vTiger CRM Tips
Summary: This article on vTiger CRM Tips provides tips on how to install vTiger CRM on a Virtual Private Server (VPS). Much of the information has been aggregated through the sifting of the vTiger Community Forum, and then modified as needed for installation on a VPS.
vTiger CRM Tips: How To Install vTiger CRM in cPanel on your VPS
Bolt Hosting wrote this article on the basic install process:
How to Install vTiger CRM in cPanel, by Bolt Hosting
vTiger CRM Tips: How To Speed Up vTiger CRM and Increase Its Performance
Here are 4 Ways to speed up the day to day use of your vTiger CRM:
1. Increase Memory Allocated to PHP
How:
- Login to your Servers Web Host Manager (WHM) > Service Configuration> then click on PHP Configuration Editor on the left menu.
- That will load the “Basic Mod” interface.
- About the fourth option down, there is an option called “memory_limit”. It controls how much memory PHP is allowed to use. By default it’s set to 32M. Try increasing it to 128M, or in multiples of 32M. Your VPS may have limits on available RAM for your set up. To be safe submit a Support Ticket to your service provider with the request.
Note: If you don’t put an M on the end of the memory, your VPS will crap a kitten, (So 64M, 128M etc…) lol.
- Click Save.
2. Other vTiger CRM Tips – Reduce Logging To Bare Essentials:
Try to reduce the logs in log4php.properties from debug to warn or fatal. Reference: Log4php information Here
How:
Edit the raw php file:
Navigate to cPanel > Files > File Manager
File Manager Opens
Public HTML > vTiger > log4php >
Edit LoggerProperties.php file in vtiger folder and change: log4php.rootLogger=WARN,A1 (may already be set to FATAL, or DEBUG)
Note: Log files are located at vTiger Folder > Logs. You may want to make yourself a reminder to delete these every couple of months so that you do not bloat your server with dead log files.
3. Setup A Compression System Such As “mod_deflate”.
This compresses data before it’s sent out and sometimes results in faster performance. mod_deflate tells your server to GZIP everything before it sends it out. It tends to make web pages load faster.
Personally I didn’t fuss with it, but more information can be found Here:
mod_deflate
4. eAccelerator Is One Of Several Ways You Can Try To Speed Up PHP.
It’s one of the supported modules in EasyApache (Apache/PHP compiler for WHM).
Reference eAccelerator information: Here for more configuration. Note: Recommended configuration.
It is probably best to just submit a Ticket request to your host provider, as they are most familiar with the guts of your server.
vTiger CRM Tips: How To Do A vTiger CRM DataBase Backup
vTiger CRM Community Information on Creating Backups, Restoring Backups and Cron Jobs:
More Info on Module_Backup_Server Here
A note about vTiger FTP 503 Errors
When I tried ftp.myserver.net the system coughed up a 503 error. This was resolved by:
Going into the cPanel of your account > Files > FTP Accounts
Create a new FTP account.
Use your Servers IP address. Note: Use numbers NOT ftp.blah.blah.
Put in your FTP account Name and Password.
Configuring And Setting Up vTiger eMail
Configuring The vTiger CRM Outgoing Server
The first thing you need to know about vTiger is that you can configure one, and only one outgoing email address. Or so I am to understand. So pick a name that is generic. If you are running multiple Geo locations, then hire a code developer to fix the problem for you. ZOHO is a white label user of vTiger, and I assume they figured a work around.
Another idea is to just pay for a 1 license vTiger site and pick their brains on how to fix certain issues you run into.
Warning. Please note that the following procedure might not work for you, but it is what worked for us.
If all else fails, try submitting a support ticket to your Host provider.
Before configuring your outgoing server, you will need to set up a new email address in your cPanel with a password.
Make a note of the email and email password before proceeding.
The program may tell you that the email configuration did not take effect, but in fact it has. The software not reporting that the updating of the email outgoing email configuration is working, is another software glitch.
In vTiger CRM navigate to: Settings > Outgoing Server
Type in these settings:
Server Name: mail.yourdomain.com
Username: yourbusinessname+yourdomain.com (it is important that you use the “+” instead of “@” here.)
Password: (whatever you set it to in cPanel when you made the email address)
Requires Authentication? TRUE.
