Cerb on Ubuntu 24.04 – Scalable, Flexible Work Automation and Team Inbox Platform
Cerb is a powerful, open-source platform for collaborative communication, automated workflows, and enterprise-grade helpdesk operations. With a modular architecture and browser-based UI, it serves as a unified platform for managing support emails, bots, CRM tasks, workflows, and integrations.
Running Cerb on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) offers a modern, secure, and long-term supported environment — ideal for both on-premise and cloud deployments.
Core Features of Cerb
- Shared inboxes for team email handling
- Bots & automations via scripting (CerbBot)
- Custom records and workspace dashboards
- Scheduler and task manager
- Granular ACLs and roles
- Multi-channel communications (email, chat, API)
- Extensive plugin/integration system
Cerb is designed for high concurrency and flexibility, making it suitable for customer service, DevOps collaboration, HR task routing, or marketing automation workflows.
Compatibility with Ubuntu 24.04
| Component | Status |
|---|---|
| PHP 8.3 | Fully supported (Cerb requires 8.1+) |
| MariaDB/MySQL | Fully supported (Cerb prefers MySQL 8.x) |
| Nginx/Apache | Compatible (Apache officially recommended) |
| PHP-FPM | Works natively with systemd |
| Systemd Services | Can be used to manage cron, queue workers |
| SSL/TLS | Integrates well with Let’s Encrypt |
Ubuntu 24.04’s newer system libraries, OpenSSL 3.0, and improved PHP 8.3 support provide excellent performance for Cerb’s PHP-based backend.
Server Requirements for Cerb
Cerb is resource-efficient but scales with usage:
| User Load | Recommended Specs |
|---|---|
| Small team (5–10 users) | 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 20 GB SSD |
| Medium team (10–30) | 4 vCPU, 8–16 GB RAM, 50 GB SSD |
| Enterprise (>50 users) | 8+ vCPU, 32+ GB RAM, dedicated DB node |
For optimal performance:
- Use PHP OPcache
- Enable MySQL query cache
- Serve Cerb behind Nginx + Apache as a reverse proxy if needed
Security Capabilities
Ubuntu 24.04’s security stack (AppArmor, UFW, nftables) complements Cerb’s own access controls and API token system.
- Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) with TOTP
- OAuth integrations with external services
- Encrypted storage of secrets and credentials
- Role-based access control (RBAC) for records and automations
- Audit logs for accountability
Optional: Isolate Cerb in a systemd-nspawn or LXD container for tighter control.
Automation and Bot Framework
Cerb’s bot scripting engine is one of its defining features, allowing non-technical users to create powerful:
- Email parsers
- Auto-responders
- Workflow engines
- API triggers and callbacks
- Scheduled maintenance tasks
Scripts are written using Cerb’s DSL (Domain Specific Language) and can be triggered from cron jobs, webhooks, or user actions.
Integration and API Capabilities
Cerb integrates well with:
- Slack, MS Teams, Twilio, Discord
- JIRA, GitHub, Bitbucket
- CRM tools like HubSpot or Salesforce via REST
- Custom APIs using HTTP/Webhook or GraphQL plugins
- Zapier and IFTTT for no-code automation
Ubuntu 24.04’s ecosystem allows deploying Cerb with these services in Docker containers or virtual networks for controlled environments.
Cerb vs. Other Helpdesk & Workflow Tools
| Feature | Cerb | Freshdesk | Zammad | osTicket | Zendesk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open Source | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Self-hosted | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Workflow Automation | Strong | Limited | Moderate | Weak | Good |
| Email Management | Native | Native | Native | Native | Native |
| Integration Options | Extensive | Moderate | Moderate | Basic | Advanced |
| Customization | Deep (DSL) | Limited | Moderate | Minimal | Moderate |
| License Cost | Free (OSS) | Paid | Free | Free | Paid |
Cerb stands out for organizations that need programmable logic, custom records, and a high level of automation and ownership.
Cerb on Ubuntu 24.04 is a strategic choice for teams and companies that want full control over their helpdesk and workflow automation platform.
- Compatible with PHP 8.3, MySQL 8, Apache/Nginx
- Easy to secure and monitor on Ubuntu LTS
- Excellent for extensibility and scripting automation
- Self-hosted, with no vendor lock-in
- Suitable for everything from support desks to operational automation
Step 1: Deploy a VPS with Ubuntu 24.04 on Shape.Host
Start by creating a fresh server using Shape.Host:
Go to https://shape.host and log in.
Click “Create”, then “Instance”.
Choose a data center near your users.
Choose Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit) as the operating system.
Select a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 40 GB SSD.
Click “Create Instance”.
Once ready, save your instance’s IP address and root credentials.
Step 2: Connect to Your Server via SSH
From a terminal on Linux/macOS:
ssh root@your-server-ip
From Windows, use PuTTY.
Step 3: Install Required Packages
3.1 Update and Upgrade Packages
apt update
apt upgrade
3.2 Install Nginx, MySQL, PHP 8.3, and PHP Extensions
apt install nginx mysql-server php8.3 php8.3-fpm php8.3-mysql \
php8.3-mbstring php8.3-curl php8.3-gd php8.3-yaml php8.3-gmp \
php8.3-zip php8.3-mailparse php8.3-xml php8.3-dom git unzip curl
Step 4: Configure MySQL
mysql -u root
Create your database and user:
CREATE DATABASE cerb DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
CREATE USER 'cerbuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPassword123!';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON cerb.* TO 'cerbuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;
Replace
'StrongPassword123!'with a secure password.
Step 5: Download and Prepare Cerb
cd /usr/share/nginx/html
git clone https://github.com/cerb/cerb-release.git cerb
chown -R www-data:www-data cerb
Step 6: Configure Nginx
6.1 Create Cerb Site Configuration
nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/cerb.conf
Paste the following config (replace your-domain.com):
server {
listen 80;
server_name your-domain.com;
root /usr/share/nginx/html/cerb;
index index.php;
location / {
try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$query_string;
}
location ~ \.php$ {
include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php8.3-fpm.sock;
fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
include fastcgi_params;
}
location ~ /\.ht {
deny all;
}
}
6.2 Enable the Site and Restart Services
ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/cerb.conf /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
nginx -t && systemctl restart nginx php8.3-fpm
Step 7: Enable HTTPS with Certbot
7.1 Install Snap and Certbot
apt install snapd
snap install core
snap install --classic certbot
ln -s /snap/bin/certbot /usr/bin/certbot
7.2 Obtain and Install SSL Certificate
certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com
Follow prompts to complete the certificate setup.
Step 8: Access Cerb in Your Browser
Visit:
http://your-domain.com
or
https://your-domain.com
Follow the web-based setup wizard to configure your admin user, connect the database (cerb, cerbuser, and your password), and complete the installation.
Conclusion
You’ve now installed Cerb on Ubuntu 24.04 with Nginx, PHP 8.3, MySQL, and HTTPS. Cerb provides a robust foundation for modern team collaboration, task automation, and customer support.
For stable, scalable, and secure Cloud Vps infrastructure, run your Cerb instance on Shape.Host.
Start hosting with Shape.Host — fast and developer-friendly cloud VPS.