Implementation Guide

Webmin (24/06/2000)

1. Webmin Implementation Guide

1. Webmin Implementation Guide ........................................................................... 1

2. Introduction........................................................................................................... 2

2.1 Webmin Modules.........................................................................................................2

2.2 Prerequisites ................................................................................................................2

3. Configuring Security ............................................................................................ 3

4. Configuring Users................................................................................................. 7

4.1 The “admin” User .......................................................................................................7

4.2 The “root” User...........................................................................................................8
4.3 The “talis” User...........................................................................................................8
4.4 User Configuration......................................................................................................8

5. Starting and Stopping Webmin ........................................................................... 9

6. Module Functions ................................................................................................. 9

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 1 of 10
2. Introduction

Webmin is a piece of software that is intended to make UNIX system management

easier. It is accessed via a web browser and is presented as a set of web pages. The
software consists of:
!"A password-protected web server.

!"A set of Common Gateway Interface (CGI) scripts that are organised into
Modules.

This Implementation Guide covers the steps you need to complete in order to make
Webmin available for administration tasks on your Talis machine. Reference
sections on how to stop and start Webmin, and brief descriptions of the function of
the modules are also included.
Once the software has been installed, security configuration and user configuration
must take place so that Webmin is only available to authorised users from
authorised locations.

2.1 Webmin Modules

Each Module is intended to manage a single service or system administration

function. Modules are grouped together under one of four headings, according to
the purpose of the Module:
!"“Webmin”.

!"“System”.

!"“Servers”.

!"“Other”.

Note: There is no equivalent “Tutor” environment for Webmin. Thus changes

made through Webmin are always “for real”. This should be borne in mind when
familiarising yourself with the operation of Webmin.

2.2 Prerequisites

Webmin requires Perl Version 5.005. Webmin will not install unless this is
present.

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 2 of 10
3. Configuring Security

When Webmin is first installed, it allows access from any IP address. Therefore, as
soon as possible after installing you should restrict access to appropriate IP
addresses (such as your own PC). To do this, connect to Webmin on your machine
by pointing your browser at the URL specified at the end of the Webmin
installation. Typically this will be something like:

http://yourmachine.network:10000/

a) Log in using the user name and password that you supplied when you installed
Webmin. You will be presented with the Main Menu screen shown in Figure 1:
Webmin Modules (Main Menu).

Figure 1: Webmin Modules (Main Menu)

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 3 of 10
 b) Next, click the “Webmin Configuration” Module in the “Webmin” section. You
will be presented with a page of sub-modules, as illustrated in Figure 2: Webmin
Configuration Menu.

Figure 2: Webmin Configuration Menu

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 4 of 10
 c) Click the “IP Access Control” sub-module icon, to access Figure 3: The IP Access
Control Screen (Unrestricted Access).

Figure 3: The IP Access Control Screen (Unrestricted Access)

If the “Allow from all addresses” radio button is highlighted then Webmin is
currently available to users at all locations. If so, perform Step d) restrict access to
Webmin to selected IP addresses.

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 5 of 10
 d) Choose the “Only allow from listed addresses” radio button and enter the IP
addresses (or networks) from which you wish to allow access to Webmin. Refer to
Figure 4: The IP Access Control Screen (Restricted Access).

Figure 4: The IP Access Control Screen (Restricted Access)

e) Click on the “Save” button to save your changes.

