How to Disable SSL for Webmin Miniserv

Webmin allows you to configure a Linux server remotely.

Webmin is an online administration tool used primarily on Linux servers. Webmin is Perl based, and runs its own Web server named "miniserv" on port 10000, although you can change the port number in the configuration. For security, Webmin uses SSL by default, using a self-signed certificate to create an encrypted connection between the browser and Web server. This stops anyone from intercepting the server passwords or other sensitive configuration data. If you do not want to use SSL, disable it through the Webmin configuration file. This allows you to access the tool using a standard HTTP connection.

Instructions

1. Connect to the remote server Webmin is running on using SSH, or open a terminal session if you are on the server itself.

2. Open the Webmin configuration file named "/etc/webmin/miniserv.conf" in a text editor such as pico, nano or vi.

3. Look for the line that reads "ssl=1," change it to "ssl=0" and save the file.

4. Restart the Webmin server by typing the following command at the terminal prompt:

   /etc/init.d/webmin restart

5. Open a Web browser and go to the Webmin server using this address:

   http://www.yourserver.com:10000/

   Change "yourserver.com" to the domain name the Webmin server runs under, and "10000" to the relevant port number if you have changed the default.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider leaving SSL enabled, as it stops malicious users and software from discovering your server administration passwords.

References

• Webmin: Using SSL With Webmin
• Webmin: Frequently Asked Questions

Resources

• Webmin: Homepage
• TWiki: WebHome - Webmin