More vTiger CRM Tips for Outgoing Mail Server Settings Here
The below is a quote on how to setup Gmail for Vtiger CRM 5.0.4 from the vTiger Forum Community:
Following are the configuration details with GMAIL :
Settings > Outgoing Server
Server Name : ssl://smtp.gmail.com:465
Username : your_account@gmail.com
Password : your_account_password
Requires Authentication : Enabled
NOTE :
To use Gmail SMTP, you need to enable SSL Support for PHP
To enable openssl On Windows, uncomment the following line in php.ini
extension=php_openssl.dll
Add the following in httpd.conf:
PhpInIDir – point to php folder
Copy libeay32.dll and ssleay32.dll from php folder to apache/bin folder if you have installed through source.
If you are using vtiger bundled installation without SSL support kindly see this :
vTiger CRM Tips on Viruses, and Spam Control
You will need to put in place a Spam and Virus protection solution.
My VPS came with SpamAssassin and ClamAV email virus software available, but not enabled.
For SpamAssassin Nav: To enable SpamAssassin, nav to Tweak Settings under Server Configuration in WHM. Go to Mail Tab > Check the box next to SpamAssassin to enable it. Uncheck the box to disable.
You can disable spamd, the SpamAssassin server, using the Service Manager under Service Configuration. If you disable spamd, you should also disable SpamAssassin in Tweak Settings above.
Here are some setup recommendations: Spamassassin Setup Recommendations
Here’s how to install Clam AV via WHM: WHM -> cPanel -> Manage Plugins It will list ClamAV as one of a few modules that it can install for you. It takes about 5 minutes to install.
More info on ClamAV here: http://corpocrat.com/2008/01/17/install-clamav-in-centos-with-cpanel/
Is It Possible NOT To Show My email ID In vTiger CRM Emails When I Send Mail?
When you are sending mail from vtiger the Outgoing mail server address will show in the from email and your email id will show in the reply To. If you want to remove your email from there then you have to remove reply to. please do the changes as mentioned to remove reply to in the mail
Go to modules/Emails/mail.php and comment out the following line
$mail->AddReplyTo($replyToEmail); (at line no 67)
and
$mail->AddReplyTo($from_email); (at line no 202)
vTiger Newletter Journal – A Good Source of vTiger CRM Tips
CRM-Now
vTiger CRM Tips: vTiger CRM Extentions, Add-ons, and Mods
You can find extentions and add-ons here: vTiger CRM Marketplace
vTiger CRM Manual (in .pdf format)
vTiger CRM Manual
How To Do vTiger Email Marketing Campaign Images
“Its pretty easy, all you have to do is store the image in a directory on your server or you can use a free image service like photobucket to host the image file. One the image is hosted then you can use html to embed the image. However, you must make sure and reconfigure your fckeditor so that is supports html. I believe that those options are disabled in the default vtiger package.” ~ vTiger Forum post by rBennet
Also try doing a search on vtiger for fckeditor configuration.
Also Reference:
Notes on fckeditor
Other VPS setup Tips
Tips on Optimizing cPanel and WHM Here.
Click here for a broad range of Code Modifications for vTiger.
Update Sept 22 2011:
More vTiger CRM Tips : Procedure For Optimizing vTiger CRM Database
Follow this procedure to check and repair the vTiger database:
cPanel > Databases > MySQL Databases (not MySQL Database Wizard).
Find Modify Databases. Check it and Repair it if necessary.
By “Check DB”: select the vTiger Database, then click “Check DB” button.
When complete, Scan the listings. If there were errors then select the database at “Repair DB” and click on the “Repair DB” button.
vTiger CRM Tips on How to Optimize the vTiger Database
Go to cPanel > Databases > click on phpMyAdmin
phpMyAdmin will load. It may take a while, especially if you do not click on the browser “Allow” button.
On the Left Hand Nav Bar, Click on the _vTiger database.
First Thing, Be sure to make a backup of the existing database BEFORE you work with it:
Export Tab > choose the Quick radio button > click on Go.
Optimize the Database
On the Structure Tab, scroll down to the bottom
Click Check All to select all database tables.
Near the bottom there will also be a drop down menu “With selected:”
Select “Optimize Table”
You may enjoy this article: How To Check Website Links
Finish up by making another backup. You will probably notice a file size difference.
Thanks for visiting Blue Sea Web Consulting, and Best of luck on your vTiger CRM information hunt. There are lots more vTiger CRM Tips in the vTiger Forum.
