Invoice Ninja is a robust open-source platform designed to simplify invoicing and financial management processes for businesses. It provides essential tools for generating invoices, managing finances, and tracking expenses, ensuring ease of use for both administrators and clients. When it comes to hosting Invoice Ninja, Racknerd is preferred due to its scalable infrastructure and seamless deployment options. ServerAvatar makes the deployment of the Invoice Ninja application on the Racknerd platform an easy step-by-step process.
Create a VPS in Racknerd
Getting started with Racknerd:
Creating an account and setting up a cloud VPS on RackNerd is simpler than you might imagine! Just follow our easy, step-by-step guide, and you'll be ready to go quickly. Start managing your RackNerd services quickly and effortlessly with one of the top hosting providers. Let's get started!
What is Racknerd?
RackNerd is a top-notch hosting provider offering various services, from cloud servers to dedicated servers and colocation. With a reputation for affordability and reliability, RackNerd is a great choice for both individuals and businesses seeking scalable and efficient hosting solutions. They provide the infrastructure you need to manage and optimize your websites, applications, and other online services seamlessly.
Step 1: Setup Cloud VPS with Racknerd
- First, log in to your RackNerd account and navigate to the Services option. Next, click on Order New Services from the dropdown menu.
Step 2: Select the plan
- At this point, you'll see a variety of Shared Hosting plans in the Categories section on the left-hand side menu. We recommend choosing the KVM VPS plan. To proceed, simply click on the KVM VPS Hosting plan.
- KVM VPS: KVM VPS (Kernel-based Virtual Machine Virtual Private Server) uses KVM technology to create virtualized environments with dedicated resources like CPU, RAM, and storage. This type of VPS offers high performance, security, and flexibility, making it perfect for hosting websites, applications, and other online services.
Step 3: Select KVM VPS Service
- At this stage, you'll find several options available in the KVM VPS section. You can choose any KVM VPS service that suits your needs, but we recommend selecting the AMD Ryzen Linux VPS service for the best performance.
- AMD Ryzen Linux VPS uses AMD Ryzen processors and the Linux operating system, providing high performance and reliability. It's ideal for websites, applications, and online services that require robust computing power and stability.
Step 4: Select your KVM VPS Configuration
- Here in the KVM VPS service, you'll find a range of plans designed to meet your specific requirements. Once you've selected your plan, simply click on Order Now to proceed with the next steps.
Step 5: Additional VPS Options
- Now, at this stage, you have to select additional options for your VPS. Here, you can select your billing cycle from annual or biennial payments. Furthermore, you can choose a location that is most suitable for you.
- Additionally, select your preferred operating system. Generally, the Invoice Ninja application required Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer version for compatibility and support. We suggest Ubuntu 22.04 64-bit for the best performance.
- Click Continue to proceed to the next step.
Step 6: Review and Finalize Details
- you can review and confirm all the choices you've made for your VPS. Once you're satisfied with your selections, proceed to complete the payment process. Your VPS will be set up quickly and will be ready for use in a minimum amount of time.
- Congratulations! You have successfully created your Racknerd VPS, which is now ready to connect with ServerAvatar.
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.
Connect a server using a direct method
- Login/Register to ServerAvatar account, click the Create button from the right side of the screen, and select Server from the dropdown.
- Select Direct Method in the serve connecting method section.
- Type the Server Name as per your choice.
- Select a Tech Stack as per your need. You can either select Apache, Nginx, OpenLiteSpeed or Node Stack.
- Select a Database: MySQL, MariaDB or MongoDB.
- Enable the toggle if you want to install the latest LTS version of node.js on your server.
- Select a Management plan and click the Connect Now button.
- You’ll see the command on your screen. Login to your server using an ssh connection and execute that command as a root user.
- The server connection process will be started on your ServerAvatar account after executing the command.
Connect a server using integration
- Login/Register to your ServerAvatar account, navigate to the Integration tab from the sidebar of the panel, and access Cloud Platform from the dropdown.
- Now Select a cloud platform you want to link with ServerAvatar.
- The popup form will appear on your screen. Enter details to link your cloud provider account. The integration method is different based on the cloud provider you select.
- You can integrate five different cloud provider platforms with ServerAvatar, which is-
Check the above link of cloud platforms to know more about integrating cloud platforms with ServeAvatar.
Connect a server using commands
Step 1. Login to your server using root user
Once you create a server as per your requirements, connect to your server using an ssh connection and execute the below three commands as a root user in your server console area.
wget https://srvr.so/install
chmod +x install
./install
Step 2. Select a web server
It will ask you which web server you would like to install on your server: Apache, Nginx, OpenLiteSpeed or Node Stack. Type anyone that you would like to install on your server and hit the enter button.
Step 3. Claim your server
Completing the process will give you a link to claim your server.
Open the link on your browser to access the ServerAvatar server panel.
Install and Setup Invoice Ninja on Cloud Using ServerAvatar
Step 1: Create Database
Access the Databases tab on the ServerAvatar server panel to create a MySQL Database.
Enter the credentials and click on the Create Database button.
Step 2: Change PHP-CLI Version
Deploying InvoiceNinja on the server requires PHP-CLI Version 8.1 or above at the server level. To configure the PHP-CLI version, follow the Snapshot.
Step 3: Create a PHP Application
Access the Applications tab from the server panel to create a new PHP application.
Fill up the required information, including the Application Name, Domain Name, and Advanced Options for more PHP settings.
Proceed to next by clicking on the Next Step.
Now select method and service provider Git and GitHub, respectively (follow according to Snapshot)
Enter the required information as given below:
Repository Type: Public
Clone HTTPS URL: https://github.com/invoiceninja/invoiceninja.git
Branch: v5-stable
Deployment script:
git checkout v5-stable;
cp .env.example .env;
composer i -o --no-dev
php artisan key:generate
Move further by clicking on the Next Step.
Create a System User or choose a system user from an existing One.
Then choose PHP version 8.1 or above; the custom webroot should be Public as in the given Snapshot.
Custom Webroot: Public
Then, click on the Create Application button.
Step 4: Connect Database
Go to the File Manager tab from the sidebar of the application. And access the public_html folder
Now check the Show Hidden Files box to access the .env file to change to the original database credentials.
Change the following configuration to establish a connection with the database.
DB_DATABASE= Database_Name
DB_USERNAME= Database_Username
DB_PASSWORD=Database_Password
To access database credentials, go to the Database tab from the sidebar of the server panel and click the database that we created in the first step.
That's all, open your application URL in the web browser to access the Invoice Ninja setup page.
Tip: ServerAvatar provides a one-click solution for installing an SSL certificate on your domain. To install SSL, go to the application panel and click the SSL Certificate button to install automatic SSL in your application domain.