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 6 of 10
4. Configuring Users

When you install Webmin, three users are installed, each with differing levels of
access to Modules. It is necessary to configure the users so that they reflect the
users who need access to Webmin.
The users supplied by default are:
!"“admin”

!"“root”

!"“talis”

4.1 The “admin” User

You may have chosen a different name for this user, but hereafter references to this
login will use the default name “admin”. Whichever name is chosen, the “admin”
user has access restricted to the following Modules only:

Webmin Configuration Webmin Help

Webmin Servers Index Webmin Users
Bootup and Shutdown Running Processes
Scheduled Cron Jobs Software Packages
Users and Groups Manage Talis GUI Server
Network Configuration Printer Administration
Custom Commands External Web Resource
File Manager Install Talis GUI PC Client
Manage Environment Manage Programs and
Variables Scheduled Tasks
Manage Talis Users Telnet Login

The above modules were selected as they were deemed to be the most appropriate
ones for managing a Talis system. The following modules are also available:

Disk Quotas Disk and Network

Filesystems
NFS Shares SysV Init configuration
System Logs Apache Webserver
BIND 4 DNS Server BIND 8 DNS Server

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 7 of 10
 DHCP Server wu-FTP Server
Internet Services and Majordomo List Manager
Protocols
MySQL Database Server Samba Windows File
Sharing
Sendmail Configuration Squid Proxy Server
Partitions on Local Disks

4.2 The “root” User

The “root” login has access to all Webmin Modules. The password for this login is
the same as the machine’s “root” password at the time of the Webmin installation.
Note: If Webmin is used to change the “root” password, the Webmin “root” login
is also changed at the same time. If the “root” password is changed via a telnet
session, the Webmin “root” login will not be updated.

4.3 The “talis” User

The “talis” login has access to only one Module:

!"“Install Talis GUI PC client”

The purpose of this login is to allow users who know the “talis” password to
download the Talis GUI PC client software so that it can be installed on a user’s
PC.

4.4 User Configuration

You may wish to change some or all of the above users. Modules may be added to,
or removed from, a user’s login using the “Webmin Users” module. Webmin
users can also be added or deleted using the “Webmin Users” module.

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 8 of 10
5. Starting and Stopping Webmin

Should the need arise, Webmin may be stopped or started using the following
commands:
To stop Webmin, log in as “root” and type the following command:

/etc/webmin/stop <Enter>

To start Webmin, log in as “root” and type the command:

/etc/webmin/start <Enter>

6. Module Functions

A brief description of the purpose of each of the Modules available to the “admin”
user follows:

Module Name Heading Purpose

Webmin Webmin Configure settings such as access, colour scheme for
Configuration Webmin itself.
Webmin Help Webmin Search and browse Webmin’s own help facilities.
Webmin Servers Webmin Find and provide links to other servers running
Index Webmin on your network.
Webmin Users Webmin Control who can access Webmin and what they can
do within Webmin.
Bootup and System Configure the boot and shutdown process of your
Shutdown machine; shutdown or re-boot the machine.
Running Processes System Examine running processes, kill off processes if
required.
Scheduled Cron System Manage the UNIX “cron” (scheduling) facility.
Jobs
Software Packages System Manage software installed using the Solaris
“package” tool.
Users and Groups System Add, edit and remove UNIX users and groups.
Manage Talis GUI Servers Start and stop the Talis GUI server process.
Server
Network Hardware Configure machine’s network settings.
Configuration

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 9 of 10
 Module Name Heading Purpose
Printer Hardware Manage print queues.
Administration
Custom Other Run UNIX programs and commands via Webmin.
Commands
External Web Other Link to other Web resources.
Resource
File Manager Other Manage Files on UNIX machine.
Install Talis GUI Other Download GUI Client software to PCs from this
PC Client Module.
Manage Other Help with the management of Talis-related
Environment environment variables.
Variables
Manage Programs Other Enhanced UNIX “cron” (scheduling) module. Also
and Scheduled includes help on commonly used Talis batch
Tasks software.
Manage Talis Other Add or remove the privilege to use Talis or Tutor
Users Talis for a UNIX login.
Telnet Login Other Telnet access to the UNIX machine.

Additional modules are available to the “root” Webmin user. However these are
not available to the “admin” user since they are unlikely to be useful for managing
a Talis system.

Talis Information Ltd Talis Webmin Implementation Guide (v.1.0) June 2000 Page 10 of 10