---
path: "/docs/deployment/deploy-chatwoot-in-linux-vm"
title: "Production deployment guide for Linux VM"
---

### Deploying to Linux VM

This guide will help you to install **Chatwoot** on **Ubuntu 18.04 LTS / 20.04 LTS / 20.10**. We have prepared a deployment script for you to run. Refer the script and feel free to make changes accordingly to OS if you are on a non-Ubuntu system.

For **Ubuntu 18.04**, use the following script

```bash
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chatwoot/chatwoot/develop/deployment/setup_18.04.sh
```

For **Ubuntu 20.04** or **Ubuntu 20.10**, use the following script.

```bash
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/chatwoot/chatwoot/develop/deployment/setup_20.04.sh
```

### Steps to install

1. Create a **setup.sh** file and copy the content from the above link or use the following commands.

```bash
wget <link-to-script> -O setup.sh
chmod 755 setup.sh
./setup.sh master
```

2. Execute the script and it will take care of the initial **Chatwoot** setup.

3. **Chatwoot** Installation will now be accessible at `http://{your_ip_address}:3000`

### Configure Nginx and **Let's Encrypt**

1. Configure Nginx to serve as a frontend proxy.

```bash
cd /etc/nginx/sites-enabled
nano yourdomain.com.conf
```

2. Use the following Nginx config after replacing the `yourdomain.com` in `server_name` .

```bash
server {
  server_name <yourdomain.com>;

  # Point upstream to Chatwoot App Server
  set $upstream 127.0.0.1:3000;

  # Nginx strips out underscore in headers by default
  # Chatwoot relies on underscore in headers for API
  # Make sure that the config is turned on.
  underscores_in_headers on;
  location /.well-known {
    alias /var/www/ssl-proof/chatwoot/.well-known;
  }

  location / {
    proxy_pass_header Authorization;
    proxy_pass http://$upstream;
    proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
    proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
    proxy_set_header Host $host;
    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Ssl on; # Optional

    proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
    proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;

    proxy_http_version 1.1;
    proxy_set_header Connection “”;
    proxy_buffering off;

    client_max_body_size 0;
    proxy_read_timeout 36000s;
    proxy_redirect off;
  }
  listen 80;
}
```

3. Verify and reload your Nginx config by running following command.

```bash
nginx -t
systemctl reload nginx
```

4. Run **Let's Encrypt** and configure **SSL certificate**.

```bash
mkdir -p /var/www/ssl-proof/chatwoot/.well-known
certbot --webroot -w /var/www/ssl-proof/chatwoot/ -d yourdomain.com -i nginx
```

5. Your Chatwoot installation should be accessible from the `https://yourdomain.com` now.

### Configure the required environment variables

For your Chatwoot installation to properly function you would need to configure some of the essential environment variables like `FRONTEND_URL`, Mailer and a cloud storage config. Refer **[Environment variables](https://www.chatwoot.com/docs/environment-variables)** for the full list.

1. Login as **Chatwoot** and edit the .env file.

```bash
# Login as chatwoot user

sudo -i -u chatwoot
cd chatwoot
nano .env
```

2. Refer **[Environment variables](https://www.chatwoot.com/docs/environment-variables)** and update the required variables. Save the `.env` file.

3. Restart the **Chatwoot** server and enjoy using your self hosted Chatwoot.

```bash
systemctl restart chatwoot.target
```

### Upgrading to newer version of Chatwoot

Whenever a new version of Chatwoot is released, use the following steps to upgrade your instance.

Run the following steps on your VM. Make changes based o your OS if you are on a non-Ubuntu system.

```bash
# Login as Chatwoot user
sudo -i -u chatwoot

# Navigate to the Chatwoot directory
cd chatwoot

# Pull the latest version of the master branch
git checkout master && git pull

# Update dependencies
bundle
yarn

# Recompile the assets
rake assets:precompile RAILS_ENV=production

# Migrate the database schema
RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake db:migrate

# Copy the updated targets
cp /home/chatwoot/chatwoot/deployment/chatwoot-web.1.service /etc/systemd/system/chatwoot-web.1.service
cp /home/chatwoot/chatwoot/deployment/chatwoot-worker.1.service /etc/systemd/system/chatwoot-worker.1.service
cp /home/chatwoot/chatwoot/deployment/chatwoot.target /etc/systemd/system/chatwoot.target

# Restart the chatwoot server
systemctl restart chatwoot.target
```

#### If precompile fails

If the asset precompilation step fails with `ActionView::Template::Error (Webpacker can't find application.css in /home/chatwoot/chatwoot/public/packs/manifest.json)` or if you face issues while restarting the server, try the following command and restart the server.

```
RAILS_ENV=production rake assets:clean assets:clobber assets:precompile
```

This command would clear the existing compiled assets and would recompile all the assets. Read more about it [here](https://edgeguides.rubyonrails.org/command_line.html#bin-rails-assets)