How To Install Virtualmin on Manjaro

Virtualmin stands as one of the most powerful open-source web hosting control panels available today, offering system administrators a robust solution for managing multiple websites, email accounts, DNS settings, and databases through a unified interface. When combined with Manjaro Linux, an Arch-based distribution known for its stability and cutting-edge features, you gain a flexible and powerful web hosting environment. This comprehensive guide walks you through the entire process of installing and configuring Virtualmin on Manjaro, from initial preparations to advanced optimization techniques.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Virtualmin and Manjaro

Virtualmin is an open-source web hosting control panel built on top of Webmin that simplifies the complex tasks of managing web hosting environments. It provides an intuitive graphical interface for tasks that would otherwise require extensive command-line expertise, making server administration more accessible to users of all skill levels.

What is Virtualmin?

Virtualmin offers comprehensive tools for managing multiple virtual servers from a single dashboard. Its feature set includes:

Domain and DNS management
Email server configuration and administration
Database creation and management
Web application deployment
SSL certificate management
Backup and restoration tools
User account management with granular permission controls

All these capabilities are presented through a browser-based interface, accessible from anywhere with proper authentication.

Why Choose Manjaro as Your Server Platform?

Manjaro Linux, derived from Arch Linux, brings several compelling advantages to server environments:

Rolling release model ensuring you always have the latest software
Access to the extensive Arch User Repository (AUR)
Exceptional hardware compatibility
User-friendly package management
Strong community support
Excellent performance with minimal resource overhead

The combination of Manjaro’s stability with Virtualmin’s comprehensive management features creates an ideal environment for both development servers and production deployments.

Key Benefits of This Integration

Implementing Virtualmin on Manjaro offers several distinct advantages:

Simplified management of complex server tasks through an intuitive GUI
Reduced administrative overhead through automation tools
Enhanced security through integrated monitoring and management
Efficient resource utilization with performance optimization tools
Scalability to accommodate growing workloads and websites

Prerequisites for Installation

Before proceeding with the Virtualmin installation, ensuring your system meets all requirements will prevent potential complications and ensure optimal performance.

System Requirements

Virtualmin requires reasonably robust hardware to operate efficiently, especially when managing multiple virtual servers:

Processor: Modern multi-core CPU (2+ cores recommended)
Memory: Minimum 2GB RAM, though 4GB or more is strongly recommended
Storage: At least 20GB free disk space for system files and basic operations
Network: Stable internet connection with sufficient bandwidth
Display: Not critical as management is done via web interface

Essential Preparations

Several critical preparations must be made before installation begins:

Verify sudo privileges: Ensure your user account has sudo capabilities to execute administrative commands:
```
sudo whoami
```
If this returns your username, you have the necessary privileges.
Update your system: Ensure Manjaro is fully updated before proceeding:
```
sudo pacman -Syu
```
Set up a proper FQDN: Configure a fully qualified domain name for your server:
```
sudo hostnamectl set-hostname server.yourdomain.com
```
Edit hosts file: Ensure your hostname resolves properly:
```
sudo nano /etc/hosts
```
Add a line with: 127.0.1.1 server.yourdomain.com server

Network Considerations

Proper network configuration is essential for Virtualmin to function correctly:

Configure a static IP address to ensure consistent access
Set up port forwarding for port 10000 if your server is behind a router
Check that DNS resolution works properly for your domain
Consider configuring IPv6 for future-proofing your setup
Plan your SSL certificate strategy (Let’s Encrypt integration or manual certificates)

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Following a methodical approach ensures a smooth Virtualmin installation process. These steps are designed to be followed sequentially for optimal results.

1. System Update

Begin by ensuring your Manjaro system is fully updated to prevent compatibility issues:

sudo pacman -Syu

After updates complete, reboot your system to ensure all changes take effect:

sudo reboot

This step is critical as it ensures you’re working with the latest kernel and security patches, avoiding potential conflicts during the installation process.

