Bastillion is a powerful web-based SSH console that centralizes the management of administrative access to various systems. By combining web administration with SSH key management, Bastillion simplifies and secures the way administrators interact with their systems. In this guide, we’ll walk through the installation and use of Bastillion, ensuring you’re equipped to get started efficiently.

Prerequisites

• Open-JDK or Oracle-JDK version 1.9 or greater
• Authy or Google Authenticator for two-factor authentication
• Linux, Unix, OSX, or Windows OS for installation

Installation Instructions

1. Install Java

First, you’ll need to install the necessary Java package. You can do this using:

apt-get install openjdk-9-jdk

2. Install Two-Factor Authentication

Choose either Authy or Google Authenticator, and install it on your Android or iOS device:

• Authy on Google Play
• Authy on iTunes
• Google Authenticator on Google Play
• Google Authenticator on iTunes

3. Download and Start Bastillion

Download the Bastillion package:

wget https://github.com/bastillion-io/Bastillion/releases/download/vXX.XX/bastillion-jetty-vXX.XX.tar.gz

After extracting, set the environment variables:

export JAVA_HOME=path_to_jdk

export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

Finally, start Bastillion:

./startBastillion.sh

Using Bastillion

To access Bastillion, open your web browser and navigate to https://your_ip:8443. Log in using:

• Username: admin
• Password: changeme

Managing SSH Keys

Bastillion automatically handles SSH keys, but you can customize how it manages them through the BastillionConfig.properties file. For example, you can disable key management by setting:

keyManagementEnabled=false

This allows the system to maintain its existing keys without overwriting them.

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues during setup, consider these troubleshooting steps:

• Ensure that your Java version is correct and correctly installed.
• Check the network and firewall settings to confirm that port 8443 is open.
• If the application doesn’t start, verify your environment variables and paths.

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Conclusion

By simplifying SSH key management and enabling centralized access control, Bastillion makes it easier for administrators to manage their systems securely. Whether you’re using it for personal projects or in a larger enterprise environment, Bastillion’s robust features aim to provide a seamless experience.

At fxis.ai, we believe that such advancements are crucial for the future of AI, as they enable more comprehensive and effective solutions. Our team is continually exploring new methodologies to push the envelope in artificial intelligence, ensuring that our clients benefit from the latest technological innovations.