install
./install

Install and Setup HumHub on Cloud using ServerAvatar

Getting Started with HumHub: A Comprehensive Guide

HumHub is an open-source platform designed to facilitate social networking, knowledge sharing, and collaborative work. It’s modular, intuitive, and highly customizable, making it a versatile solution for various applications, including intranets, knowledge bases, and communication platforms. This tutorial will guide you through the core components of HumHub: Users, Spaces, Content, and Modules, helping you understand how to leverage each to build a dynamic and engaging community.

Understanding the Core Components

Users

In HumHub, every user has a customizable profile where they can include their name, profile picture, cover photo, and personal information. Users can follow each other, interact through comments and posts, and participate in various Spaces. Administrators have the flexibility to define profile fields, set permissions, and adjust settings to meet the specific needs of their community.

Key Features:

• Customizable profiles
• Follow and interact with other users
• Create content and join Spaces
• Administrator-defined profile fields and permissions

Spaces

Spaces in HumHub function as groups or rooms for specific projects, departments, events, or any other purposes. Administrators can create an unlimited number of Spaces and assign users accordingly. Each Space can have its own set of permissions and notification settings, making it easy to manage diverse groups within a single network.

Key Features:

• Unlimited Spaces for various purposes
• Advanced permission and notification system
• Automatic user mapping to Spaces

Content

HumHub allows users to create and share various types of content, including posts, wiki pages, photos, videos, events, and tasks. Depending on their permissions, users can collaborate on content within their Spaces. The platform includes features for reporting inappropriate content and supports multi-level commenting for in-depth discussions.

Key Features:

• Versatile content creation (posts, wiki pages, media, events, tasks)
• Multi-level commenting and collaboration options
• Content reporting and moderation
• Powerful search and filter functions

Modules

One of HumHub’s greatest strengths is its modular architecture. The platform can be extended with around 80 modules that add functionality such as advanced LDAP integration, RESTful APIs, mass user import, and more. These modules can be easily installed and activated, allowing administrators to tailor the platform to their specific requirements.

Key Modules:

• Advanced LDAP
• RESTful API
• Mass User Import
• Calendar
• Wiki
• OnlyOffice Integration
• JWT SSO
• Legal Tools
• Translation Manager
• Custom Themes and Pages
• Tasks, Gallery, News, Polls, and Direct Messaging

Benefits of Using HumHub

HumHub is designed to help organizations and communities connect, communicate, and collaborate more effectively. Here are some of the key benefits:

• Customization: Tailor the platform to your needs with customizable profiles, spaces, and modules.
• Collaboration: Foster teamwork through versatile content creation and multi-level commenting.
• Scalability: Create as many Spaces as needed to accommodate various projects and groups.
• Flexibility: Extend functionality with a wide range of modules.

Basic Requirements for Setting Up HumHub

To ensure a smooth installation and operation of HumHub, your environment should meet the following basic requirements:

Software Requirements

• Web Server: Apache 2.4+ or Nginx 1.10+
• Operating System: Linux (preferred), Windows, or macOS
• PHP Version: 7.3 or higher with required extensions:
  • cURL
  • GD
  • INTL
  • MBString
  • OpenSSL
  • PDO and PDO MySQL
  • XML
  • ZIP
• Database: MySQL 5.7+ or MariaDB 10.2+

Hardware Requirements

• CPU: Dual-core processor
• RAM: 2GB
• Storage: 10GB of free disk space

For more detailed requirements and installation instructions, visit the HumHub Documentation.

Setting Up HumHub: A Comprehensive Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Create a GitHub application

Start by creating a GitHub application using ServerAvatar. This will allow you to easily manage and deploy your HumHub instance. Follow these steps:

1. Open ServerAvatar: Log in to your ServerAvatar account.
2. Navigate to the Application Dashboard: In the dashboard, find the option to create a new application.
3. Create the GitHub Application:
   • HTTP URL: Enter https://github.com/humhub/humhub.git
   • Branch Name: Set this to master
   • Deployment Script: Use the script composer install --ignore-platform-req=ext-ldap

This configuration will clone the HumHub repository and install the necessary dependencies.

