OpenERP 6.0.3 appliance with addons_path and openerp-update with community branches
OpenERP 6.0.3 Appliance is now available for sale. It is based on Turnkey Linux Library 11.3 (Ubuntu 10.04) and includes an addons_path configuration in /etc/openerp-server.conf and the possibility of adding bzr branches to openerp-update (like i.e. magentoerpconnect and openerp-spain, both of them already downloaded but only the former one included in addons_path). Thanks Angel Moya from Domatix for these two suggestions. Further details in openerp-update’s report.
The desktop appliance provides a GUI Desktop to developers, testers and newbies, while the server appliance is more suitable for production and cloud computing.
E-Junkie is the e-commerce provider chosen for selling digital media at openerpappliance.com. The download link will expire after 120 hours (5 days) or after 5 attempts, which ever event happens first
OpenERP branches included (click on the right links for source code revisions):
- openerp-server -> code revisions , files
- openerp-web -> code revisions , files
- openerp-client -> code revisions , files
- addons -> code revisions , files -> official openerp modules
- extra-addons -> code revisions , files -> community modules that are not part of the “core” or “official” modules, and thus supported by the community instead of the OpenERP Publisher
- magentoerpconnect and openerp-spain, as examples of how to add community branches. openerp-spain is not included in addons_path to achieve a general purpose appliance. Both of them can be deleted by removing their directories in /home/openerp/workspace and updating addons_path in /etc/openerp-server.conf (openerp-server restart required).
Openerp login credentials are set up during the database creation, by default admin/openerp (required for backup/restore from openerp clients) and demo/demo.
OpenERP source code is update-able by running openerp-update command inside ‘openerp’ linux acount. Remember to login as linux user acount “openerp” with default password “openerp“. As an interesting feature, openerp-update offers the possibility of reverse updating openerp-server, openerp-web, openerp-client and addons (branches with bzr milestones).
A README document is available on each appliance explaining the following points of interest:
- Howto update OpenERP branches
- Howto change your keyboard layout
- Information regarding VMware tools and VirtualBox Guest Additions installers:
- vmware-tools-installer.sh
- virtualbox-guest-additions-installer.sh (postgres, apache and openerp related services need to be started manually on each boot after adding Guest Additions on latest virtualbox releases)
- Above scripts provide :
- full screen resolution on VirtualBox and VMWare Player.
- Clipboard support: cut/copy and paste between the guest and host OS
- Shared folders require manual configuration
- Howto reach OpenERP Appliance on a Virtual Machine from your windows host (VirtualBox,VMware and KVM)
- Howto reach OpenERP Appliance on a Virtual Machine from your LAN (VirtualBox,VMware and KVM)
List of available appliances:
- OpenERP 6.0.3 Desktop Appliance
- 32-bit architecture
- File size: 1,11GB
- Build Date: December 21st 2011
- Ubuntu release: 10.04.1 LTS (Lucid)
- TurnKey Linux release: TKL 11.3
- GUI Desktop included?: Yes
- confconsole included?: No
- Workaround for openerp-client bug #674231?: Yes, openerp-client runs by clicking on Desktop icon
- Issue: When installing VMware Tools or VirtualBox Guest Additions, the appliance might boot with text console login. Workaround: press ‘ALT-F7’ to switch back to GUI login.
- At least 700MB of Virtual Memory required. Select 128MB of display memory in VirtualBox and “vga 9MB” as default video adapter in KVM.
- Price: 6€
- OpenERP 6.0.3 Server Appliance
- 32-bit architecture
- File size: 906MB
- Build Date: December 21st 2011
- Ubuntu release: 10.04.1 LTS (Lucid)
- TurnKey Linux release: TKL 11.3
- GUI Desktop included?: No
- confconsole included?: Yes
- Workaround for openerp-client bug #674231?: Yes
- openerp-client runs from command line if required by openerp admin (SSH X11 forwarding required)
- openerp-client is usually installed and run on each Desktop PC/Laptop (openerp users)
- Price: 6€
About
Advantages of OpenERP Appliance
The weakest link of the free of charge OpenERP All-In-One for Linux is its dependence on the network and on launchpad.net repository, failing in case the Internet or Launchpad connection gets in trouble and requiring then a new deployment from scratch (with a fresh install of Ubuntu Linux included). Also, this All-In-One installer for Linux lasts longer than 40 minutes, downloading all the required python libraries and OpenERP source code. OpenERP All-In-One for Windows is easy-to-use and fast-to-deploy but is not update-able and not recommended for production either.
On the other hand, the purchase of these inexpensive OpenERP Appliances will save you precious time and money by including OpenERP source code without the need of an Internet connection for downloading OpenERP. The full installation processends in less than 5 minutes, and can be deployed on virtual machines, in cloud computing infrastructures or installed in physical computers. The appliances also offer a professional well tuned and tested installation with ease of use, latest OpenERP updates with full logging, and guarantee of success without licence costs. Actually this is the number one choice for mission-critical computing (production), testing and demonstrations.
Now you can get the performance, reliability, scalability and usability of propietary ERPs for up to 99,99 percent less!! 🙂
Pricing
- OpenERP 6 Desktop Appliance: 6€
- OpenERP 6 Server Appliance: 6€
- OpenERP 6.1rc1 Server Appliance: 6€
- OpenERP 6.1.1 Server Appliance: 10€
Community vs Enterprise pricing
Pricing of services offered by the Editor: click here and here
Where to purchase and download OpenERP Appliance
‘Add to cart’ buttons available here via e-junkie.com purchases. PayPal, credit card and debit card payments.
