Let's Self-Host!

Goal

Get (at least) Nextcloud installed and running on your machine

Step -3:
Get UBOS container image

• Copy from USB stick: ubos_yellow_x86_64-container_XXX.tar.xz
• To your Linux Desktop
• Pass on the USB stick!

Interlude 1/4:
why Linux container?

• Why not? :-)

Interlude 2/4:
why self-host?

• Everybody spies on you on-line
• Nobody can kick you off your own server
• You decide what software to run, not some overlord in the cloud

Interlude 3/4:
why Nextcloud?

• File storage/sharing, calendaring, contacts, notes, ...
• Mature, well-developed, security-conscious FLOSS web app
• Desktop and mobile integration
• Large community of users

Interlude 4/4:
why UBOS?

• Saves you tons of time
• You don't need to be a server admin expert

UBOS comparison example

UBOS: automate web app admin

# ubos-admin
Synopsis:
    ubos-admin backup [<args>...]
    ubos-admin backup-to-amazons3 [<args>...]
    ubos-admin backupinfo [<args>...]
    ubos-admin createsite [<args>...]
    ubos-admin deploy [<args>...]
    ubos-admin hostid [<args>...]
    ubos-admin init-staff [<args>...]
    ubos-admin listnetconfigs [<args>...]
    ubos-admin listsites [<args>...]
    ubos-admin read-configuration-from-staff [<args>...]
    ubos-admin restore [<args>...]
    ubos-admin setnetconfig [<args>...]
    ubos-admin setup-shepherd [<args>...]
    ubos-admin showappconfig [<args>...]
    ubos-admin shownetconfig [<args>...]
    ubos-admin showsite [<args>...]
    ubos-admin status [<args>...]
    ubos-admin undeploy [<args>...]
    ubos-admin update [<args>...]
    ubos-admin write-configuration-to-staff [<args>...]
    ubos-admin --help
    ubos-admin <command> --help

Step -2: Unpack UBOS container image

% cd ~/Desktop
% ls
ubos_yellow_x86_64-container_XXX.tar.xz

% mkdir ubos
% cd ubos
% sudo tar xJf ../ubos_yellow_x86_64-container_XXX.tar.xz

Step -1: Setup host networking

% sudo modprobe ip_tables

% sudo modprobe ip6_tables

% sudo systemctl start systemd-networkd

% ip addr
1: lo: ...
2: eth0: ...
3: wlan0: ...
    inet 192.168.138.134/24 brd 192.168.138.255 scope global dynamic eth0
...

% sudo sysctl net.ipv4.conf.wlan0.forwarding=1

Step 0: Boot UBOS

% cd ..

% sudo systemd-nspawn -b -n -D ubos

% sudo systemd-nspawn -b -D ubos

(boot log skipped)

Login: root

# systemctl --failed

# ubos-admin update

Step 1: Install Nextcloud

# ubos-admin createsite
** First a few questions about the website that you are about to create:
Hostname (or * for any): *
Site admin user id (e.g. admin): admin
Site admin user name (e.g. John Doe): admin
Site admin user password (e.g. s3cr3t): ...
Repeat site admin user password: ...
Site admin user e-mail (e.g. foo@bar.com): demo@ubos.net
** Now a few questions about the app(s) you are going to deploy to this site:
First app to run (or leave empty when no more apps): nextcloud
Downloading packages...
App nextcloud suggests context path /nextcloud
Enter context path: /nextcloud
Any accessories for nextcloud? Enter list: nextcloud-calendar nextcloud-contacts
Downloading packages...
Next app to run (or leave empty when no more apps):
Downloading packages...
Deploying...
Installed site s65313ed42bc66ee1cc926a3edffef9e2b2f04eb9 at http://*/

Step 2: Let's use Nextcloud

# ip addr
1: lo: ...
2: host0@if4: ...
    ...
    inet 10.0.0.4/28 brd 10.0.0.15 scope global dynamic host0
    ...

• In your browser: http://10.0.0.4/ http://localhost/
• Log in!
• Check out files, calendars, contacts ...

Ongoing maintenance

% sudo ubos-admin update

% sudo ubos-admin backup-to-amazons3 --encryptid <gpg-keyid>

% sudo ubos-admin status

What else can UBOS do for me?

• Root password management via the UBOS Staff
• Unlimited virtual hosts
• Automated SSL/TLS certificate setup
• Automated WiFi setup
• Automatic firewall configuration

...

Next steps:

• Set up a personal server for yourself and your family/friends
• Leave the cloud overloards and their empires
• Follow @uboslinux, check out ubos.net, ask questions on forum.ubos.net
• More apps wanted!

THANK YOU FOR COMING!

Johannes Ernst

mail: jernst@indiecomputing.com · blog: upon2020.com
Mastodon: @j12t@social.coop · Twitter: @Johannes_Ernst