Setting Up Apache2 to Reverse Proxy Odoo on a Ubuntu Server / VPS

When running Odoo on a VPS with Ubuntu, the default configuration typically allows access via https://server_ip_address:8069. However, you might want to simplify this to just https://server_ip_address or https://server_ip_address/web using Apache2 as a reverse proxy. This guide walks you through the necessary steps to achieve this.

Understanding Ports and Reverse Proxy

Odoo by default listens on port 8069. By using Apache2 as a reverse proxy, we can direct traffic from the default HTTP port (80) to Odoo’s port (8069). This means users can access Odoo without needing to specify the port in the URL, providing a cleaner and more user-friendly URL.

Step 1: Install Apache2

Apache2 is a popular open-source web server. If you haven’t already installed Apache2, you can do so by running the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

The sudo apt update command updates your package list to the latest versions, and sudo apt install apache2 installs the Apache2 web server.

Step 2: Enable Necessary Apache Modules

To use Apache as a reverse proxy, we need to enable several modules:

sudo a2enmod proxy
sudo a2enmod proxy_http
sudo a2enmod headers
sudo a2enmod rewrite

• proxy: Enables the proxy feature in Apache.
• proxy_http: Enables the HTTP proxy module.
• headers: Allows you to use HTTP headers.
• rewrite: Enables URL rewriting.

After enabling these modules, restart Apache to apply the changes:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 3: Configure Apache for Odoo

We need to create a configuration file for our Odoo setup:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/odoo.conf

Add the following configuration to the file. Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with your VPS's IP address:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    #ServerAdmin admin@yourdomain.com
    ServerName YOUR_SERVER_IP

    ProxyRequests Off
    ProxyPass / http://localhost:8069/
    ProxyPassReverse / http://localhost:8069/

    <Proxy *>
        Order deny,allow
        Allow from all
    </Proxy>

    <Location />
        Order allow,deny
        Allow from all
    </Location>

    ErrorLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/odoo_error.log
    CustomLog ${APACHE_LOG_DIR}/odoo_access.log combined
</VirtualHost

This configuration tells Apache to listen on port 80, and forward all requests to localhost:8069 where Odoo is running. ProxyPass and ProxyPassReverse are directives that configure the reverse proxy.

Step 4: Enable the Odoo Site Configuration

Enable the new site configuration and disable the default site:

sudo a2ensite odoo.conf
sudo a2dissite 000-default.conf

• a2ensite odoo.conf: Enables the new Odoo site configuration.
• a2dissite 000-default.conf: Disables the default Apache site configuration.

Step 5: Restart Apache

To apply your new configuration, restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 6: Accessing Odoo

You should now be able to access Odoo using your VPS’s IP address in a web browser. Simply type http://YOUR_SERVER_IP in your browser's address bar, where YOUR_SERVER_IP is your VPS's IP address.

Step 7: Configure the Firewall

Check Firewall Status

First, check if the firewall is active on your Ubuntu server. The default firewall for Ubuntu is UFW (Uncomplicated Firewall):

sudo ufw status

This command will display the current status of the firewall.

Allow Apache Through Firewall

Since you are using Apache as a reverse proxy for Odoo, you need to allow Apache through the firewall. Apache registers a few profiles with UFW. You can allow traffic on port 80 (HTTP) with the following command:

sudo ufw allow 'Apache'

This command enables traffic for the Apache service, which includes the necessary ports.

Enable the Firewall

If the firewall is not active, enable it:

sudo ufw enable

This command activates the firewall, applying all the configured rules.

Check the Updated Firewall Status

Finally, check the status again to ensure your rules are active:

sudo ufw status

This command will show you the active firewall rules, confirming that Apache traffic is allowed.

Step 8: Fix Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) Warning

If you encounter the warning
AH00558: apache2: Could not reliably determine the server's fully qualified domain name, using 127.0.1.1. Set the 'ServerName' directive globally, follow these steps:

Open the Apache2 Configuration File

sudo nano /etc/apache2/apache2.conf

Set the Global ServerName

Add a line at the bottom of this file with your server’s IP address or a dummy FQDN:

ServerName YOUR_SERVER_IP

Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP with your server's public IP address.

Save and Close the File

After adding the line, save the file and exit the editor.

Restart Apache

To apply the changes, restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart apache2

Check the Status Again

Finally, check the status of Apache again to ensure the warning is gone:

systemctl status apache2

Additional Notes

Accessing Odoo: You can now access Odoo using your server’s IP address: http://YOUR_SERVER_IP/web.

Firewall Considerations: If you’re accessing the server via SSH, make sure to allow SSH (port 22) through the firewall before enabling it to avoid locking yourself out of the server:

sudo ufw allow ssh

By following these steps, you can successfully set up Apache2 as a reverse proxy for Odoo on your VPS, allowing easier access and improved management of your Odoo instance.

More (related) :

• https://www.cybrosys.com/blog/how-to-configure-odoo-with-apache-2-as-reverse-proxy-in-ubuntu
• https://www.odoo.com/fr_FR/forum/aide-1/how-do-i-turn-off-the-powered-by-odoo-text-in-the-footer-of-a-website-199187

https://buymeacoffee.com/mabttech

mabttech