How to Install Pleroma on FreeBSD Latest

Pleroma is a free and open-source federated social networking platform. It is developed in Elixir and uses PostgreSQL as the database. In this tutorial, we will learn how to install and set up Pleroma on FreeBSD Latest.

Prerequisites

Before we proceed with the installation, make sure that your FreeBSD system is up-to-date and has the following packages installed:

• Erlang
• Elixir
• PostgreSQL
• nginx

You can install these packages using the following command:

pkg install erlang elixir postgresql-server nginx

Step 1: Create a PostgreSQL Database and User

First, we need to create a PostgreSQL database and user for Pleroma. You can do this by following the steps below:

1. Switch to the PostgreSQL user using the following command:

   su - postgres
   

2. Start the PostgreSQL service:

   pg_ctl -D /usr/local/pgsql/data -l logfile start
   

3. Create a new PostgreSQL user for Pleroma:

   createuser --createdb --pwprompt --encrypted pleroma
   

   Enter a strong password when prompted.

4. Create a new PostgreSQL database for Pleroma:

   createdb -O pleroma pleroma
   

5. Exit from the PostgreSQL user:

   exit
   

Step 2: Install Pleroma

Next, we need to install Pleroma. You can do this by following the steps below:

1. Clone the Pleroma repository from GitHub:

   git clone https://git.pleroma.social/pleroma/pleroma.git
   

2. Change to the Pleroma directory:

   cd pleroma
   

3. Install the required Elixir packages:

   mix deps.get
   

4. Compile the Pleroma source code:

   MIX_ENV=prod mix compile
   

5. Create the Pleroma database schema:

   MIX_ENV=prod mix ecto.migrate
   

Step 3: Configure Pleroma

Now, we need to configure Pleroma. You can do this by following the steps below:

1. Rename the default configuration file:

   cp config/prod.secret.exs.sample config/prod.secret.exs
   

2. Edit the Pleroma configuration file:

   nano config/prod.secret.exs
   

   Replace the following configuration parameters with your own:

   config :pleroma,
     secret_key_base: "your_secret_key_base",
     otp_app: :pleroma,
     db_url: "ecto://pleroma:your_database_password@localhost/pleroma",
     static_dir: "priv/static",
     uploads_dir: "uploads"
     
   config :pleroma, Pleroma.Web.Endpoint,
     http: [:inet6, port: 4000],
     https: [:inet6, port: 4001],
     url: [host: "your_domain.com"],
     cache_static_manifest: "priv/static/cache_manifest.json",
     server: true,
     force_ssl: true,
     keyfile: "/path/to/your/ssl.key",
     certfile: "/path/to/your/ssl.cert"
   

   Save and close the file.

Step 4: Configure Nginx

Finally, we need to configure Nginx to act as a reverse proxy for Pleroma. You can do this by following the steps below:

1. Create a new Nginx configuration file:

   nano /usr/local/etc/nginx/pleroma.conf
   

2. Add the following configuration to the file:

   upstream pleroma {
     server 127.0.0.1:4000;
     server [::1]:4000;
   }
   
   server {
     listen [::]:443 ssl ipv6only=on;
     listen 443 ssl;
   
     ssl_certificate /path/to/your/ssl.cert;
     ssl_certificate_key /path/to/your/ssl.key;
     server_name your_domain.com;
   
     keepalive_timeout 70;
   
     location / {
       proxy_pass http://pleroma;
       proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
       proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
       proxy_set_header Host $http_host;
       proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
       proxy_set_header Connection "upgrade";
       proxy_redirect off;
     }
   }
   

   Save and close the file.

3. Test the Nginx configuration:

   nginx -t
   

   The output should say that the configuration file test is successful.

4. Reload the Nginx service:

   service nginx reload
   

Step 5: Start the Pleroma Service

Finally, we can start the Pleroma service using the following command:

MIX_ENV=prod PORT=4000 mix phx.server

Pleroma should be accessible at https://your_domain.com.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured Pleroma on FreeBSD Latest.

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!

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