How To Install SugarCRM on Synology NAS

UPDATE: As of late, with the latest release of the Synology DSM 4.0, the SugarCRM is now available as an app in the Package Center which makes the entire process listed below, obsolete. Check the Synology support page to see if your NAS has a firmware update available to it for DSM 4. Same rules apply though, the higher end unit you have, the better the performance will be.

Since day 1 I have loved the Synology line of NAS products. Its so much more than a Network Attached Storage. The company has released packages that can be easily downloaded and deployed but I want it to do more.

Since discovering SugarCRM a few years ago, I had needed to install it to a linux/windows pc or as a Virtual Appliance. Since then I have found that the Synology box runs most of the components of the LAMP needed for Sugar out of the box. Some need to be enabled but thats not a big deal.

What we will be installing is the SugarCRM Community Edition (open source) which is 100% free.

So how is it done? Here we go....

The platform:

Synology DS209 (firmware version 3.0 1337)
2x WD Caviar Black 750GB in RAID 1
1Gbps CAT6 link to the network
APC Back-UPS RS 1500 connected via USB

SugarCRM Community Edition v6.1.0 beta4

Disclaimer--I, nor F1 Networx Inc. are responsible for any data loss that may occur as a result of following this procedure. Back-up your data before you proceed. Do not attempt if you don't understand what you are doing.

STEP 1--Have a PC connected to the internet and download the latest ZIP of the SugarCRM www folder. Download it here. If the link doesn't work, use the full line-->
http://www.sugarforge.org/content/downloads/helper.php?dl=/frs/download.php/7361/SugarCE-6.1.0beta4.zip
STEP 2--Open the zip folder and extract it to a folder on your desktop. After extracting, rename the folder to "sugarcrm".

STEP 3--Now we need to login to the Synology NAS and enable the web server function.

Go to the Control Panel icon, then under Network Services, click on the Web Services icon. Then check off the Enable Web Station, and Enable MySQL.

Press OK to save the changes.

STEP 4--Now that the web site is running, it will create a new share called "web". This is the linux equivalent of the /var/www directory. We need to assign write privileges for our user. So go back to the control panel, and under:

1. File Sharing and Privileges
2. Click on the File Sharing icon
3. Navigate to the "web" share name and click on it
4. Click on the Privileges Setup button at the top
5. You will now see all the users and their access rights to the share, mark off the Read/Write check box for the users that you want to have edit access to the web share.
6. Press OK to save
7. Close out of the control panel frame

STEP 5--We need to install the SQL manager to setup the database. Download the SQL Manager package from the Synology website. http://www.synology.com/support/download.php
You need to choose the model of your NAS, navigate to the bottom of the downloads where you will see phpMyAdmin Package. Download the zip file to your desktop and extract it.

STEP 6--Install the phpMyAdmin Package to the NAS. Go to the system button (see pic below), go to Package Management, click Install, click Browse, navigate to your desktop where you extracted the zip of the phpMyAdmin Package.spk file, press Next, mark off "Run after install".

STEP 7--Create the database using phpMyAdmin link located in the URL field. See pic below.

when prompted for a login/pass, the default username is root, there is no password.

At the phpMyAdmin main screen create a database called "sugarcrm", dont change any settings for it. Now would be a good time to change the root password also.

STEP 8--Close out of the phpMyAdmin screen and logout from the Synology admin panel. Browse the web folder share on your NAS, \\ip-of-your-synology\web

Make sure you are using an account that has read/write credentials that we set earlier.

Copy the sugarcrm folder that we extracted and renamed back in Step 2 and paste it into the web folder on your Synology NAS. After the copy completes, use your web browser and navigate to http://ip-of-your-synology/sugarcrm/install.php

That will bring you to the configuration wizard of SugarCRM. When prompted for the database password, username will be root, the password is blank unless you changed it. Where it asks for a database, type in "sugarcrm" (without the quotes). After the setup completes, you can close your web browser.

STEP 9--Login to to the SugarCRM console. Use your web browser and navigate to http://ip-of-your-nas/sugarcrm/index.php

Initially you will login with the same credentials that you use for the admin account of the admin panel of the Synology.

STEP 10--You're all set to manage your client relationships more effectively. At this point it is suggested that you add the web share and the mysql databases to your back-up routine on the Synology.


NOTES.... on my unit, the delay in page response varies from instant to a few seconds (3-4) depending on how much content and intensity of the page request. If you are doing this on a higher end unit, like a "+ series" unit or are using WD Raptors/SSD your results will likely be better. This system is very processor intensive, so the faster the better. RAM and HDD usage impacts are minimal.

Feedback is much appreciated. Thanks!!!

Until next time,

Will Kutzler
F1 Networx Inc.
http://www.f1networx.com