Install Webmin on Debian 12 From Command Line: Easy Guide

In this tutorial, you will learn how to Install Webmin on Debian 12 from the Command Line. Webmin is a powerful web-based system administration tool. It provides a user-friendly graphical interface that allows you to manage various system tasks, including system configuration, user account management, file sharing, package installation, network configuration, and more.

Here on the Orcacore website, we guide you through the process of installing Webmin on Debian 12 using the automatic setup script provided by the official website. This method offers a streamlined approach to getting Webmin up and running.

To successfully Install Webmin on Debian 12, you’ll need to access your server with root privileges and ensure a basic firewall is set up. For guidance on this, you can refer to the Initial Server Setup with Debian 12 guide.

Now, let’s walk through the steps to Install Webmin on Debian 12.

Step 1 – Webmin Installation with Setup Script on Debian 12

First, update your system’s package lists and install some required packages using the following commands:

# apt update
# apt install gnupg2 curl -y

Next, navigate to your /tmp directory:

cd /tmp

Now, use the following curl command to download the Webmin automatic setup script:

curl -o setup-repos.sh https://raw.githubusercontent.com/webmin/webmin/master/setup-repos.sh

Then, execute the script to begin your Webmin setup on Debian 12:

sh setup-repos.sh

Press Y when prompted to start the setup.

Finally, update the system again and install Webmin on Debian 12:

# apt update
# apt install webmin --install-recommends -y

Step 2 – Start and Enable Webmin Service on Debian 12

Now, you can easily start and enable your Webmin service using the following commands:

# systemctl start webmin
# systemctl enable webmin

Then, verify that your Webmin service is active and running on Debian 12:

systemctl status webmin

Step 3 – Firewall Rules For Webmin on Debian 12

In this step, we assume that you have enabled the UFW firewall. The default listening port for Webmin is 10000. You need to allow traffic on port 10000 through your UFW firewall. To do this, run the command below:

ufw allow 10000

Then, reload the firewall to apply the new rules:

ufw reload

Note: you can check UFW Firewall Configuration on Debian 12 to get more information.

Step 4 – Access Webmin Dashboard from the Web Interface

Once your setup is completed, you can access your Webmin dashboard by typing your server’s IP address in your web browser followed by port 10000:

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

Note: You can find your public IP address by visiting this guide on 4 Linux Commands to Get Public IP Address.

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

Now you should see your Webmin web-based dashboard on Debian 12:

From the dashboard, you can start performing your system tasks, including system configuration, user account management, file sharing, package installation, network configuration, etc.

Now let’s see some of the usages of the Webmin dashboard.

Step 5 – Command Shell in Webmin

Webmin has a feature that allows you to access your Linux terminal and run commands directly through the web interface. This feature is called Command Shell. To access it, from your dashboard, navigate to Tools => Command Shell.

Step 6 – Webmin File Manager

This feature on the Webmin dashboard allows users to browse, manage, and manipulate files and directories on Debian 12. To access it, navigate to Tools => File Manager.

Step 7 – Upload and Download in Webmin

This feature allows you to download files or web pages from HTTP or FTP URLs to the system running Webmin. The download can be done immediately or scheduled for a later time. To access this feature, navigate to Tools => Upload and Download.

Step 8 – Network Configuration in Webmin

In Webmin, the Network Configuration module allows you to manage different network-related settings and configurations on your server. This module allows you to configure network interfaces, set up networking parameters, manage routing tables, configure network services, and more.

To access this module, click on Networking => Network Configuration.

For more information, you can visit the official docs page.

Final Words on Webmin Setup on Debian 12

In conclusion, to Install Webmin on Debian 12 offers a straightforward method for managing system administration tasks through a user-friendly web interface. By following the installation process, users gain access to a comprehensive suite of tools and modules for configuring, monitoring, and maintaining their servers. We hope you found this guide helpful.

Also, you may like to read the following tutorials:

Plesk Installation on Debian 12 From Command Line

Install and Use Webmin on Rocky Linux 9

Best Sites to Run Linux in Browser

Introduce the Best Web Hosting Control Panels

Alternative Methods to Install Webmin on Debian 12

While the automatic setup script provides a simple way to install Webmin, there are alternative methods available. Here are two different approaches:

1. Manual Installation from Webmin’s APT Repository

This method involves manually adding the Webmin repository to your system’s APT sources and installing Webmin using the apt package manager. This gives you more control over the installation process and allows you to verify the source of the packages.

Steps:

1. Add the Webmin Repository: Create a new APT source list file for Webmin.

   echo "deb https://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/webmin.list

2. Download and Install the Webmin GPG Key: This ensures that the packages you download from the repository are authentic.

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

3. Update the APT Package List:

   sudo apt update

4. Install Webmin:

   sudo apt install webmin

5. Start and Enable Webmin: As in the original guide.

   # systemctl start webmin
   # systemctl enable webmin

2. Using Docker

Docker provides a containerized environment for running applications, including Webmin. This method isolates Webmin from your host system, simplifying updates and preventing conflicts with other installed software.

Steps:

1. Install Docker: If Docker isn’t already installed, you’ll need to install it.

   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install docker.io
   sudo systemctl start docker
   sudo systemctl enable docker

2. Pull the Webmin Docker Image: Find a suitable Webmin Docker image on Docker Hub. A common one is webmin/webmin.

   sudo docker pull webmin/webmin

3. Run the Webmin Docker Container: This command creates and starts a Webmin container. You’ll need to map port 10000 from the container to a port on your host (also 10000 is typical). You’ll also want to mount a volume to persist the Webmin configuration data.

   sudo docker run -d -p 10000:10000 --name webmin -v webmin_data:/var/webmin webmin/webmin

Explanation:

• -d: Runs the container in detached mode (in the background).
• -p 10000:10000: Maps port 10000 on the host to port 10000 in the container.
• --name webmin: Assigns the name "webmin" to the container for easy management.
• -v webmin_data:/var/webmin: Creates a named volume "webmin_data" that persists the Webmin data even if the container is stopped or removed. /var/webmin is the directory inside the container where Webmin stores its configuration and data.

4. Access Webmin: Open your web browser and navigate to https://<server-ip>:10000. The default username is root, and you’ll need to set a password inside the docker container. Run the following command to enter the container and set the password:

   sudo docker exec -it webmin bash

   Then, run the following command to set the password

   /usr/sbin/webminpasswd root <your_new_password>

   Replace <your_new_password> with the actual password.

These alternative methods offer flexibility in how you Install Webmin on Debian 12, catering to different preferences and system requirements.