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+date = 2021-04-17
+title = "Hosting a Gemini Server"
+description = "A guide to self-hosting a Gemini web server on your own server."
++++
+
+## Similar Article Available
+
+To read more about Gemini and ways to test out this new protocol without
+your own server, see my previous post [Launching a Gemini
+Capsule](/blog/launching-a-gemini-capsule/).
+
+## Preparation
+
+This guide assumes you have access to a server accessible to the world
+through a public IP address and that you own a domain name used for this
+Gemini capsule.
+
+## Getting Started with Agate
+
+We are going to use [Agate](https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate) for this
+tutorial. This is a basic Gemini server written in Rust. It takes very
+little time and maintenance to get it running.
+
+## Install Dependencies
+
+First, you will need to install the Rust package for your system. On
+Ubuntu, use the following commands (remember to use `sudo` if
+you are not the root user). The Rust installation will give you options
+to customize the installation; I used the default installation options.
+
+```sh
+sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
+curl https://sh.rustup.rs -sSf | sh
+```
+
+Remember to configure your shell with the new configuration:
+
+```sh
+source $HOME/.cargo/env
+```
+
+Before we install agate, make sure you have the `gcc` package
+installed:
+
+```sh
+sudo apt install gcc
+```
+
+Next, you'll need to install the agate executable with Rust's Cargo
+package maintainer:
+
+```sh
+cargo install agate
+```
+
+## Create Symlinks
+
+Once Cargo has finished installing all the required packages, symlink
+the executable to your \$PATH.
+
+```sh
+sudo ln -s $HOME/.cargo/bin/agate /usr/local/bin/agate
+```
+
+## Using Agate's Built-In Installation Tool
+
+If you're running Ubuntu or Debian, use the Debian installation script
+found in Agate's GitHub repository, under the `tools/debian`
+folder.
+
+```sh
+git clone https://github.com/mbrubeck/agate
+cd agate/tools/debian
+sudo ./install.sh
+```
+
+## Configure the Gemini Service
+
+We have a little more to do, but since this script tries to immediately
+run the service, it will likely fail with an exit code. Let's add our
+finishing touches. Edit the following file and replace the hostname with
+your desired URL. You can also change the directory where content will
+be served.
+
+```sh
+sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/gemini.service
+```
+
+```sh
+# Edit these lines to whatever you want - see the next code block for my personal configuration.
+WorkingDirectory=/srv/gemini
+ExecStart=agate --hostname $(uname -n) --lang en
+```
+
+This is my personal config:
+
+```sh
+WorkingDirectory=/var/gemini/
+ExecStart=agate --hostname gemini.example.com --lang en
+```
+
+Since we've altered the systemd configuration files, we have to reload
+the daemon. Let's do that, restart our service, and check its status.
+
+```sh
+sudo systemctl daemon-reload
+sudo systemctl restart gemini.service
+sudo systemctl status gemini.service
+```
+
+## Fixing Systemd Errors
+
+If you're still getting errors, the installation process may not have
+properly enabled the gemini service. Fix it with the following commands.
+
+```sh
+sudo systemctl enable gemini.service
+sudo systemctl restart gemini.service
+sudo systemctl status gemini.service
+```
+
+## Firewall Rules
+
+Great! Our server is now functional and running. The first consideration
+now is that you need to be able to access port 1965 on the server. If
+you have a firewall enabled, you'll need to open that port up.
+
+```sh
+sudo ufw allow 1965
+sudo ufw reload
+```
+
+## Creating Content
+
+Let's create the Gemini capsule. Note that wherever you set the
+WorkingDirectory variable to earlier, Agate will expect you to put your
+Gemini capsule contents in a sub-folder called "content." So, I place
+my files in "/var/gmi/content." I'm going to create that folder now
+and put a file in there.
+
+```sh
+sudo mkdir /var/gemini/content
+sudo nano /var/gemini/content/index.gmi
+```
+
+You can put whatever you want in the "index.gmi" file, just make sure
+it's valid Gemtext.
+
+## The Results
+
+Here are some screenshots of the Gemini page I just created in the
+[Lagrange](https://gmi.skyjake.fi/lagrange/) browser and the
+[amfora](https://github.com/makeworld-the-better-one/amfora) browser.
+
+![GUI Gemini
+browser](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210417-hosting-a-gemini-server/lagrange.png)
+
+*Lagrange*
+
+![CLI Gemini
+browser](https://img.cleberg.net/blog/20210417-hosting-a-gemini-server/amfora.png)
+
+*Amfora*