This guide covers the prerequisites and installation of the open-source help desk ticketing system, osTicket.

1. Environments and Technologies Used
2. Operating Systems Used
3. Prerequisites
4. Installation Steps

• Microsoft Azure (Virtual Machines/Compute)
• Remote Desktop
• Internet Information Services (IIS)

• Windows 10 (21H2)

• Azure Virtual Machine
• Internet Information Services (IIS)
• PHP Manager
• Rewrite Module
• VC Redist
• MySQL
• Heidi SQL
• osTicket v1.15.8

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1. Setup Virtual Machine on Azure:

   • Go to Azure Portal.

   • Setup your virtual machine with Windows 10 Pro, version 22H2. Note: Ensure your VM has at least 2 vCPUs and 16 GBs of memory.

   • Connect using the public IP address via the remote desktop connection app.

     

2. Configure Windows Features:

   • On your VM, navigate to the control panel > programs > Turn Windows features on and off.

     

3. Install IIS with CGI and Common HTTP Features:

   • World Wide Web Services -> Application Development Features ->

     • CGI
     • Common HTTP Features

     

     Note: Ensure all Common HTTP Features are checked.

4. Test IIS Installation:

   • In a browser, navigate to 127.0.0.1.

     

5. Setup PHP and Required Modules:

   • From Installation Files:

     1. Install PHP Manager for IIS (PHPManagerForIIS_V1.5.0.msi).
     2. Install Rewrite Module (rewrite_amd64_en-US.msi).
     3. Create a folder in the C drive named PHP.
     4. Download and unzip PHP 7.3.8 (php-7.3.88-nts-Win32-VC15-x866.zip) to C:\PHP.

     Attention: If a warning appears, choose to "Keep" the file.

6. Install VC Redist:

   • Download and install VC_redist.x86.exe from the installation files.

7. Setup MySQL:

   • Download and install MySQL 5.5.62 (mysql-5.5.62-win32.msi).
   • Follow the setup wizard: Typical Setup -> Launch Configuration Wizard (after install) -> Standard Configuration.
   • Set the root password as Password1 and execute the process.

8. Configure IIS for PHP:

   • Search for IIS in the windows search bar. Open IIS as an administrator.
   • Register a new PHP version within IIS pointing to the php-cgi.exe file located in C:\PHP.
   • Restart the IIS server.

9. Install osTicket:

   • Download osTicket from the Installation Files Folder.
   • Extract and copy the "upload" folder to c:\inetpub\wwwroot.
   • Rename the folder from "upload" to "osTicket" within c:\inetpub\root.
   • Reload IIS.

10. Enable Required Extensions in osTicket:

    • In IIS, navigate to sites -> Default -> osTicket.
    • Open PHP manager and enable the following extensions:
      • php_imap.dll
      • php_intl.dll
      • php_opcache.dll

11. Database Configuration:

    • Download and install HeidiSQL from the Installation Files.
    • Create a new session ensuring the username is root and the password is Password1.
    • Create a new database named osTicket within HeidiSQL.
    • Back in the osTicket setup on your browser, fill out the form, setting the database name as osTicket and using the credentials root and Password1.

12. Post Installation Configurations:

    • Delete the setup folder located in C:\inetpub\wwwroot\osTicket\setup.
    • Set the permissions of the ost-config.php file back to "Read" only.
    • Log in to osTicket through the browser.

    

Congratulations! osTicket is now successfully installed and configured on your system!