How to Download Passbolt?

Author: Denial Saim

In today’s digital world, securing your passwords and sensitive data is paramount. With increasing concerns over privacy and data breaches, it’s important to use a password manager that provides strong encryption and ease of access. Passbolt, an open-source password manager, has gained attention for its focus on security and team collaboration. But how exactly do you go about downloading and installing Passbolt? This article will walk you through the process and cover everything you need to know to get started.

What is Passbolt?

Before diving into the installation process, it's essential to understand what Passbolt is and how it works. Passbolt is an open-source password manager designed for teams and individuals to securely store, share, and manage passwords. Unlike many other password managers, Passbolt is specifically built for teams and organizations, allowing for easy collaboration and password sharing.

What sets Passbolt apart is its robust security features, including end-to-end encryption, user management, and integration with existing workflows and identity providers. Passbolt is self-hosted, meaning you can download it and host it on your own server or use it through a cloud service, providing more control over your data.

Prerequisites Before Downloading Passbolt

Before you download Passbolt, there are a few prerequisites you should consider:

  • Technical Requirements: Passbolt requires a Linux server or a virtual machine to run on. While the software can be installed on a range of Linux distributions, Ubuntu and Debian are the most commonly used.

  • Server Setup: Ensure that your server has a web server like Apache or Nginx, PHP, and a MySQL database to store the encrypted data.

  • SSL Certificate: Since Passbolt requires HTTPS for secure communication, make sure your server is configured with an SSL certificate.

  • Command-Line Tools: You should be comfortable with using the command line, as much of the installation and configuration will be done through terminal commands.

Downloading Passbolt

Now that you understand the requirements, let's walk through the steps to download and install Passbolt.

Step 1: Choose Your Installation Method

Passbolt offers several installation methods to cater to different environments. The most common methods are:

  • Install Passbolt on a Server: This method is ideal for businesses or tech-savvy individuals who prefer full control over their password manager.

  • Install Passbolt via Docker: This method is useful for those who want to avoid complex setup procedures. Docker provides a containerized environment for Passbolt, making it easier to deploy.

  • Use Passbolt Cloud: If you don't want to deal with the hassle of server configuration, you can opt for Passbolt's cloud solution. This version is hosted by Passbolt itself and takes care of all the infrastructure for you.

For this guide, we will focus on the most common self-hosted installation process, which involves downloading Passbolt directly to your server.

Step 2: Update Your Server

Before installing any software, it’s a good idea to ensure your server is up to date. You can update your server using the following commands:

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

This will ensure you have the latest security patches and updates installed.

Step 3: Install Required Dependencies

Passbolt requires a number of dependencies to function correctly, including Apache, PHP, and MySQL. You can install them with the following commands:

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

sudo apt install apache2 php libapache2-mod-php php-mysql mysql-server

This command installs Apache, PHP, the necessary PHP modules, and MySQL. You may also need to install additional PHP extensions depending on your specific server environment.

Step 4: Install Passbolt

With the dependencies installed, it’s time to download Passbolt. The easiest way to download the latest version of Passbolt is to clone the Git repository or download the latest release package from their official GitHub page.

To clone the Passbolt repository:

cd /var/www sudo git clone https://github.com/passbolt/passbolt_api.git passbolt

Alternatively, you can download the latest version of Passbolt directly from their official site or repository. Once the files are downloaded, navigate to the passbolt directory:

cd /var/www/passbolt

Next, you need to set the correct permissions for the files so that the web server can access them:

sudo chown -R www-data:www-data /var/www/passbolt Step 5: Configure the Web Server

Next, you’ll need to configure Apache (or Nginx, depending on what you prefer) to serve Passbolt.

For Apache, create a new configuration file for Passbolt in the /etc/apache2/sites-available directory:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/passbolt.conf

In this file, you’ll need to specify the server name and the directory where Passbolt is installed. Here’s an example configuration:

ServerName passbolt.yourdomain.com DocumentRoot /var/www/passbolt/webroot AllowOverride All Require all granted

Once you’ve saved the configuration file, enable it using the following commands:

sudo a2ensite passbolt.conf sudo systemctl restart apache2 Step 6: Set Up the Database

Before configuring Passbolt itself, you need to set up the MySQL database that will store the password data. You can create a new database and user for Passbolt using the following MySQL commands:

mysql -u root -p CREATE DATABASE passbolt; CREATE USER 'passboltuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'yourpassword'; GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON passbolt.* TO 'passboltuser'@'localhost'; FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Once the database is created, you’ll need to configure Passbolt to use it by editing the configuration file. Navigate to the /config directory in the Passbolt installation:

cd /var/www/passbolt/config sudo nano passbolt.php

Here, you’ll enter your database details, such as the database name, user, and password.

Step 7: Final Configuration and Web Setup

At this point, your server and database are set up. The final step is to complete the configuration by accessing the web interface of Passbolt.

Open a browser and navigate to http://yourserveraddress. This should bring up the Passbolt setup wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the setup, which includes setting up the administrator account and configuring SSL.

Once the setup is complete, you’ll be able to log into your newly installed Passbolt server using the administrator credentials you just created.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

While installing Passbolt is straightforward, you might encounter a few issues along the way. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

  1. Permission Errors: If you encounter permission issues during installation, make sure that all files are owned by the web server user (usually www-data for Apache).

  2. SSL Issues: If your server is not set up with a valid SSL certificate, Passbolt will not function properly. Ensure that SSL is configured before completing the setup.

  3. Database Connection Problems: Double-check the database credentials in the passbolt.php configuration file. Ensure that the MySQL server is running and that the correct privileges are granted to the Passbolt database user.

Conclusion

Downloading and installing Passbolt can seem like a complicated process, but once you understand the prerequisites and follow the step-by-step guide, it’s manageable even for those with limited experience. The benefits of using Passbolt—such as its open-source nature, team collaboration features, and robust security—make it an excellent choice for anyone looking to securely manage passwords.

With your own instance of Passbolt up and running, you’ll have a powerful tool for securely sharing and managing passwords within your organization.