Need an HR system installed quickly? Try OrangeHRM

OrangeHRM
(Image credit: Future)

Human Resource Management (HRM) software operates under the names Human Resources Information Systems (HRIS) and Human Capital Management (HCM) software to provide technology solutions that automate core human resources department operations. The platforms operate as centralized systems that handle different stages of employee life cycles, from recruitment and onboarding through performance management to payroll and benefits administration.

Implementing HRM software through digital process integration enables organizations to boost operational efficiency while decreasing administrative work, maintaining labor law compliance, and delivering important workforce data insights. The main purpose of HRM software is to maximize the management of organizational people assets, which results in better productivity, employee engagement, and business success.

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What is OrangeHRM?

OrangeHRM is a comprehensive Human Resource Management (HRM) software solution tailored for organizations seeking to optimize their workforce management. The platform features an extensive suite of modules that comprehensively address the entire employee lifecycle. This includes crucial functions such as recruitment, onboarding, leave management, time tracking, performance evaluations, and HR administration.

OrangeHRM is available in two main editions: a free, open-source Community Edition, which offers essential features for smaller businesses, and a Professional/Advanced version that includes a broader array of functionalities designed for more complex organizational needs. This versatility ensures that businesses of all sizes can find a suitable option.

In this article, you’ll learn how to install the open-source version.

The primary objectives of OrangeHRM are to centralize HR data, automate repetitive tasks to enhance operational efficiency, improve data accuracy, and generate insightful reports. By streamlining these processes, OrangeHRM empowers HR departments to function more strategically and significantly enhances the overall employee experience within the organization.

What is Hostinger?

Hostinger is a top web hosting company offering multiple hosting solutions to help people and businesses build and manage their online presence successfully. The company provides four main hosting solutions, which include shared hosting for beginners and small websites, managed WordPress hosting for WordPress CMS users, cloud hosting for scalable performance needs, and Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting for projects that need dedicated resources.

The server space provided by Hostinger includes a simple website builder that uses advanced AI tools to help users create their sites quickly. Hostinger’s annual plans come with complimentary domain names, which create a unified online presence, and free SSL certificates, which protect data transmission through encryption. Hostinger also offers website migration services that simplify the process of moving existing websites to its platform.

Hostinger achieves high performance through its implementation of LiteSpeed technology and NVMe storage solutions and its extensive data center network worldwide. The strategic data center arrangement provides fast website loading speeds and reliable uptime performance. Hostinger offers professional email services for business correspondence and maintains strong security measures through malware detection tools and DDoS protection systems to protect user websites. The company maintains a 24/7 live chat and email support system to help users with technical problems and questions.

How to install OrangeHRM onto Hostinger

Screenshot showing how to install OrangeHRM on Hostinger

(Image credit: Future)

The quickest way to get OrangeHRM up and running is to use Hostinger’s Auto-Installer tool. You can install it manually if your hosting platform doesn’t offer something like this. These steps are available on the OrangeHRM website.

To get started using the Auto Installer:

- Log in to your Hostinger account on the official Hostinger website.

- From the left-hand menu, click on Websites.

- Next to your account name, click Dashboard.

- In the left-hand menu, go to Websites again and select Auto Installer.

- Under the "Other" section, click Select.

- From the dropdown menu, choose OrangeHRM.

- Click Select.

A pop-up window will appear to configure your installation. To keep it separate from your main site, it’s recommended that you install OrangeHRM in a subdirectory of your website (e.g., `yourdomain.com/HRM`).

During these next steps, you must assign a Website Title, Administrator Email, Administrator Username, and Administrator Password at the top of the pop-up window.

Next, click Advanced, then:

In the Enter Subdirectory box, type the name you want for your subdirectory (e.g., `ls`, `HRM`, `orangeHRM`).

Important: Make sure "Create new database" is selected, and then assign a strong password for this new database.

Final steps

Homepage for an OrangeHRM installation

(Image credit: Future)

Once you’ve installed OrangeHRM on your server, it’s time to prepare it for use. To do this, log into the subdirectory where you installed it using the credentials you provided above.

From there, add essential company information such as the organization name, address, and fiscal year. You'll also need to establish the basic organizational structure, including departments, job titles, and locations, and define roles and permissions for different user types within the system. After that, you should start populating the employee database, ensuring that all relevant personal and professional details are entered accurately.

Finally, explore the various modules available in OrangeHRM, such as leave management, time tracking, and performance management, and customize them to align with your organization's specific HR policies and workflows. Regular backups of your OrangeHRM database are also highly recommended to prevent data loss.

Manual installation

If your web-host provider doesn’t offer an auto-install feature, you can install OrangeHRM manually by downloading the necessary files from the company’s website.

Installing open-source OrangeHRM involves steps, beginning with ensuring your server meets the necessary prerequisites. This typically includes having an Apache HTTP Server (version 2.2 or later), a MySQL or MariaDB database (version 5.5 or later), and PHP (version 7.4 or later) with various essential extensions enabled. Many users simplify this by using an AMP stack solution such as XAMPP or WAMP. Once your environment is ready, download the OrangeHRM open-source package from their official website.

Next, prepare your server by creating an empty database for OrangeHRM and noting down the database name, username, and a strong password; this user will need specific permissions for installation. You'll also need to configure your `php.ini` file to adjust settings like `memory_limit` and `max_execution_time` to prevent issues during installation. After preparing your environment, extract the downloaded OrangeHRM files into your web server's document root (e.g., `htdocs` or `/var/www/html/`). Ensuring your web server user has write permissions to the OrangeHRM installation directory is crucial, especially the `lib/confs` folder.

Finally, you can run the web installer. Open your browser and navigate to the URL where you extracted OrangeHRM (e.g., `http://localhost/orangehrm/`). The installer will guide you through a series of steps: accepting the license, a system check to verify prerequisites, configuring your database details (including creating a less privileged database user for day-to-day operations), providing organizational information, and creating the main administrator account with a strong username and password. After reviewing your details, the installer will complete the process, allowing you to log in to your new OrangeHRM system. Post-installation, it's highly recommended to implement security measures like changing file permissions, setting up SSL/TLS for HTTPS, and establishing a routine for regular backups.

Bryan M Wolfe

Bryan M. Wolfe is a staff writer at TechRadar, iMore, and wherever Future can use him. Though his passion is Apple-based products, he doesn't have a problem using Windows and Android. Bryan's a single father of a 15-year-old daughter and a puppy, Isabelle. Thanks for reading!

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