How to Install Webmin on Ubuntu 20.04

Most system administration tasks are usually carried out on the terminal. They involve creating users, running updates and changing configuration files and so much more. It can be rather boring to work perpetually on the terminal. Webmin is an opensource web administration tool that allows users to easily monitor and manage servers.

Some of the tasks that you can accomplish with Webmin include:

  • Adding and removing users on the system
  • Changing users’ passwords.
  • Installing, updating, and removing software packages.
  • Setting up a firewall.
  • Configuring disk quotas to manage the space used by other users.
  • Creating virtual hosts (If a web server is installed).

And so much more.

In this article, we take a look at how you can install Webmin on Ubuntu 20.04 and Ubuntu 18.04 so that you can seamlessly manage your system.

Step 1: Update the System and Install Requisites Packages

To get started with installing Webmin, it’s advisable to update your package lists as follows:

$ sudo apt update

Additionally, install the prerequisites packages as shown.

$ sudo apt install wget apt-transport-https software-properties-common

Step 2: Import Webmin Repository Key

Having updated the system and installed the packages, we are then going to append the Webmin GPG key as shown.

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

Next, add the Webmin repository to the sources list file as shown.

$ sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib"

The above command also updates the system package lists.

Step 3: Install Webmin in Ubuntu

At this point, we shall install Webmin using the APT package manager. Proceed and run the following command:

$ sudo apt install webmin

When prompted, hit 'Y' to proceed with Webmin’s installation.

Install Webmin on Ubuntu
Install Webmin on Ubuntu

The output below confirms that the Webmin installation has been successful.

Installation of Webmin on Ubuntu
Installation of Webmin on Ubuntu

Upon installation, the Webmin service starts automatically. This can be confirmed by running the command.

$ sudo systemctl status webmin
Check Webmin Status on Ubuntu
Check Webmin Status on Ubuntu

The output above confirms that Webmin is up and running.

Step 4: Open Webmin Port on Ubuntu Firewall

By default, Webmin listens on TCP port 10000. If the UFW firewall is enabled, then you need to open this port. To do so, execute the command:

$ sudo ufw allow 10000/tcp

Next, be sure to reload the firewall.

$ sudo ufw reload
Open Webmin Port on Ubuntu
Open Webmin Port on Ubuntu

Step 5: Access Webmin on Ubuntu

Finally, to access Webmin, launch your browser and browse the address:

https://server-ip:10000/

You will encounter a warning message that the connection is not private, but don’t worry. This is because Webmin comes with a self-signed SSL certificate which is not validated by CA. To navigate this warning, simply click on the ‘Advanced’ button.

Self Signed SSL Certificate Warning
Self Signed SSL Certificate Warning

Next, click on the link ‘Continue to server-IP’ as shown.

Continue to Server IP
Continue to Server IP

This presents you with a login page shown below. Provide your details and click the ‘Sign In’ button.

Webmin Login
Webmin Login

You will be presented with a dashboard shown below that gives an overview of key system metrics such as CPU & RAM utilization, as well as other system details such as hostname, Operating system, system uptime, etc.

On the left pane is a list of options that give you access to various server functionalities. From here you can perform a list of system administration tasks as discussed earlier in the introduction.

Webmin Admin Dashboard
Webmin Admin Dashboard

We have successfully installed Webmin on Ubuntu 20.04.

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James Kiarie
This is James, a certified Linux administrator and a tech enthusiast who loves keeping in touch with emerging trends in the tech world. When I'm not running commands on the terminal, I'm taking listening to some cool music. taking a casual stroll or watching a nice movie.

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5 Comments

Leave a Reply
  1. $ sudo add-apt-repository "deb [arch=amd64] http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib"
    The above command line shows an error: The repository ‘http://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge Release’ does not have a release file. Updating from such a repository can’t be done securely, and is therefore disabled by default.

    Any ideas?

    Reply
    • @Orville,

      Try the following instructions to install Webmin in Ubuntu.

      Open the /etc/apt/sources.list file on your system and add the line :

      deb https://download.webmin.com/download/repository sarge contrib
      

      Next, install GPG key with which the repository is signed, with the commands :

      $ cd /root
      $ wget https://download.webmin.com/jcameron-key.asc
      $ sudo apt-key add jcameron-key.asc
      

      You will now be able to install Webmin with the commands :

      $ sudo apt-get install apt-transport-https
      $ sudo apt-get update
      $ sudo apt-get install webmin
      
      Reply
  2. I follow your tutorial I can run it on my ubuntu server in VMware ESXi but when I run it from another pc on my lan it doesn’t work for me I don’t know why I can’t access all my applications from my ubuntu server with the same network

    Reply

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