How to Install Jenkins on Debian 10 (Buster)

Introduction

Jenkins is used by software developers to automate different aspects of building, testing, delivering, and deploying software applications. It is a crucial tool for facilitating the software development process.

This guide will help you install Jenkins on Debian 10 Linux (codename Buster).

Prerequisites

• A Linux system with Debian 10 installed
• A user account with sudo or root privileges
• Access to a terminal window / command line (Activities > Search > Terminal)

Step For Installing Jenkins on Debian 10

Jenkins requires Java to run. The latest versions of Jenkins support the Java 11 runtime environment, which is available in the official Debian 10 repositories. However, there may still be outstanding bugs with some Jenkins plugins and Java 11. This tutorial helps you install Java JDK 11.

Jenkins can also run under the Java 8 runtime environment, which may be more stable for certain plugins. If you already have Java 8 installed, you may choose to use it instead of installing Java 11.

Step 1: Install Java 11

Start by installing the Java 11 developer’s kit. The JDK, or Java Developer’s Kit, includes all the files for the JRE, or Java Runtime Environment.

1. Open a terminal window and update the package repository with the command:

sudo apt-get update

2. Now you can install Java by running:

sudo apt-get install default-jdk

The system tells you the size of the download and prompts you to confirm the installation.

3. Type y and hit Enter.

Step 2: Download the GPG Security Key

It’s always wise to authenticate software that you download. Add the Jenkins GPG security keys by entering the following:

wget –q –O – https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian/jenkins.io.key | sudo apt-key add –

The system should respond with OK.

Step 3: Add the Jenkins Repository to Your System

By default, Debian 10 doesn’t include access to the Jenkins software repository. You can add it by entering the following command:

sudo sh –c ‘echo deb https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian-stable binary/ > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jenkins.list’

This command adds the repository for the LTS (Long-Term Support) version of Jenkins. LTS versions are considered more stable and reliable than the weekly release. The latest software may have bugs or glitches that can disrupt a production environment.

If you’d rather use a weekly release of Jenkins, use the following command instead:

sudo sh -c 'echo deb https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian binary/ > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jenkins.list'

Step 4: Install Jenkins

Before you install Jenkins, update the local repository:

sudo apt-get update

2. Then, run the command:

sudo apt-get install jenkins

The system displays the amount of storage space required, then prompts you to confirm the installation.

3. Type y and hit Enter.

Step 5: Start and Enable the Jenkins Service

Once the installation has finished, start the Jenkins service by entering the following:

sudo systemctl start jenkins

Then, configure Jenkins to start when the system boots:

sudo systemctl enable jenkins

Step 6: Configure Jenkins

Access the Jenkins configuration utility by opening a web browser to the following address:

http://localhost:8080

If your server has a domain or hostname, use that instead of localhost.

Unlock Jenkins

On the Jenkins configuration webpage, you’ll see a notification that a password was created during  installation. To view the password, switch to a terminal window and enter the following:

sudo cat /var/lib/jenkins/secrets/initialAdminPassword

The system displays a long alphanumeric code. Use your mouse to highlight the code, right-click > copy.

Switch to the Jenkins Getting Started page, and right-click > paste the code into the Administrator Password field. Then, click Continue.

Install Plugins

On the next screen, you are asked to either:

Install suggested plugins

or

Select plugins to install

You can always change your plugins later. Unless you know which plugins you specifically want, click Install suggested plugins.

Create First Admin User

Once plugins are finished installing, you’ll be asked to Create First Admin User.

The form is self-explanatory. Fill in the fields with the required information and click Save and Continue.

Instance Configuration

The last screen displays the Jenkins URL. This should be the same URL you used in the beginning to access the configuration tool.

You can use this URL anytime to set up Jenkins. When you’re ready, click Save and Finish.

The system lets you know that Jenkins is ready! Click Start using Jenkins to load the Jenkins software.

You’ll be taken to the main Jenkins dashboard, with a Welcome to Jenkins! message at the bottom of the page.

Conclusion

You should now have Jenkins installed and ready to use on your Debian 10. You can now easily coordinate with multiple teams on a project and deliver software in a CI/CD environment.

If you are using a different distribution of Linux, we also have a guide on how to install Jenkins od CentOS, and how to install Jenkins on Ubuntu. For Windows users, check out our guide on how to install Jenkins on Windows and if you are a Mac user, learn how to install Jenkins on Mac.

To learn more on how to use Jenkins, check out our guide on list, create and use Jenkins environment variables.