How To Self Host Jira

Hosting Jira on your own may seem overwhelming, but with adequate knowledge and proper tools, it can be a productive and successful approach for managing your projects. This guide will lead you through the necessary steps to self-host Jira on your own server.

Why Self-Host Jira?

While Jira offers a cloud-based version of their software, there are several benefits to self-hosting. These include greater control over your data, the ability to customize the software to your specific needs, and potentially lower costs if you have a large team or need multiple instances of Jira.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you will need a server with a modern Linux distribution installed, along with root access to that server. You will also need to have Java Development Kit (JDK) installed on your server, as Jira runs on the Java platform.

Step 1: Install Java Development Kit (JDK)

Firstly, you need to install JDK on your server. This can be done by running the following command:

sudo apt-get install openjdk-11-jdk

Step 2: Download Jira

Next, you need to download the Jira software package from the Atlassian website. This can be done with the following command:

wget https://www.atlassian.com/software/jira/downloads/binary/atlassian-jira-software-8.13.0-x64.bin

Step 3: Install Jira

Once the download is complete, you can install Jira by running the downloaded file as a script:

chmod +x atlassian-jira-software-8.13.0-x64.bin

sudo ./atlassian-jira-software-8.13.0-x64.bin

Step 4: Configure Jira

After installation, you can access the setup wizard by navigating to your server’s IP address along with the port number 8080: http://your_server_ip:8080.

Follow the on-screen instructions to configure Jira to your preferences, including setting up the database and user accounts.

Step 5: Start Jira

At this point, you can start Jira using the following command:

sudo /etc/init.d/jira start

Conclusion

That’s all it takes to self-host Jira! Given the benefits in terms of data control and customization, it’s definitely worth considering if you’re a larger team or have particular needs not met by the cloud version. Remember to regularly update Jira and monitor your server for optimal performance. Happy project managing!