How To Install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9 | Best SysAdmin Tool

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How To Install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9 | Best SysAdmin Tool

This guide on the Orcacore website will teach you how to How To Install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9. Webmin is a web-based interface for system administration for Linux/Unix. Webmin also allows for controlling many machines through a single interface or seamless login on other Webmin hosts on the same subnet or LAN. You would use any modern web browser to connect to your server.

Webmin removes the need to manually edit Linux/Unix configuration files and lets you manage a server from the console or remotely.

With Webmin, you can configure operating system internals such as users, service or configuration files, and disk quotas, as well as modify and control open-source applications such as Apache or Tomcat, PHP, MySQL, DNS, and file sharing. Webmin, based on Perl, runs as its own process and the web server.

Steps To Install and Use Webmin on AlmaLinux 9

To complete this guide, you must log in to your server as a root user and set up a basic firewall. To do this, you can follow our guide on Initial Server Setup with AlmaLinux 9.

1. Install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9

Here we will add the Webmin repository by creating a yum repository file.

Add Webmin Repository

To add the Webmin repository to your server, use the following command:

cat << EOF > /etc/yum.repos.d/webmin.repo
[Webmin]
name=Webmin Distribution Neutral
#baseurl=https://download.webmin.com/download/yum
mirrorlist=https://download.webmin.com/download/yum/mirrorlist
enabled=1
gpgkey=https://download.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc
gpgcheck=1
EOF

Import Webmin GPG Key

Then, you need to import the Webmin GPG key by using the following command:

wget https://download.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc
rpm --import jcameron-key.asc

Now run the system update:

dnf update -y

Install Webmin

At this point, you can use the command below to install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9:

dnf install perl webmin -y

Note: All dependencies should be resolved automatically.

Webmin will start automatically on your server. Verify your Webmin service is active and running on your server:

systemctl status webmin
**Output**
● webmin.service - Webmin server daemon
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/webmin.service; enabled; vendor pr>
     Active: **active** (**running**) since Sat 2022-12-03 03:46:20 EST; 6s ago
    Process: 71258 ExecStart=/usr/libexec/webmin/miniserv.pl /etc/webmin/minise>
   Main PID: 71259 (miniserv.pl)
      Tasks: 4 (limit: 23609)
     Memory: 54.3M
        CPU: 4.520s
     CGroup: /system.slice/webmin.service
...

2. Configure Firewall for Webmin

By default, Webmin listens on port 10000. You can check it using the following command:

ss -antpl | grep 10000

You should see the following output:

**Output**
LISTEN 0      4096         0.0.0.0:10000      0.0.0.0:*    users:(("miniserv.pl",pid=71259,fd=5))

Now you need to allow Webmin port 10000 through the AlmaLinux firewall with the following command:

firewall-cmd --add-port=10000/tcp --permanent

To apply the new rules, reload the firewall:

firewall-cmd --reload

3. Access Webmin Dashboard

Now that you have installed Webmin on your AlmaLinux 9, you can access your Webmin dashboard through a web interface. To do this, type your server’s IP address in your web browser followed by 10000:

https://server-ip:10000

You will see your Webmin login screen. Provide your root username, and password, and click on the Sign in button.

Install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9 - Webmin login screen

You should see the Webmin dashboard:

From here, you can configure operating system internals such as users, service or configuration files, and disk quotas, as well as modify and control open-source applications such as Apache or Tomcat, PHP, MySQL, DNS, and file sharing.

4. How To Use Webmin on AlmaLinux 9?

At this point, we want to show you a basic usage of Webmin. From your dashboard, in the left pane, click on Tools => Command Shell. You can access your Linux terminal and execute your commands.

You can easily create a file or directory and manage the entire file system. To do this, Click on Tools => File Manager.

To upload and download any file to your AlmaLinux 9 server, Click on Tools => Upload and Download from your Webmin dashboard.