The downloading should take around 9 minutes. Bear in mind that any download is only as fast as the slowest link in the network route, which is usually the buyer’s own ISP connection — e.g., a 500MB file would take several hours, and a 2GB file would take a day or two, to download to completion over a 256kbps basic residential DSL connection. Files are zipped for Simple File Verification.
Community Support Forum
Blog comments are turned off. Click here for OpenERP Appliance Forum
Key points
- A pre-packaged Installable Live CD OpenERP server on IA 32-bit Ubuntu Linux: an ISO image which installs on both bare metal (I.e., a non-virtualized physical machine) and virtual machines, including VMware, Xen, VirtualBox, and KVM. This image can also run live in non-persistent demo mode
- From the Desktop to the data center: deploys on both physical and virtual machines and in cloud computing infrastructure
- Based on TurnKey Linux Virtual Appliance Library
- Administrators gain an easy method of setting up a dedicated OpenERP server
- OpenERP branches included: openerp-server, openerp-web, openerp-client, addons, extra-addons.
- Apply latest OpenERP bug fixes available on Launchpad.net repository via openerp-update script in ‘openerp’ linux account.
- Its web based tools make it perfect for cloud computing and hosting services
- Desktop appliances offer a GUI Desktop to developers, testers and newbies
- Server appliances lack of GUI Desktop, being more suitable for cloud computing and hosting services
- Open source means no license cost, no vendor lock-in and no forced upgrades, resulting in lower costs and higher return on investment
Web based Tools (screenshot)
- OpenERP Web interface
- Web Shell: a web-based ssh shell. It runs on any browser capable of JavaScript and AJAX. You can use it from any computer or iPhone/smartphone
- Webmin: a web-based configuration tool for system administration. User accounts, Apache, DNS, software packages, backup, file sharing and much more can be configured remotely using a web browser
- phpPgAdmin: a web-based administration tool for PostgreSQL
- TLKBAM: TurnKey Linux Backup and Migration, a simple and powerful system-level backup (not yet available on postgresql appliances like this one. Postgresql support is in the works according to turnkeylinux.org FAQ)
Cloud Technologies, Cloud Providers and Hosting Providers
Physical Machines where openerp appliance has been deployed successfully
- HP ProLiant MicroServer AMD Turion II N40L/2GB/250GB. Due to its lack of a DVD drive, this openerp appliance needs to be installed from USB, for which UNetbootin can be used.
- etc.
Desktop virtualization tips and Howtos
- Install in a physical machine if you’re not familiar with virtualization
- Burn the ISO image to a DVD: The installation process will be much faster if the appliance is installed from a DVD
- Documentation: Example of how to deploy this appliance on VirtualBox (also applies to VMware): Read “Third, install the generic ISO image (#2 alternative)“ (external link)
- Deploy on the latest free of charge VMware player for windows (VMware Fusion on Mac OS X). VMware player default settings allow to reach the appliance from your windows browser, while virtualbox requires customization.
- The desktop appliance runs LXDE, a light weight X11 window manager suitable for netbooks
- VirtualBox and VMware Player can be installed on the same Windows system and run simultaneously.
- Desktop Appliances on VirtualBox or VMware Player: Set up full screen resolution, clipboard (copy/paste) support, and shared folders between the Virtual Machine and the Windows Host. Dual Monitor configuration: one monitor with a full screen Virtual Machine (openerpappliance), and the other monitor (i.e. laptop’s monitor) with the Windows host.
- VMware Player Settings:
- How to reach the Virtual Machine from a windows host: Its default network configuration (NAT) will allow you to reach the virtual machine from your windows host.
- How to reach the Virtual Machine from the LAN: Set up a Bridged network adapter. A DHCP server available in the LAN is required, like i.e. your wireless router.
- Desktop Appliance: At least 700MB of VM memory required.
- VirtualBox Settings:
- How to reach the Virtual Machine from a windows host: VirtualBox requires a non default configuration. Set up two network adapters:
- NAT adapter, required to reach Internet from inside the Virtual Machine. This is the default adapter.
- Host-only adapter, required to reach the Virtual Machine from the windows host. It has to be added manually.
- How to reach the Virtual Machine from the LAN: Set up a Bridged network adapter. A DHCP server available in the LAN is required, like i.e. your wireless router.
- Desktop Appliance: At least 700MB of VM memory required. Select 128MB of display memory.
- How to reach the Virtual Machine from a windows host: VirtualBox requires a non default configuration. Set up two network adapters:
- KVM on Linux hosts Settings:
- Desktop Appliance and virt-manager: Set up “vga 9MB” as default video adaptor before starting the KVM virtual machine. This fixes major display issues.
The author
A Senior IT professional with 11 years of experience in Public and Telecommunications sectors as Systems and Automation Engineer. He holds a Honours of Bachelor Computer Science degree from the University of the Basque Country (2000) in Donostia – San Sebastian, Spain. His career began in Ireland in the beginning of 2001, returning to Spain in 2002 after the dot-com bubble burst, and became contractor for final customers since then. He grew up in Bilbao area, and lives permanently in Madrid since late 2003.
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