Configure Webmin to manage your Linux server through a powerful web-based interface. Webmin is a popular tool for system administration on Unix-like systems, allowing you to handle user accounts, file sharing, firewall settings, and more, all from your browser. Configuring Webmin on Linux gives you a simple, intuitive way to manage your system without having to rely on the command line for every task.

In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install and configure Webmin on a Linux server.

Prerequisites

Before you install and configure Webmin on your Linux system, ensure that you have the following:

Linux Distribution: Webmin can be installed on various Linux distributions, including Ubuntu, CentOS, Debian, and RHEL.
Root Access: You need root or sudo privileges to install Webmin and configure system settings.
Firewall Access: Ensure that port 10000 (the default port for Webmin) is open in your firewall for access.

Configure Webmin on Linux

Configure Webmin on Linux to simplify server administration through a web-based interface. Webmin allows you to manage users, services, packages, and system settings without using the command line, making Linux system management more accessible and efficient.

Step 1: Install Webmin

Webmin is not available in the default repositories for all Linux distributions, but you can easily install it using the official Webmin repositories.

Install Webmin on Ubuntu/Debian

Download the Webmin package

First, update your system and install dependencies:

sudo apt update sudo apt install -y software-properties-common apt-transport-https

Then, add the Webmin repository:

sudo add-apt-repository "deb http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib"

Add the Webmin GPG key

Download and add the GPG key used for package signing:

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

Install Webmin

Once the repository and GPG key are added, update the package list and install Webmin:

sudo apt update sudo apt install -y webmin

Webmin will now be installed, and you can access it through your browser.

Install Webmin on CentOS/RHEL

Install Dependencies

On CentOS/RHEL, first install the required dependencies:

sudo yum install -y perl

Add the Webmin Repository

Add the Webmin repository by creating a .repo file:

sudo nano /etc/yum.repos.d/webmin.repo

Add the following content to the file:

[Webmin]
name=Webmin Distribution
baseurl=http://download.webmin.com/download/yum
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=http://www.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc

Install Webmin

After adding the repository, install Webmin with:

sudo yum install -y webmin

Webmin will be installed, and you can access it in your browser.

Step 2: Start Webmin

Start the Webmin Service

After installation, start the Webmin service:

sudo systemctl start webmin

Enable Webmin on Boot

To ensure Webmin starts automatically after a system reboot:

sudo systemctl enable webmin

Check Webmin Status

You can check if Webmin is running with:

sudo systemctl status webmin

If Webmin is running, the status should show active (running).

Step 3: Access Webmin

Once Webmin is installed and running, you can access its web interface via a browser.

Open the Webmin Interface

Open a web browser and navigate to the following URL:

https://your-server-ip:10000

Replace your-server-ip with the actual IP address of your Linux server.

Login to Webmin

On the Webmin login page, use your root or sudo-enabled user credentials to log in. The default username is usually root, and the password is the root user’s password. If you get a security warning about the SSL certificate, you can safely ignore it since Webmin uses a self-signed certificate by default.

Step 4: Basic Webmin Configuration

Once logged in, Webmin will display its dashboard, allowing you to manage various aspects of the system. Some key configuration tasks include:

Set Up SSL

By default, Webmin uses a self-signed SSL certificate. If you want to use a trusted SSL certificate, navigate to the Webmin → Webmin Configuration → SSL Encryption menu, and upload your SSL certificate and private key.

Change Webmin Port

If you want to change the default Webmin port (10000), navigate to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Ports and Addresses. Here, you can change the port and bind address.

Enable IP Access Restrictions

For added security, it’s recommended to restrict Webmin access to trusted IP addresses. Go to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → IP Access Control and specify the allowed IPs or ranges.

Create New Users and Groups

You can manage users and groups from the System → Users and Groups section. You can add new users, assign them roles, and configure their permissions.

Configure System Services

Use Webmin to manage system services by navigating to System → Bootup and Shutdown. Here, you can enable or disable services that start at boot time, such as SSH, Apache, and more.

Step 5: Installing Additional Modules

Webmin allows you to extend its functionality by installing additional modules. For example, you can install modules to manage databases (MySQL, PostgreSQL), configure firewall settings, or monitor system resources.

Install Modules

Go to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Module Config and click on Install Module. You can choose to install modules from the Webmin package, or you can upload custom module files.

Popular Modules

Some commonly used modules are:

Usermin: A simplified interface for users to manage their email, files, and other services.
Virtualmin: A powerful hosting control panel for managing virtual servers, websites, and domains.
MySQL Database Module: For managing MySQL databases.
PostgreSQL Database Module: For managing PostgreSQL databases.

Step 6: Update Webmin

Webmin frequently receives updates to improve functionality and security. To keep Webmin updated:

Check for Updates

Webmin automatically checks for updates, but you can manually trigger the check from the Webmin dashboard by going to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Upgrade Webmin.

Update Webmin

If an update is available, you can apply it through the Webmin interface. Alternatively, on the command line, you can update Webmin using the following commands:

For Ubuntu/Debian:

sudo apt update 
sudo apt upgrade webmin

For CentOS/RHEL:

sudo yum update webmin

Step 7: Backup Webmin Configuration

It’s important to back up your Webmin configuration regularly. To do this:

Backup Webmin Configuration

Go to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Backup Configuration. You can create a backup of Webmin’s configuration settings and store it on the server or download it for safekeeping.

Restore Webmin Configuration

If you need to restore a backup, navigate to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Restore Configuration and upload the backup file.

Conclusion

In this guide, we’ve walked through how to configure Webmin on Linux, from installation to managing system services and users. Webmin provides a simple and powerful web interface for administering a Linux system, making it an excellent tool for both beginners and experienced administrators.

By following these steps, you now have a fully functional Webmin installation that allows you to manage your server remotely and securely. Whether you’re managing system services, databases, or user accounts, Webmin makes Linux server administration easier and more intuitive.

Quickly Configure Webmin on Linux for Easy Admin Control