Click on the Networking => Network Configuration. You should see the network configuration wizard.

From here, you can set up a static IP address, default gateway, hostname, and DNS.

Also, you can create and edit your hard disk partitions. Click on Hardware => Partitions and Local Disks.

For more information, you can visit the Webmin Documentation page.

Conclusion

At this point, you have learned to Install and Access Webmin Dashboard on AlmaLinux 9. Also, you have learned to use Webmin on AlmaLinux 9 including accessing terminal, networking, uploading, downloading, etc.

Hope you enjoy it. You may also like these articles:

Install Visual Studio Code on AlmaLinux 9

Install Varnish Cache with Apache on AlmaLinux 9

How To Install Plesk on AlmaLinux 9

Alternative Solutions to Installing Webmin on AlmaLinux 9

While the above method of installing Webmin by adding the official repository is a recommended approach, here are two alternative methods you can consider, offering different levels of automation and potentially addressing specific requirements:

1. Using a Pre-built RPM Package (If Available)

Sometimes, you might find pre-built RPM packages for Webmin available through third-party repositories or directly from the Webmin website (although the official method is preferred for security reasons). If a trusted RPM is available, you can directly download and install it. This method bypasses the need to manually create a repository file.

Explanation:

This approach is faster than manually creating the repository file because it involves downloading and installing a single package. However, it’s crucial to ensure the RPM comes from a trustworthy source. Installing packages from unknown or untrusted sources can expose your system to security risks. This method can be useful if you need to install Webmin on a system without direct internet access (assuming you can transfer the RPM file).

Example (Hypothetical – Use with EXTREME Caution):

Disclaimer: This example assumes the existence of a trustworthy RPM. Do not blindly execute this without verifying the source and integrity of the RPM package.

wget https://example.com/webmin_latest.rpm  # Replace with the actual URL of a TRUSTED RPM
dnf install ./webmin_latest.rpm -y

Important Considerations:

  • Source Verification: Always verify the source and integrity of the RPM before installing. Check the website’s reputation, look for checksums or digital signatures, and ideally, compare the package with other sources.
  • Dependencies: The dnf command should handle dependencies, but verify that all required packages are installed after the installation.

2. Using Cockpit (AlmaLinux’s Native Web Console)

AlmaLinux includes Cockpit, a web-based interface for system administration. While Cockpit doesn’t have all the features of Webmin, it provides a solid foundation for managing your server and is tightly integrated with the system. For many common tasks, Cockpit can be a suitable alternative, and it avoids the need to install additional software.

Explanation:

Cockpit is a lightweight and efficient web console that provides a graphical interface for managing various aspects of your AlmaLinux server. It’s included by default in many AlmaLinux installations and uses the same system APIs as the command-line interface, ensuring consistency and security. Using Cockpit reduces the attack surface by avoiding the installation of third-party software like Webmin.

Installation and Access (if not already installed):

dnf install cockpit -y
systemctl start cockpit.socket
systemctl enable cockpit.socket  # To start on boot
firewall-cmd --add-service=cockpit --permanent
firewall-cmd --reload

Accessing Cockpit:

Open your web browser and navigate to:

https://server-ip:9090

Log in with your system user credentials (the same credentials you use for SSH).

Why Cockpit is a Good Alternative:

  • Security: Tightly integrated with the system and uses existing system APIs.
  • Performance: Lightweight and efficient.
  • Integration: Seamlessly integrates with other system tools and services.
  • No Extra Software: Avoids the need to install and maintain separate software packages.

While Webmin offers a broader range of features, Cockpit provides a solid foundation for server management, especially for users who prefer a native and lightweight solution. Consider your specific needs and security requirements when choosing between Webmin and Cockpit. For basic system administration, Cockpit might be all you need.

How To Install Webmin on AlmaLinux 9 provides comprehensive guidance on installing and utilizing Webmin, a powerful tool. This article aims to expand your options with the alternative methods detailed above.

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