2. Dependency Installation

Virtualmin requires several packages to function properly. Install these core dependencies first:

sudo pacman -S apache mysql php php-apache perl net-tools bind-tools

Next, install the mail server components required by Virtualmin:

sudo pacman -S postfix dovecot

For security and anti-virus protection, install ClamAV:

sudo pacman -S clamav

Additional useful utilities:

sudo pacman -S unzip wget git rsync

3. LAMP Stack Setup

Virtualmin requires a functioning LAMP stack. While we’ve installed the components in the previous step, we need to configure and enable them:

# Enable and start Apache
sudo systemctl enable httpd
sudo systemctl start httpd

# Enable and start MySQL
sudo systemctl enable mysqld
sudo systemctl start mysqld

# Secure MySQL installation
sudo mysql_secure_installation

During the MySQL secure installation, follow the prompts to set a root password and remove test databases and anonymous users.

4. Download Installation Script

Retrieve the official Virtualmin installation script from the project’s repository:

wget http://software.virtualmin.com/gpl/scripts/install.sh

Verify the integrity of the downloaded script:

sha256sum install.sh

Compare this with the official checksum from the Virtualmin website to ensure the file hasn’t been tampered with.

5. Execute the Installation Script

Make the script executable and run it with elevated privileges:

chmod +x install.sh
sudo ./install.sh

During execution, the script will:

Check system compatibility
Install additional required packages
Configure services for Virtualmin
Set up initial security parameters
Configure Apache, MySQL, and other components

The installation process may take 30-60 minutes depending on your system’s speed and internet connection. You’ll be prompted to make several choices during installation:

Mail server configuration options
DNS management preferences
Database selection (MySQL is recommended for beginners)
Initial admin password setting

6. Verify Installation

After the script completes, verify that all services are running correctly:

sudo systemctl status webmin
sudo systemctl status apache2
sudo systemctl status mysql

All these services should show as “active (running)”. If any service fails to start, consult the troubleshooting section later in this guide.

Post-Installation Configuration

After successful installation, configuring Virtualmin properly ensures optimal performance and security for your hosting environment.

First Login Procedure

Access the Virtualmin interface through your web browser:

Open your browser and navigate to https://your-server-ip:10000 or https://localhost:10000 if you’re on the same machine
You’ll likely encounter a security warning about the self-signed SSL certificate; add an exception to proceed
Log in using your system’s root username and password
Upon first login, Virtualmin will run a post-installation wizard to configure basic settings

Install Virtualmin on Manjaro

Essential Dashboard Settings

Several initial configurations will optimize your Virtualmin setup:

System Settings
- Set your server’s timezone correctly
- Configure email notifications for important events
- Set up automatic updates for security patches
Network Configuration
- Verify network settings are correct
- Configure DNS resolvers if needed
- Set bandwidth monitoring thresholds
Backup Configuration
- Define backup schedules
- Set backup retention policies
- Configure off-site backup locations for disaster recovery

Virtual Server Creation

Creating your first virtual server validates your installation:

Navigate to “Create Virtual Server” in the left menu
Enter domain details:
- Domain name (e.g., example.com)
- Description
- Administrator username and password
Configure resources:
- Disk space quotas
- Bandwidth limitations
- Feature enabling (web, mail, DNS, etc.)
Choose template settings
Click “Create Server” to generate your first virtual host

After creation, Virtualmin automatically configures Apache, DNS, mail services, and databases for this domain, making it immediately functional.

Common Troubleshooting

Even with careful installation, issues may arise. Here are solutions to common problems encountered when setting up Virtualmin on Manjaro.

Port Conflicts

If Virtualmin cannot start due to port conflicts:

Identify which service is using port 10000:
```
sudo ss -tulpn | grep ':10000'
```
Either stop the conflicting service or reconfigure Webmin to use a different port:
```
sudo nano /etc/webmin/miniserv.conf
```
Change the “port=” line to an available port, then restart Webmin:
```
sudo systemctl restart webmin
```

Dependency Errors

If you encounter Perl module dependency errors:

Note the missing module names from the error messages
Install them using pacman and CPAN:
```
sudo pacman -S perl-[module-name]
```
If not available in pacman:
```
sudo cpan [Module::Name]
```
Restart Webmin after installing dependencies:
```
sudo systemctl restart webmin
```

Service Failures

If services fail to start properly:

Check the systemd journal for detailed error messages:

journalctl -u webmin -f
journalctl -u apache2 -f
journalctl -u mysql -f

Verify firewall settings aren’t blocking necessary ports:

sudo ufw status
# If using ufw, ensure port 10000 is allowed:
sudo ufw allow 10000/tcp

Check configuration file syntax:

sudo apachectl -t     # Tests Apache config
sudo named-checkconf  # Tests BIND config

Security Hardening

Securing your Virtualmin installation is crucial for protecting both your server and client data.

