Install and Use Webmin on Ubuntu 22.04 | Best Administration Tool

This tutorial guides you through the process to Install and Use Webmin on Ubuntu 22.04. Webmin is a powerful Linux/Unix system administration tool accessible via a web browser. It allows you to manage your server through a user-friendly graphical interface. Webmin’s capabilities extend beyond single-server management, enabling you to control multiple machines from a centralized dashboard or seamlessly log in to other Webmin instances on the same network. Let’s dive into how to Install and Use Webmin on Ubuntu 22.04.

To successfully complete this guide, ensure you are logged in to your Ubuntu 22.04 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges and have a basic firewall configured. If you haven’t already done so, you can refer to a guide like "Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 22.04" for detailed instructions.

1. Install Webmin Ubuntu 22.04

First, update your local package index:

sudo apt update

Next, install the necessary packages:

sudo apt install gnupg2 curl -y

Webmin packages are not included in the default Ubuntu repositories, so you need to add the Webmin repository to your system.

Add Webmin GPG key

Download and add the Webmin GPG key using the following command:

wget -qO - http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc | sudo apt-key add -

Add Webmin Repository

Add the Webmin repository with this command:

sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib" > 
/etc/apt/sources.list.d/webmin.list'

After adding the repository, update the system:

sudo apt update

Now, install Webmin:

sudo apt install webmin -y

With the installation complete, let’s examine how to manage the Webmin service.

2. Manage Webmin Service on Ubuntu 22.04

Start the Webmin service:

sudo systemctl start webmin

Enable the service to start automatically at boot:

sudo systemctl enable webmin

Verify the Webmin service is active and running:

sudo systemctl status webmin

You should see output similar to this:

**Output**
● webmin.service - Webmin server daemon
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/webmin.service; enabled; vendor preset=enabled)
     Active: **active** (**running**) since Sun 2023-02-19 10:03:08 UTC; 22s ago
   Main PID: 3233 (miniserv.pl)
      Tasks: 1 (limit: 4575)
     Memory: 116.5M
        CPU: 9.945s
     CGroup: /system.slice/webmin.service
             └─3233 /usr/bin/perl /usr/share/webmin/miniserv.pl /etc/webmin/miniserv.conf

3. Configure Firewall for Webmin Ubuntu

Assuming you have enabled the UFW firewall, you need to allow traffic to Webmin’s port.

By default, Webmin listens on port 10000. Check this using:

ss -antpl | grep 10000

You should see output like this:

**Output**
LISTEN 0      4096         0.0.0.0:10000      0.0.0.0:*    users:(("miniserv.pl",pid=3233,fd=5))

Allow Webmin port 10000 through the firewall:

sudo ufw allow 10000

Reload the firewall to apply the new rules:

sudo ufw reload

4. Access Webmin Dashboard

Access the Webmin dashboard via your web browser by entering your server’s IP address followed by :10000:

https://<server-ip>:<10000>

You’ll see the Webmin login screen:

Enter your root username and password, then click Sign in. You will be presented with the Webmin dashboard:

Now you can use the Webmin dashboard to manage your server.

5. Use Webmin Ubuntu 22.04

From the dashboard, navigate to Tools -> Command Shell to access a Linux terminal within Webmin.

To manage files and directories, go to Tools -> File Manager.

For uploading and downloading files, select Tools -> Upload and Download.

Configure network settings under Networking -> Network Configuration.

Manage disk partitions via Hardware -> Partitions and Local Disks.

6. Uninstall Webmin from Ubuntu 22.04

To remove Webmin, execute:

sudo apt remove webmin

Clean the package cache and remove unwanted packages:

sudo apt autoremove -y
sudo apt clean

Conclusion

You have now successfully learned how to Install and Use Webmin on Ubuntu 22.04. Webmin simplifies server administration through its graphical interface, enabling you to manage users, web servers, system performance, databases, file sharing, and backups without complex command-line commands. Install and Use Webmin on Ubuntu 22.04 to simplify your server administration tasks.

Here are some related articles you might find interesting:

• Install and Use ClamAV on Ubuntu 22.04
• Install and Use FFmpeg on Ubuntu 22.04
• Install Zabbix 6.4 Ubuntu 22.04
• Changing Hostname on Ubuntu 22.04
• TeamViewer Setup Ubuntu 20.04
• Install Caddy Ubuntu 22.04

Alternative Solutions for Server Administration on Ubuntu 22.04

While Webmin is a popular choice, several alternative solutions can accomplish similar server administration tasks on Ubuntu 22.04. Here are two distinct approaches:

1. Cockpit:

Cockpit is a free and open-source web-based interface that provides a streamlined and modern approach to server administration. Unlike Webmin, which has a more traditional, feature-rich interface, Cockpit focuses on essential tasks and integrates seamlessly with the existing system administration tools. One of its core strengths is its use of the system’s existing APIs, meaning any changes made through Cockpit are reflected in the standard system configuration files and vice versa. This prevents inconsistencies and ensures compatibility. Cockpit also supports managing multiple servers from a single dashboard.

• Installation:

  sudo apt update
  sudo apt install cockpit

• Access: Open your web browser and navigate to https://<server-ip>:9090. Log in with your system user credentials (the same user you use for SSH).

• Key Features: Cockpit offers features for managing storage, networking, user accounts, services, and system updates. It also provides a terminal interface within the web browser.

• Advantages:

  • Modern and intuitive user interface.
  • Seamless integration with existing system administration tools.
  • Lightweight and efficient.
  • Easy to manage multiple servers.

• Disadvantages:

  • Fewer features compared to Webmin (focuses on core tasks).
  • May require command-line knowledge for advanced configurations.

2. Command Line Interface (CLI) with Scripting:

Instead of relying on a GUI, you can manage your server directly through the command line using a combination of standard Linux commands and custom scripts. This approach offers maximum flexibility and control but requires a deeper understanding of Linux system administration. Shell scripts can automate repetitive tasks, monitor system resources, and even create custom dashboards using tools like awk, sed, and grep to parse command outputs.

• Example Script (Disk Space Monitoring):

  #!/bin/bash
  
  # Script to monitor disk space usage
  
  THRESHOLD=90 # Percentage threshold for warning
  
  USAGE=$(df -h / | awk 'NR==2 {print $5}' | tr -d '%')
  
  if [ "$USAGE" -gt "$THRESHOLD" ]; then
    echo "Warning: Disk space usage on / is above $THRESHOLD% ($USAGE%)"
    # You could add email notifications here using `mail` command
  else
    echo "Disk space usage on / is $USAGE%"
  fi

  Save this script as disk_space_check.sh, make it executable with chmod +x disk_space_check.sh, and then run it with ./disk_space_check.sh. You can schedule this script to run regularly using cron.

• Key Features:

  • Complete control over the system.
  • Automation of repetitive tasks through scripting.
  • Ability to create custom monitoring and reporting tools.

• Advantages:

  • Maximum flexibility and control.
  • Highly efficient and resource-friendly.
  • No GUI overhead.

• Disadvantages:

  • Requires strong Linux command-line skills.
  • Steeper learning curve.
  • Can be time-consuming to set up and maintain complex scripts.
  • Lack of a visual overview of the system.

Choosing between Webmin, Cockpit, and CLI-based administration depends on your experience level, specific needs, and preferred workflow. Webmin provides a comprehensive GUI for those comfortable with its interface. Cockpit offers a more modern and streamlined web-based experience. The CLI provides the greatest flexibility for experienced administrators who prefer direct control. Each approach has its strengths and weaknesses, so evaluate them carefully to determine the best fit for your Ubuntu 22.04 server administration needs.