How to Install and Setup a Mumble Server (Murmur) on AlmaLinux 9
What if you had the power to create your own virtual space (all under your control), where your team, community, or friends could connect with crystal-clear audio?
Let us introduce you to Mumble, a high-quality, low-latency voice chat software primarily intended for use by gamers. However, it is also great for other group communication projects. The server component of Mumble is called Murmur.
In this tutorial, we will discuss how to install and set up a Mumble server {Murmur} on AlmaLinux 9. However, before we move into the setup process, let us quickly examine the prerequisites.
The Prerequisites
Before you dive in, ensure you have the following.
- A user account with sudo or root privileges
- Access to a terminal or similar command line
- You have AlmaLinux 9 installed and running on your machine.
- You have firewall port 64738 open for communication with Mumble clients
- A minimum of 512 MB RAM, 1 GB disk space
Follow the steps below to set up a Mumble server (Murmur) on AlmaLinux 9.
Step #1: Update Your System
Before the installation process, it’s crucial to update your system package repository to ensure all packages are up-to-date.
# sudo dnf update -y
Here, the -y flag automatically answers YES to any prompts, streamlining the update process.
The command ensures you have the latest security updates and software improvements.
Step #2: Install the EPEL Repository
Mumble requires certain packages from the EPEL (Extra Packages/package versions for Enterprise Linux) repository. The EPEL repository provides additional software packages not included in the standard AlmaLinux and CentOS repositories.
To install it, execute the following command:
# sudo dnf install epel-release -y
Step #3: Download Mumble Repositories and Packages
There are two primary methods of installing Mumble:
- Use official packages
- Compile from source
Let’s discuss these methods in detail.
Method #1: Use Official Packages
We recommend this method for most users, regardless of their technical skills.
Start by checking your distribution's package manager for official Mumble packages. Popular distributions such as Debian, Ubuntu, Fedora openSUSE, Almalinux, Arch Linux, Rocky Linux, Linux Mint, and Mandriva/ROSA/Unity provide Mumble packages.
Once you've confirmed your distribution supports official packages, refer to its specific instructions for installation.
If you are using Fedora, Red Hat, and AlmaLinux, use the dnf package manager to install Murmur with this command:
# sudo dnf install murmur -y
This command will download and install the Murmur server along with its dependencies.
Method #2: Compile from Source
You can download the required repositories from GitHub, compile the code, and install the finalized package on your AlmaLinux 9 server. This method offers more customization but requires additional steps and a significant level of technical skills.
As with all installations, start by updating the system repository with the following command:
# dnf update -y
Next, install the EPEL repository with this command:
# dnf install epel-release -y
Now, you need to install the required tools and dependencies with the following command.
# dnf install cmake make gcc-c++ openssl-devel python3 python3-devel qt5-qtbase-devel qt5-qtsvg-devel boost-devel protobuf-devel speex-devel speexdsp-devel libcap-devel libopus-devel libsndfile-devel git -y
We will clone the Mumble repository to a local directory in the /usr/local/src directory. For this, navigate to this source directory with the following cd command:
# cd /usr/local/src
Next, clone the repository to this directory with the following git clone command:
# git clone https://github.com/mumble-voip/mumble.git
When the process finishes, switch to the directory:
# cd mumble
You can now create and navigate to the build directory with these commands:
# mkdir build
# cd build
At this point, we recommend configuring CMake to use the correct Python interpreter.
# cmake -DPYTHON_EXECUTABLE=/usr/bin/python3 ..
Next, compile the source code with the make command:
# make
Once compiled, you can install Murmur with the following make install command:.
# make install
Step #4: Configure Murmur
The configuration file for Murmur is located at /etc/murmur.ini. Open the file in a text editor like Vim or Nano to make the necessary changes.
# sudo nano /etc/murmur.ini
Some of the key settings to configure include:
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Database
Set the database to use SQLite, which is recommended for small to medium-sized servers.
database=/var/lib/murmur/murmur.sqlite
Logfile
Specify where Murmur should store server logs. The standard location is the following log directory:
logfile=/var/log/murmur/murmur.log
Server Password
Set a strong password to restrict unauthorized access to your server.
serverpassword={YourPasswordHere}
Replace YourStrongPasswordHere with a secure password of your choice.
Port
Murmur uses port 64738 by default. You can modify this if needed.
port=64738
Once the changes are made, save and close the file (Ctrl+O, Enter, Ctrl+X in nano).
Step #5: Start and Enable Murmur Service
Once you have configured Murmur, start and enable it to launch automatically on system boot:
# sudo systemctl start murmur
# sudo systemctl enable murmur
Step #6: Adjust Firewall Settings
If you have a firewall enabled, you need to allow traffic on the port Murmur is using (default is 64738). Since we are on AlmaLinux, chances are the default firewall is firewalld.
In this case, use the following command to open UDP and TCP ports 64738, as Mumble uses both.
# sudo firewall-cmd — permanent — add-port=64738/udp
# sudo firewall-cmd — permanent — add-port=64738/tcp
# sudo firewall-cmd — reload
Here,
— permanent: Ensures these rules persist after a reboot.
— reload: Applies the new rules immediately.
Step #7: Set SuperUser Password
Next, set up a SuperUser password for administrative tasks on the Mumble server.
# sudo murmurd -ini /etc/murmur.ini -supw {YourSuperUserPassword}
Replace YourSuperUserPassword with a strong password of your choice.
Step #8: Verify Murmur Service
Check the status of the Murmur service to ensure it is running appropriately:
# sudo systemctl status murmur
You should see an output indicating that the service is active and running.
Step #9: Connect to Your Mumble Server
To connect to your Mumble server, download the Mumble client on your local machine. Open the Mumble client and connect using your server’s IP address and port number (default is 64738).
Enter the password you set to join the server.
Conclusion
Setting up a Mumble server (Murmur) on Almalinux 9 is straightforward if you follow these steps.
By configuring the server appropriately and securing it with strong passwords and firewall settings, you can provide a reliable and secure voice chat platform for your users.
FAQs
Q. What is Mumble used for?
Mumble is a voice chat application/voice server primarily used by gamers, but it is also suitable for other group communication needs such as meetings and discussions.
Q. Is Murmur secure?
Yes, Murmur (the server component of Mumble) is secure. It uses encryption to ensure that all communication between clients and the server is secure.
Q. Can I run Murmur on other operating systems?
Yes, Murmur can be run on various operating systems, including Windows, macOS, and other Linux distributions.
Q. How many users can connect to a Murmur server?
The number of users that can connect to a Murmur server depends on the server’s hardware specifications and network bandwidth. For most small to medium-sized servers, a few hundred users can be accommodated without issues.
Q. How can I back up my Murmur server?
To back up your Murmur server, you need to back up the configuration file (/etc/murmur.ini) and the database file (/var/lib/murmur/murmur.sqlite).
Q. Can I customize the Mumble server settings further?
Yes, the murmur.ini configuration file offers many options for customization, including user permissions, server welcome messages, and more.
