Below is a description of how to install Intrexx on Linux.
Target Audience
This description is intended for people who have a basic understanding of managing computers running Linux. In particular, you should be familiar with how permissions are assigned in Linux.
Linux distribution
The examples in the following description refer to Ubuntu 22.04. Installation on other Linux distributions is performed in a similar manner. However, you may need other programs—such as text editors or Linux system tools—to manage or check permissions or services.
Headless Server - Server with GUI Support
Below you will find instructions for installing the software on both a headless server and a server with GUI support.
The commands for a headless server and a Linux server with a graphical interface differ only by the addition of a "-t" at the end of the command. For example, if you enter "setup.sh -t," the corresponding routine will be executed via the Linux terminal.
If you are using a Linux server with a graphical user interface, you can omit the "-t" option. The Intrexx graphical installation wizard will then start. The dialog boxes displayed here are essentially the same as those in the Intrexx installation on Windows.
Architecture
When installing Intrexx on a Linux server, this guide assumes that you are installing the Intrexx server on the Linux server. The Intrexx Portal Manager, which users use to connect to the Intrexx Portal Server, runs on a Windows computer. This scenario is frequently used in practice.
However, you can also run the Intrexx Portal Manager on a Linux machine and connect to the Intrexx Portal Server from there.
By default, the Integrated Portal Manager is installed on the Linux server at the same time as the Intrexx Server. This allows you to start the Portal Manager serverr) on the Linux server immediately after installation and, for example, perform administrative tasks.
For more information on the Intrexx architecture, see the Intrexx Architecture section.
Front-end Web Server
To run a production portal, you must use a front-end web server. If you're running Intrexx on Linux, this is usually Nginx. During the Intrexx installation, you will be asked which front-end web server you would like to use to run Intrexx.
For detailed information about Nginx, see the section "Linux - Setting Up NGINX."
Database
To have a fully functional portal, you need a database. PostgreSQL is very commonly used for this purpose on Linux. Installing the database is not strictly necessary for installing Intrexx. However, you'll need the database as soon as you create a portal.
For detailed information about PostgreSQL, see the following section, " Installing PostgreSQL on Linux."
Rights and Services
Services
After installing Intrexx, the following service is available.
Solr The "Solr" service provides the search functionality within a portal.
After creating a portal, there is also a portal service. This service will always have the name you specify for your portal. If you operate multiple portals, there is a separate service for each portal.
Intrexx Services After Installation
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Solr
Additional Intrexx Services After Creating a Portal
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exampleportal (If you named your portal "exampleportal.")
For detailed information on creating a portal , see the following section , "Creating a Portal on Linux."
Rights
Under Linux, root privileges are required to create, start, and stop services. For this reason, Intrexx must be installed and updates must be performed using a user who has root privileges or belongs to the sudoers group.
(An exception applies if you install Intrexx separately from the Intrexx services.) In this case, Intrexx can be installed by a user who does not have root privileges or who is not a member of the sudoers group. We recommend this option only for very experienced Linux or Intrexx users. For more information on this, see the section " Installing Intrexx and Intrexx Services Separately - Installing Intrexx Without Root Privileges.")
Root Privileges and Security Considerations
In general, installing software as a user with root privileges can raise security concerns. After installation, services may run as root, and the associated files can only be edited with root privileges.
For this reason, you can choose between a root installation and an Intrexx user installation. You can make the appropriate selection during the installation process.
Root Installation
If you are able to or would like to install and run Intrexx in an isolated environment, you can follow the "root installation" instructions. In isolated environments, this procedure does not pose a security risk.
A VM on which you run only Intrexx can serve as an isolated environment. You can also run Intrexx in a Docker container. This also allows you to eliminate security risks associated with root privileges.
For more information on deploying Intrexx in a Docker container, see the following section, " Deploying Intrexx in Docker."
Intrexx User Installation
A key consideration when installing Intrexx for a user is that the Intrexx files created after installation belong to the user "intrexx" and not to "root."
Linux Users
For the Intrexx user installation, you must log in to the Linux server on which you want to install Intrexx using a user account that has (temporary) root privileges. As an administrator of a Linux server, you typically log in using such a user account as part of your daily work. Typically, this user is a member of the "sudoers" group and can execute commands using sudo.
If you do not have a user account that belongs to the sudoers group but would like to install Intrexx, please contact your administrator. They must add your user to the sudoers group.
In the scenario assumed here, the Linux user corresponds to a real person who administers the Linux server and, in this context, also installs software.
intrexx user
For the intrexx user installation, you need a "technical" user in addition to the Linux user. This user does not correspond to a real person. The user is used exclusively in connection with the Intrexx services on Linux. You can choose any name you like for this user. In the following sections, the name "intrexx" is used to refer to this user.
You should create the "intrexx" user account before installing Intrexx. He does not need to have any special permissions or a home directory.
The following sections will guide you step by step through the installation of Intrexx on Linux. This section describes both the root installation and the Intrexx user installation.