Version 3.86 Are you using the most current PDF version of this how-to? Version numbers are located at the top right of this page The latest and great version is always available at my homepage http://woodel.com Setting up a Linux Server, Start to Finish, using Webmin. By Kevin Elwood This how-to assumes your looking to setup a Linux Server, not a Linux Desktop. For use without a keyboard, mouse, or GUI interface. After setup completes you will be remotely managing it, and will not have a need for the monitor and keyboard once you have finished the initial setup. This how-to also assumes you are connected to the internet, and have at least (2) computers on the same network. It also assumes you will have at least (2) hard-drives in the server, one for the O.S. and one for the data. Only one network card is needed until the optional \ advanced section. For every download link, I offer an alternative source (from my server) so that you may follow this how-to exactly, down to the same versions I used. Newer is better, and you’re encouraged to upgrade after you complete this how-to. But for continuity and flow, I provide a link to the same exact versions used in this how-to. Also due to upgrades some versions may no longer be available, if you run into this just use the links to my server, this will ensure matching print screens, or go to webmin.com and find the newer link. This how-to covers everything from the most basic setup, to a full blown server. You can choose how far to go in this step by step how-to, even setting your Linux box up as your Router, Samba FileServer, Firewall, DNS, HTTP, HTTPS, FTP, VMWare Server, backup solution, and more. No table-of-contents, it is assumed you will follow this how-to, step by step, as each page builds off the previous ones. If you skip a page, you could miss an installer or file called for later in the how-to. I hope you will find this how-to helpful. I will try my best to respond via email at [email protected] if you have questions, I will try my best to respond to all of them, but please try my BLOG first. With any luck that will turn into a knowledge base. My stuff will always be free for personal use, but if you would still like to contribute, you can donate money towards this, or one of my other how-to's 1 *Special thanks to: Bill M., Mike J., Julio C., NathanR., Tim R., James M., Melissa E., Peter B., ggaron, till, sammydee, Mad Professor, AdamLis, Mihai Marinof, Lani78, Jordan Sissel, Jerome1232, Drdos2006, and of course Jamie Cameron (Webmin \ Usermin), Putty, Cobian Backup, Debian Linux, Ubuntu, Ubuntuforums.org and the millions of people that make Linux possible. - OK... Let’s begin Although this guide was created using Debian, it will also help Ubuntu users. You will run into some problems with Ubuntu’s firewall (UFW) and Ubuntu’s Network Manager. Ubuntu’s local email and the way Ubuntu restarts services. Ubuntu uses vi not vim. But these aren’t major problems, the work a rounds and differences are fairly minor, you can email me or read my blog for help. For a step-by-step install, please use Debian 5.xx 2 Start by downloading and burning the latest stable Debian 5 .iso from http://www.debian.org/CD/http-ftp/ … Or from my sever (32 bit) http://t3.woodel.com/my-linux-how-to/debian-503-i386-CD-1.iso (64 bit) http://t3.woodel.com/my-linux-how-to/debian-503-amd64-CD-1.iso * You only need CD #1 , if there is more than one to choose from 3 *Due to upgrades some versions may no longer be available, if you run into this just use the links to my server, this will ensure matching print- screens. Or go to debian.org and find the newer link. Before you begin the install… Remove any unwanted \ unneeded hardware. Such as zip drives, sound cards, etc… Disable any useless BIOS options, such as com ports, integrated sound cards, etc… Disable any Keyboard or Mouse warnings Disable any power management features If your BIOS has an OS option, choose “Other” Remove all hard drives except the one you’re planning on being the OS drive. This will ensure you do not format the wrong drive, and help make this how-to a little smaller and easier to follow. It is assumed you only have one network card at this point. If you have more than one, you may want to remove or disable them. The second NIC won’t be used until the optional \ advanced sections, and can interfere with the eth numbering and firewall setup pre optional \ advanced section. 4 Boot the computer off the Debian install CD, and choose “Install” Do not choose “Graphical Install” you don’t want that, just choose Install. Everything in this how-to is case sensitive, so if I use lower-case, then use lower-case. If you see something in capital letters, make sure to use capitals. Basically copy it exactly as you see it. 5 6 7 8 Choose a unique name for the computer, I did deb32server1 To me that means, Debian, 32bit, Server, first one of several Think of it as your computers first name, and on the next page we will set the last name. You can make something up, we will be referring to this computer by its IP address anyway so the name is somewhat meaningless, as long as the name is unique, so that you don’t have a same name conflict with another computer on your network. 9 You can even use deb32server1 just like I did This is private to your network, it doesn’t matter if you copy me exactly it may even help make the how-to a little easier to follow. Choose a domain name for the computer, I did diy.lan Which to me means, Do It Yourself . Local Area Network You can make something up. It’s almost like a last name for your computers. It’s totally private to your network. But just like your family, you’re going to want to have all the same last name on all your computers. 10 Which makes this computers full name deb32server1.diy.lan Which to me means Debian, 32bit, Server, first one of several, on a custom do it yourself Local Network We will be referring to this computer by its IP address for now anyway, so this isn’t too important at this point. Much later on in the how-to, when we setup a Local Dynamic DNS server (which is optional and advanced) you might find it easier to follow the how-to, if you also use diy.lan It doesn’t have to end with .lan you could make something up. I just think it will help the flow of the how-to if you chose something ending in .lan 11 Choose your time zone 12 Choose “Guided – use entire disk” 13 If you removed all the other hard-drives pre install, you should only see one option here. 14 Choose “All files in one partition” 15 16 17 Choose a password for the account named root (choose a very strong password here) 18 Created a second user, so you don’t always have to login as root. Here I used the name wood You can use anything you want 19 I like to keep the username the same as the full name, this can help avoid confusion later on. 20 Choose a password for the account you just created (Choose a very strong password here, this user will have more rights than a normal user) 21 22 23 24 25 You should be able to leave this blank, and click “Continue” If you have a proxy, chances are you would know what to do here anyway. 26 27 Using the Space bar on your keyboard, un-check Desktop environment. Make sure to un-check everything. With the exception of Standard system We will install most of these things later in the how-to, don’t be tempted to click on them now. And most importantly, do not choose Desktop environment. This is a server how-to, not a desktop how-to. 28 29 Remove the CD, and press Continue 30 Did you see this screen? If not you probably didn’t remove the CD. Make sure you are not booting off the CD anymore. 31 If everything goes right, you should get a lot of text on the screen and finally a login prompt like this one. Please ignore that mine says debian-1 at the bottom left. I am just at a different computer today. If you were expecting that to say; deb32server1 login : you are right I am just at a different computer today. Your screen will say your computer name, followed by a login prompt This won’t interrupt the flow of anything at this point 32 Login as username root with the password you specified during setup. *Note, if you can’t login as root, login as your username, and type sudo before every command 33 Type vim /etc/apt/sources.list *Note, if you get an error, some versions of Linux might want you to type vi instead of vim Then hit the Enter key on your keyboard (there is always a space after vim) 34 * If you don’t see anything on the screen (the contents of that file) then you typed something wrong.