How to Host OpenERP Locally for Networked Computer Access

To host OpenERP (now known as Odoo) on a local server and make it accessible to other networked computers, you’ll need to follow several steps to set up the server, configure the software, and ensure that network access is enabled.

Steps to Host OpenERP (Odoo) Locally

1. Install Odoo on the Local Server:

• Download Odoo: Get the installer or source code from the official Odoo website.
• Install Dependencies: Depending on your OS, you might need to install Python, PostgreSQL, and other dependencies.
  • For Linux:
    bash sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install python3-pip build-essential wget python3-dev python3-venv libxml2-dev libxslt1-dev libldap2-dev libsasl2-dev libjpeg-dev zlib1g-dev sudo apt-get install postgresql
• Create a PostgreSQL User: Create a new PostgreSQL user for Odoo.
  bash sudo su - postgres createuser --createdb --username postgres --no-createrole --no-superuser --pwprompt odoo exit
• Install Odoo: Follow the Odoo installation steps for your specific OS (e.g., using pip, apt-get, or a package manager).

2. Configure Odoo:

• Modify the Odoo configuration file (usually odoo.conf) to set the appropriate db_user and db_password values for the PostgreSQL user you created.
• Set the xmlrpc_interface to 0.0.0.0 in odoo.conf to allow connections from any IP address.
  ini

[options]

db_host = False db_port = False db_user = odoo db_password = yourpassword addons_path = /path/to/your/addons logfile = /var/log/odoo/odoo.log xmlrpc_interface = 0.0.0.0 xmlrpc_port = 8069 Restart the Odoo server to apply changes.

3. Open the Firewall:

• Ensure that your server allows incoming connections on port 8069 (the default port for Odoo).
• For Linux:
  bash sudo ufw allow 8069/tcp sudo ufw reload

4. Assign a Static IP to the Local Server:

• Assign a static IP address to your local server (if not already done). This is important for other computers on the network to consistently access the Odoo server.
• This can usually be done through your router’s configuration page or directly on the server network settings.

5. Test Local Network Access:

• Open a web browser on any computer within the same network.
• Type the server’s IP address followed by the Odoo port number in the address bar (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:8069).
• If everything is set up correctly, you should see the Odoo login screen.

6. Set Up Security Measures:

• SSL/TLS: For secure access, especially if connecting outside your local network, consider setting up SSL/TLS. You can use tools like Let’s Encrypt to obtain a free SSL certificate.
• Configure Authentication and Permissions: Ensure that the Odoo instance is configured with proper user permissions, and set up strong passwords for access.

Additional Considerations

• Backup and Restore: Regularly back up the database and any necessary files.
• Updates and Maintenance: Keep Odoo and all software components updated to avoid vulnerabilities.
• Remote Access: If you want to access the Odoo server from outside your local network, consider configuring port forwarding on your router or using a VPN.

Would you like more details on any of these steps?

Conclusion

To host OpenERP, or in simple words, known as Odoo, on any local server and make it available to all other networked systems, you just need to follow various important steps to easily set up your server, install the software, and make sure that network access is permitted. For all this, you just need to have managed Odoo server solutions.