How To Install Jira on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS

Jira, developed by Atlassian, is a powerful project management tool widely used by teams across various industries. Its robust features for issue tracking, agile project management, and workflow customization make it an invaluable asset for organizations of all sizes. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through the process of installing Jira on Ubuntu 24.04, ensuring you have a smooth setup experience.

Prerequisites

Before diving into the installation process, it’s crucial to ensure your system meets the necessary requirements. This preparation will help avoid potential roadblocks and ensure a successful Jira installation.

System Requirements

• Hardware: A minimum of 4GB RAM (8GB recommended for better performance), dual-core CPU, and at least 20GB of free disk space.
• Operating System: Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Long Term Support) installed and updated.
• Software: Java 11 or later, and a database server (MySQL 5.7+ or PostgreSQL 10+).

User Permissions

To perform the installation tasks, you’ll need root or sudo privileges on your Ubuntu system. This allows you to install packages, modify system configurations, and set up services.

Step 1: Update System and Install Dependencies

Begin by ensuring your Ubuntu system is up-to-date and has all the necessary dependencies installed. This step is crucial for maintaining system security and ensuring compatibility with Jira.

Update System Packages

Open a terminal and run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

These commands update the package lists and upgrade all installed packages to their latest versions.

Install Required Dependencies

Next, install the essential packages that Jira depends on:

sudo apt install wget unzip fontconfig -y

This command installs wget (for downloading files), unzip (for extracting compressed files), and fontconfig (for font management).

Step 2: Install Java

Jira requires Java to run. We’ll install OpenJDK, an open-source implementation of the Java Platform.

Java Installation

First, check if Java is already installed:

java -version

If Java is not installed or the version is outdated, install OpenJDK 11:

sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk -y

After installation, verify the Java version:

java -version

You should see output indicating Java 11 is installed.

Step 3: Install and Configure Database

Jira requires a database to store its data. You can choose between MySQL and PostgreSQL. We’ll use MySQL in this guide, but the process is similar for PostgreSQL.

Install MySQL

Install MySQL server with the following command:

sudo apt install mysql-server -y

Secure MySQL Installation

Run the MySQL secure installation script to set a root password and remove insecure default settings:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to set a strong root password and answer ‘Y’ to all security questions.

Create a Database for Jira

Log into MySQL as root:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Create a database and user for Jira:

CREATE DATABASE jiradb CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_bin;
CREATE USER 'jirauser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON jiradb.* TO 'jirauser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace ‘strong_password’ with a secure password of your choice.

Step 4: Download and Install Jira

Now that we have our environment prepared, let’s download and install Jira.

Download Jira Installer

Visit the Atlassian website to get the latest download URL for Jira Software. Use wget to download the installer:

wget https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/downloads/binary/atlassian-jira-software-X.X.X-x64.bin

Replace ‘X.X.X’ with the latest version number available.

Prepare Installer for Execution

Make the installer executable:

chmod +x atlassian-jira-software-X.X.X-x64.bin

Run the Installer

Execute the installer with sudo:

sudo ./atlassian-jira-software-X.X.X-x64.bin

Follow the on-screen prompts. You can choose between express install (which uses default settings) or custom install (which allows you to specify installation directory, ports, etc.).

Step 5: Configure Jira

After installation, you’ll need to configure Jira through its web interface.

Initial Configuration via Web Interface

Open a web browser and navigate to:

http://localhost:8080

If you’re accessing Jira from a different machine, replace ‘localhost‘ with your server’s IP address or domain name.

Database Connection Setup

In the setup wizard:

1. Choose “I’ll set it up myself”
2. Select “My Own Database” and choose MySQL
3. Enter the database details:
   • Database Name: jiradb
   • Username: jirauser
   • Password: [the password you set earlier]
   • Host: localhost
   • Port: 3306
4. Test the connection and proceed if successful

Application Properties Configuration

Set up your application properties:

• Application Title: Choose a name for your Jira instance
• Mode: Choose between private or public mode
• Base URL: Set the URL users will use to access Jira

Step 6: Start and Access Jira

Once configuration is complete, you can start using Jira.

Start Jira Service

If Jira isn’t already running, start it with:

sudo /etc/init.d/jira start

Accessing the Web Interface

Access Jira by navigating to:

http://your_server_ip:8080

Replace ‘your_server_ip‘ with your actual server IP or domain name.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Even with careful installation, you might encounter some issues. Here are solutions to common problems:

Port Conflicts

If Jira fails to start due to a port conflict, edit the server.xml file:

sudo nano /opt/atlassian/jira/conf/server.xml

Change the port number in the Connector element and restart Jira.

Database Connection Issues

If you encounter database connection problems:

• Verify MySQL is running: sudo systemctl status mysql
• Check database credentials in Jira’s configuration
• Ensure the jirauser has proper permissions on the jiradb database

Java-related Errors

If you see Java-related errors in Jira’s logs:

• Verify Java is correctly installed: java -version
• Ensure JAVA_HOME is set correctly in Jira’s configuration

Log Files for Error Diagnosis

When troubleshooting, check Jira’s log files located at:

/opt/atlassian/jira/logs/atlassian-jira.log

These logs often contain valuable information for diagnosing and resolving issues.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Jira. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Jira project management tool on your Ubuntu 24.04 LTS system. For additional or useful information, we recommend you check the official Jira website.