How to Install Firefox Account Server on Elementary OS

Firefox Account Server is an open-source tool by Mozilla that allows users to sync their data across platforms. This tutorial will guide you through the process of installing Firefox Account Server on Elementary OS.

Prerequisites

Before we begin, make sure you have the following prerequisites installed on your system:

• Elementary OS latest version
• Python version 2.7.x or 3.x.x
• PostgreSQL database server
• Git

Step 1: Clone the Repository

The first step is to clone the Firefox Account Server repository to your system. Open the terminal and enter the following command:

git clone https://github.com/mozilla/fxa.git

This will download the repository to your current working directory.

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Before running the server, we need to install its dependencies. Enter the following commands in the terminal to install the required packages:

cd fxa
pip install -r requirements/dev.txt

This will install all the required packages for the Firefox Account Server.

Step 3: Configure PostgreSQL

Next, we need to configure the PostgreSQL database server. Enter the following commands in the terminal to create a new PostgreSQL user and database:

sudo su postgres
createuser fxa
createdb fxa --owner=fxa

This will create a new PostgreSQL user and database.

Step 4: Configure the Server

Now we need to configure the Firefox Account Server. Enter the following command in the terminal to create the configuration file:

cp .env-dist .env

This will create a copy of the default configuration file in the root directory.

Open the .env file in a text editor and modify the following settings:

DATABASE_URL=postgresql://fxa@localhost/fxa
EMAIL_HOST=smtp.gmail.com
EMAIL_PORT=587
EMAIL_USER=your_email@gmail.com
EMAIL_PASSWORD=your_email_password
FXA_AUTH_SECRET=your_secret_key_here
FXA_PROFILE_URL=http://localhost:3030

Replace the values with the appropriate settings.

Step 5: Start the Server

Finally, we can start the Firefox Account Server. Enter the following command in the terminal:

make run

This will start the server on port 3030.

Conclusion

In this tutorial, we have learned how to install Firefox Account Server on Elementary OS. Now you can use this open-source tool by Mozilla to sync your data across different platforms.

If you want to self-host in an easy, hands free way, need an external IP address, or simply want your data in your own hands, give IPv6.rs a try!

Alternatively, for the best virtual desktop, try Shells!