Step 2: Run the Installer

With your application set up, it's time to run the installer:

1. Open Your Web Browser: Use any web browser of your choice.
2. Navigate to Your Domain: Enter http://yourdomain.com in the address bar to start the web-based installation process.
3. Follow On-Screen Instructions: The installer will guide you through the necessary steps. Simply follow the prompts to proceed.

Step 3: System Check

Before proceeding with the installation, a system check is required to ensure that your server meets all the necessary requirements:

1. Automatic System Check: The installer will automatically check your system configuration.
2. Resolve Issues: If any issues are detected, resolve them based on the provided recommendations to ensure all requirements are met.

Step 4: Configure Your Database

Setting up a database is crucial for storing your HumHub data:

1. Access Server Dashboard: Log in to your server's dashboard.
2. Navigate to Databases Section: Find the section where you can manage databases.
3. Create a New Database and User: Set up a new database and a corresponding user in MySQL or MariaDB.
4. Note Down Database Details: Keep a record of the database name, username, and password for the next steps.

Step 5: Configure Scheduled Jobs (Cron Jobs)

Cron jobs are necessary for automating tasks within HumHub:

1. Access Cron Jobs Section: Go to the cron jobs section in your server dashboard.
2. Set Up Necessary Commands: Enter the commands required to schedule jobs for HumHub. This will ensure tasks such as email notifications and data cleanup are automated.

Step 6: Pretty URLs Configuration

To improve the readability and SEO-friendliness of your URLs, you need to configure pretty URLs:

1. Locate the common.php File: Use the file manager in your application dashboard to find common.php
2. Edit the File: Add the necessary code to enable pretty URLs. The code will typically look something like this:
3. Save Changes: After making the changes, save the file.

Step 7: Enter Social Network Name

During the installation, you will be prompted to enter the name of your social network:

1. Enter Network Name: Choose a unique and relevant name for your social network.
2. Proceed to Next Step: Click on the "Next" button to continue.

Step 8: Basic Configuration

Configure the basic settings of your HumHub installation:

1. Select Configuration Options: Choose the options that best fit your needs.
2. Click "Next": Move on to the next step by clicking the "Next" button.

Step 9: Security Settings

Security settings determine how new, unregistered users can access your HumHub instance:

1. Configure Security Options: Decide on the level of security and access control for new users.
2. Proceed: Click "Next" to continue.

Step 10: Recommended Modules

HumHub comes with a set of recommended modules that enhance functionality:

1. Review Recommended Modules: Look through the list of suggested modules.
2. Install Modules: Choose which modules to install and click "Next" to proceed.

Step 11: Admin Account

Creating an admin account is crucial for managing your HumHub network:

1. Fill Out the Form: Provide the necessary information to create an admin account.
2. Complete Account Creation: Submit the form to finalize the creation of your admin account.

Step 12: Example Contents

To avoid a blank dashboard after your initial login, you can choose to install example contents:

1. Install Example Contents: Opt to install sample content to see how your network will look with data.
2. Proceed to Next Step: Click "Next" to continue.

Step 13: Setup Complete

Once the installation is complete, you will see a confirmation screen:

1. Click on "Sign In": This will take you to the sign-in page.

Step 14: Sign In

Access your new HumHub instance:

1. Enter Username and Password: Use the credentials you created for the admin account.
2. Sign In: Access your HumHub instance as an administrator.

Step 15: Dashboard

After logging in, you will be taken to the HumHub dashboard:

1. Configure Settings: Adjust the settings to suit your network's needs.
2. Create User Roles: Define different user roles and permissions.
3. Set Up Modules: Install and configure additional modules as needed.

By following these detailed steps, you can successfully set up HumHub and start building your community platform. For more detailed instructions and troubleshooting, refer to the HumHub Documentation.

Conclusion

HumHub is a powerful and flexible platform that can transform the way your organization communicates and collaborates. By leveraging its core components—Users, Spaces, Content, and Modules—you can build a robust and dynamic community tailored to your specific needs. Whether you’re looking to create a social network, knowledge base, or communication platform, HumHub provides the tools and features necessary to succeed. Start exploring HumHub today and discover how it can help you connect, share, and collaborate like never before.