# Installing on Alpine Linux ## Installation This guide is a step-by-step installation guide for Alpine Linux. It also assumes that you have administrative rights, either as root or a user with [sudo permissions](https://www.linode.com/docs/tools-reference/custom-kernels-distros/install-alpine-linux-on-your-linode/#configuration). If you want to run this guide with root, ignore the `sudo` at the beginning of the lines, unless it calls a user like `sudo -Hu pleroma`; in this case, use `su -l <username> -s $SHELL -c 'command'` instead. ### Required packages * `postgresql` * `elixir` * `erlang` * `erlang-parsetools` * `erlang-xmerl` * `git` * Development Tools #### Optional packages used in this guide * `nginx` (preferred, example configs for other reverse proxies can be found in the repo) * `certbot` (or any other ACME client for Let’s Encrypt certificates) ### Prepare the system * First make sure to have the community repository enabled: ```shell echo "https://nl.alpinelinux.org/alpine/latest-stable/community" | sudo tee -a /etc/apk/repository ``` * Then update the system, if not already done: ```shell sudo apk update sudo apk upgrade ``` * Install some tools, which are needed later: ```shell sudo apk add git build-base ``` ### Install Elixir and Erlang * Install Erlang and Elixir: ```shell sudo apk add erlang erlang-runtime-tools erlang-xmerl elixir ``` * Install `erlang-eldap` if you want to enable ldap authenticator ```shell sudo apk add erlang-eldap ``` ### Install PostgreSQL * Install Postgresql server: ```shell sudo apk add postgresql postgresql-contrib ``` * Initialize database: ```shell sudo /etc/init.d/postgresql start ``` * Enable and start postgresql server: ```shell sudo rc-update add postgresql ``` ### Install PleromaBE * Add a new system user for the Pleroma service: ```shell sudo adduser -S -s /bin/false -h /opt/pleroma -H pleroma ``` **Note**: To execute a single command as the Pleroma system user, use `sudo -Hu pleroma command`. You can also switch to a shell by using `sudo -Hu pleroma $SHELL`. If you don’t have and want `sudo` on your system, you can use `su` as root user (UID 0) for a single command by using `su -l pleroma -s $SHELL -c 'command'` and `su -l pleroma -s $SHELL` for starting a shell. * Git clone the PleromaBE repository and make the Pleroma user the owner of the directory: ```shell sudo mkdir -p /opt/pleroma sudo chown -R pleroma:pleroma /opt/pleroma sudo -Hu pleroma git clone https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma /opt/pleroma ``` * Change to the new directory: ```shell cd /opt/pleroma ``` * Install the dependencies for Pleroma and answer with `yes` if it asks you to install `Hex`: ```shell sudo -Hu pleroma mix deps.get ``` * Generate the configuration: `sudo -Hu pleroma mix pleroma.instance gen` * Answer with `yes` if it asks you to install `rebar3`. * This may take some time, because parts of pleroma get compiled first. * After that it will ask you a few questions about your instance and generates a configuration file in `config/generated_config.exs`. * Check the configuration and if all looks right, rename it, so Pleroma will load it (`prod.secret.exs` for productive instance, `dev.secret.exs` for development instances): ```shell mv config/{generated_config.exs,prod.secret.exs} ``` * The previous command creates also the file `config/setup_db.psql`, with which you can create the database: ```shell sudo -Hu postgres psql -f config/setup_db.psql ``` * Now run the database migration: ```shell sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix ecto.migrate ``` * Now you can start Pleroma already ```shell sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix phx.server ``` ### Finalize installation If you want to open your newly installed instance to the world, you should run nginx or some other webserver/proxy in front of Pleroma and you should consider to create an OpenRC service file for Pleroma. #### Nginx * Install nginx, if not already done: ```shell sudo apk add nginx ``` * Setup your SSL cert, using your method of choice or certbot. If using certbot, first install it: ```shell sudo apk add certbot ``` and then set it up: ```shell sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/letsencrypt/ sudo certbot certonly --email <your@emailaddress> -d <yourdomain> --standalone ``` If that doesn’t work, make sure, that nginx is not already running. If it still doesn’t work, try setting up nginx first (change ssl “on” to “off” and try again). * Copy the example nginx configuration to the nginx folder ```shell sudo cp /opt/pleroma/installation/pleroma.nginx /etc/nginx/conf.d/pleroma.conf ``` * Before starting nginx edit the configuration and change it to your needs (e.g. change servername, change cert paths) * Enable and start nginx: ```shell sudo rc-update add nginx sudo service nginx start ``` If you need to renew the certificate in the future, uncomment the relevant location block in the nginx config and run: ```shell sudo certbot certonly --email <your@emailaddress> -d <yourdomain> --webroot -w /var/lib/letsencrypt/ ``` #### OpenRC service * Copy example service file: ```shell sudo cp /opt/pleroma/installation/init.d/pleroma /etc/init.d/pleroma ``` * Make sure to start it during the boot ```shell sudo rc-update add pleroma ``` #### Create your first user If your instance is up and running, you can create your first user with administrative rights with the following task: ```shell sudo -Hu pleroma MIX_ENV=prod mix pleroma.user new <username> <your@emailaddress> --admin ``` #### Further reading * [Admin tasks](Admin tasks) * [Backup your instance](Backup-your-instance) * [Configuration tips](General tips for customizing pleroma fe) * [Hardening your instance](Hardening-your-instance) * [How to activate mediaproxy](How-to-activate-mediaproxy) * [Small Pleroma-FE customizations](Small customizations) * [Updating your instance](Updating-your-instance) ## Questions Questions about the installation or didn’t it work as it should be, ask in [#pleroma:matrix.org](https://matrix.heldscal.la/#/room/#freenode_#pleroma:matrix.org) or IRC Channel **#pleroma** on **Freenode**.