Webmin server management

When managing a Linux server, the most universal and basic method for server management is to access it directly from the command line. Most Linux server do not come with a graphical interface, and although you could install one, it would just take up valuable server resources, such as memory. Therefore, a better way to manage the server graphically is to use a web-based management system.

Many commercial vendors offer web-based system administration panels, and all of them have their shining positives and dismal dark spots. But there are also a few free solutions, and none is more widely used and lauded than Webmin. With this web-based system administration interface, you can have full control over your entire server.

Webmin’s features includes the following modules: Apache webserver, BIND DNS, Firewall, Backup, Bootup and Shutdown, CVS, Cron jobs, Disk Quotas, DHCP Server, FTP, PHP configuration, and many more. It is easy to setup and install, and I have personally used it on two server with great success. With Webmin, you can also use their sub-projects: Virtualmin, for virtual web hosting and Cloudmin, for cloud computing.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons

Using Webmin for Linux commands and tasks

Question: Is there any way to configure a dedicated Linux server without having local access and without logging in to the command line through SSH?

Answer: The short answer is that it is highly unlikely you will never need to use the command line interface on a Linux server, and if you don’t have physical access to the server, you will most likely not have a graphical interface at all.

The exception, however, is Webmin, a very powerful web-based Unix system administration tool. Webmin can be used to replace many of the common command-line tasks, such as creating users, configuring Apache, DNS, passwords, databases, and can even be used to reboot the server. It functions just like most other web-based control panels and comes with a customizable interface (using themes).

Webmin also includes sub-components such as Cloudmin for virtualization and Virtualmin for web hosting. Webmin is free and open source software released under a BSD-style license and is available for download and installation on numerous platforms and Unix-like operating systems.

Source: Webmin.com