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Installing InteLIS on Ubuntu 24.04 or above (only Ubuntu LTS)

Install InteLIS on a new Ubuntu machine, as a lab machine or as a central server.

The machine must run Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or a later LTS release and be connected to the internet. The account used needs sudo rights.

InteLIS requires PHP 8.4+ (minimum 8.4.1). PHP 8.2, 8.3, and older versions are not supported. The installer selects PHP 8.4, or 8.5 on Ubuntu 26.04 and newer.

To move an existing lab onto a new machine with its data, follow Migrating from one Ubuntu machine to another instead.

Choose the situation that fits, then follow its steps from top to bottom.

Install

  1. Open a terminal and download the installer:

    cd ~ && wget -O setup.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/deforay/intelis/master/scripts/setup.sh?v=$(date +%s)"

  2. Start the installer:

    sudo bash setup.sh
    If it stops with This script requires an Ubuntu LTS release or requires Ubuntu 22.04 or newer

    The machine runs a non-LTS or too-old Ubuntu release. Reinstall the machine with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or later, then start again from step 1.

  3. Answer the installer's questions:

    Question Answer
    Installation directory Press Enter.
    What is this machine? Lab machine (LIS).
    Remote STS URL The STS address, for example https://sts.example.org. Ask the national programme for it. Leave it empty if the lab has no STS.
    New MySQL root password A new password for this machine, typed twice. Write it down.
    Is this correct? Check the summary, then press Enter (Yes).
    If it says Failed to validate the provided STS URL

    The installer could not reach <STS address>/api/version.php. Check the address for typing errors and type it again. After three failed tries the installer carries on without an STS. Enter the address later, in step 8.

    If it asks Reuse your previous setup answers and skip the prompts?

    An earlier run on this machine stopped part way. Press Enter (Yes) to use the same answers again.

    If it does not ask for a MySQL password

    MySQL is already set up on this machine. The installer reads its password from /root/.my.cnf.

    If it says An existing database was found

    Setup is being run again on a machine that already holds lab data. Choose Keep a copy, then start fresh to set the old data aside without losing it.

  4. Wait for the installer to finish. It checks the new installation, then ends with Setup complete.

  5. Read the Install Check list printed above Setup complete. Each line starts with one of these words:

    Word Meaning
    PASS The check succeeded.
    WARN InteLIS runs, but the setting is wrong for a lab. The line says what to change, and most give the command that changes it.
    FAIL InteLIS cannot run properly until this is fixed. The line gives the command that fixes it.
    SKIP The check does not apply to this machine.

    Run each command the list gives, then check again:

    intelis check

Set up in the browser

  1. Open http://intelis/ in a browser on this machine. From another computer on the network, use this machine's IP address instead. The Database Setup page opens.
  2. The database details are already filled in. Select Next.

  3. On Instance Setup, fill in:

    Field Answer
    Instance type LIS with Remote Ordering Enabled. If the lab has no STS, choose Standalone (no Remote Ordering).
    STS URL Already filled in from step 3. If it is empty, type the STS address.
    Testing lab The lab this machine serves. The list comes from the STS. If it is empty, select the refresh button next to the STS URL.
    Modules to enable The tests this lab runs.
    Country of installation The country's request form.
    Timezone The lab's time zone.
    System language The language for the screens.

  4. Select Next.

  5. On Admin Setup, enter the email ID, full name, login ID and password of the first administrator. The password needs at least 8 characters, with at least one letter and one number.
  6. Select Finish. The login page opens.

Set up backups

  1. In a terminal, choose where backups are sent:

    intelis backup setup

    Run it without sudo. It asks for the administrator password when it needs it. It offers another Linux machine, a shared Windows folder, or a USB drive. Setting up off-machine backups walks through the questions for each destination.

Check the lab

  1. Log in with the login ID and password from step 10.
  2. Check the lab settings under Admin → Settings → General Configuration.

  3. In a terminal, confirm the backups work:

    intelis backup status

To update this machine later, follow Updating InteLIS on Ubuntu.

Install

  1. Point the server's web address at this machine in DNS, for example sts.health.gov.zm. Labs use this address to reach the STS. To use the machine's IP address instead, skip this step.

  2. Open a terminal and download the installer:

    cd ~ && wget -O setup.sh "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/deforay/intelis/master/scripts/setup.sh?v=$(date +%s)"

  3. Start the installer:

    sudo bash setup.sh
    If it stops with This script requires an Ubuntu LTS release or requires Ubuntu 22.04 or newer

    The machine runs a non-LTS or too-old Ubuntu release. Reinstall the machine with Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or later, then start again from step 2.

  4. Answer the installer's questions:

    Question Answer
    Installation directory Press Enter.
    What is this machine? Central server (STS).
    Web address of this server The address from step 1, without http://. Press Enter if the labs use the IP address.
    New MySQL root password A new password for this machine, typed twice. Write it down.
    Is this correct? Check the summary, then press Enter (Yes).
    If it says the address already resolves to another address

    DNS points the web address at a different machine. Answer No to Use … anyway?. Then type the correct address, or press Enter to use the IP address.

    If it asks Reuse your previous setup answers and skip the prompts?

    An earlier run on this machine stopped part way. Press Enter (Yes) to use the same answers again.

    If it does not ask for a MySQL password

    MySQL is already set up on this machine. The installer reads its password from /root/.my.cnf.

    If it says An existing database was found

    Setup is being run again on a machine that already holds data. Choose Keep a copy, then start fresh to set the old data aside without losing it.

  5. Wait for the installer to finish. It checks the new installation, then ends with Setup complete.

  6. Read the Install Check list printed above Setup complete. Each line starts with one of these words:

    Word Meaning
    PASS The check succeeded.
    WARN InteLIS runs, but the setting is wrong for a server. The line says what to change, and most give the command that changes it.
    FAIL InteLIS cannot run properly until this is fixed. The line gives the command that fixes it.
    SKIP The check does not apply to this machine.

    Run each command the list gives, then check again:

    intelis check

Set up in the browser

  1. Open the web address from step 4 in a browser, for example http://sts.health.gov.zm/. If the labs use the IP address, open http:// followed by the IP address. The Database Setup page opens.
  2. The database details are already filled in. Select Next.

  3. On Instance Setup, fill in:

    Field Answer
    Instance type Sample Tracking System(STS).
    Modules to enable The tests the labs run.
    Country of installation The country's request form.
    Timezone The country's time zone.
    System language The language for the screens.

  4. Select Next.

  5. On Admin Setup, enter the email ID, full name, login ID and password of the first administrator. The password needs at least 8 characters, with at least one letter and one number.
  6. Select Finish. The login page opens.

Set up backups

  1. In a terminal, choose where backups are sent:

    intelis backup setup

    Run it without sudo. It asks for the administrator password when it needs it. It offers another Linux machine, a shared Windows folder, or a USB drive. Setting up off-machine backups walks through the questions for each destination.

Check the server

  1. Log in with the login ID and password from step 11.
  2. Check the settings under Admin → Settings → General Configuration.
  3. From a lab computer, open the web address from step 4. The InteLIS login page appears.

  4. In a terminal, confirm the backups work:

    intelis backup status

To update this machine later, follow Updating InteLIS on Ubuntu.