Essential Protections

Implement these fundamental security measures:

Two-Factor Authentication
- Navigate to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → Two-Factor Authentication
- Enable and configure either TOTP or FIDO U2F authentication
IP Access Restrictions
- Limit admin access to specific IP addresses:
- Go to Webmin → Webmin Configuration → IP Access Control
- Add your trusted IP addresses and deny all others

Fail2ban Integration

Install and configure Fail2ban to protect against brute force attacks:

sudo pacman -S fail2ban
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban
sudo systemctl start fail2ban

Create a jail for Webmin/Virtualmin:

sudo nano /etc/fail2ban/jail.d/webmin.conf

Add the following:

[webmin-auth]
enabled = true
port = 10000
filter = webmin-auth
logpath = /var/log/auth.log
maxretry = 3
bantime = 600

Regular Maintenance

Establish these security routines:

Automated Updates

Configure automatic security updates:

sudo pacman -S pacman-contrib
sudo systemctl enable paccache.timer
sudo systemctl start paccache.timer

Log Monitoring
- Install logwatch to receive daily log summaries:
```
sudo pacman -S logwatch
sudo nano /etc/logwatch/conf/logwatch.conf
```
- Configure email settings for notifications
Regular Security Audits
- Perform monthly security scans using Lynis:
```
sudo pacman -S lynis
sudo lynis audit system
```

Performance Optimization

Optimizing your Virtualmin installation ensures efficient resource usage and improved response times.

Resource Monitoring

Implement comprehensive monitoring:

Virtualmin’s Built-in Monitoring
- Enable system statistics collection in System Settings
- Configure threshold alerts for CPU, memory, and disk space

External Monitoring Tools

Install additional monitoring tools:
```
sudo pacman -S htop iotop glances
```

Configure Monit for service monitoring:

sudo pacman -S monit
sudo systemctl enable monit
sudo systemctl start monit

Caching Strategies

Implement caching to improve performance:

PHP OPcache

Enable and configure PHP OPcache:
```
sudo nano /etc/php/php.ini
```

Add or modify these settings:

opcache.enable=1
opcache.memory_consumption=128
opcache.interned_strings_buffer=8
opcache.max_accelerated_files=4000
opcache.revalidate_freq=60
opcache.fast_shutdown=1

Web Server Caching

Enable Apache caching modules:

sudo a2enmod cache cache_disk
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Database Optimization

Tune your database for better performance:

MySQL Performance Tuning

Create an optimized my.cnf:
```
sudo nano /etc/mysql/my.cnf
```

Add these performance settings:

[mysqld]
innodb_buffer_pool_size = 1G
innodb_log_file_size = 256M
innodb_flush_log_at_trx_commit = 2
query_cache_size = 64M
query_cache_limit = 2M

Regular Maintenance

Schedule automated database optimization:

sudo nano /etc/cron.weekly/optimize-databases

Add:

#!/bin/bash
mysqlcheck -o --all-databases -u root -p'password'

Make executable:

sudo chmod +x /etc/cron.weekly/optimize-databases

Professional Best Practices

Adopting these professional practices ensures reliable, secure operations of your Virtualmin server.

Disaster Recovery

Implement a comprehensive backup strategy:

Automated Backups
- Configure Virtualmin’s built-in backup system:
  - Navigate to System Settings → Scheduled Backups
  - Set up daily incremental and weekly full backups
  - Store backups on separate physical media
Off-site Replication
- Set up rsync to external storage:
```
sudo pacman -S rsync
```
- Create a backup script for off-site transfers:
```
sudo nano /usr/local/bin/offsite-backup.sh
```
- Schedule regular execution via cron

Monitoring Tools

Implement proactive monitoring:

Nagios Integration
- Install NRPE for Nagios monitoring:
```
sudo pacman -S nagios-nrpe
```
- Configure checks for critical services:
```
sudo nano /etc/nagios/nrpe.cfg
```
Custom Monitoring Scripts
- Develop custom scripts for application-specific monitoring
- Store in /usr/local/bin/ with appropriate permissions
- Integrate with notification systems like email or messaging platforms

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Virtualmin. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Virtualmin web hosting control panel on your Manjaro Linux system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you to check the official Virtualmin website.

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