How to Install Webmin on Your Raspberry Pi

Ben
Ben
@benjislab

Webmin is a versatile tool that simplifies the administration of Unix-based systems, like your Raspberry Pi, through a web-based interface. It allows you to handle tasks such as managing user accounts, updating software, configuring firewalls, and setting up scheduled jobs without needing to use the command line. Here’s how you can install Webmin on your Raspberry Pi:

Equipment Needed

  • Raspberry Pi with Raspberry Pi OS installed
  • Internet connection
  • Access to a terminal on the Raspberry Pi

Step 1: Update Your System

Before installing any new software, it's a good idea to update your Raspberry Pi to ensure all existing software is up to date. Open a terminal and run:

sudo apt  update  sudo apt upgrade

This will update your system’s package index and upgrade all your installed packages to their latest versions.

Step 2: Install Required Dependencies

Webmin depends on Perl to function. Install Perl and other necessary packages by running:

sudo apt install perl libnet-ssleay-perl openssl libauthen-pam-perl libpam-runtime libio-pty-perl apt-show-versions python unzip

Step 3: Download and Install Webmin

  1. Download the latest Webmin package: You can find the latest version of Webmin by visiting their official download page. Use the wget command to download Webmin directly to your Raspberry Pi. For example:
wget http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/webadmin/webmin-1.991.tar.gz

Replace "1.991" with the latest version number.

  1. Extract the downloaded file:
tar -xzvf webmin-1.991.tar.gz
  1. Navigate to the Webmin directory:
cd  webmin-1.991
  1. Run the setup script:
sudo ./setup.sh

This script will start the installation process. It will ask you several questions about your installation preferences, such as the directory where you want to install Webmin and the port on which it should run (default is 10000). You’ll also be prompted to set up a username and password for Webmin.

Step 4: Accessing Webmin

Once Webmin is installed, you can access it from any web browser. Simply type in the Raspberry Pi’s IP address followed by the Webmin port (default is 10000), like this:

https://<your-raspberry-pi-ip>:10000

You will need to accept the security exception in your browser since Webmin uses a self-signed SSL certificate by default.

Configuring Webmin

After logging into Webmin, you can start configuring and managing your Raspberry Pi. Webmin offers modules for many common configuration tasks, so explore these options to get the most out of your Raspberry Pi.

Conclusion

Installing Webmin on your Raspberry Pi not only enhances your ability to manage your server efficiently but also makes it easier to perform complex administrative tasks through a user-friendly interface. Whether you’re managing a personal project or deploying multiple Raspberry Pis in a larger network, Webmin can be an invaluable tool for remote administration.