How to Install & Setup a Mumble Server {Murmur} on Linux CentOS 7

Mumble is an open-source, low-latency, high-quality, voice chat software primarily designed for online gaming communities. It is designed to provide a secure, reliable, and scalable communication system for users. Mumble has two components, the client software that users install on their machines, and the server software that runs on a dedicated server. In this article, we will discuss how to install and set up a Mumble server, commonly referred to as Murmur, on Linux CentOS 7.

Prerequisites

Before we start with the installation process, we need to ensure that the following prerequisites are met −

• A Linux CentOS 7 server with root access

• An SSH client such as PuTTY or Terminal

• A non-root user with sudo privileges

Step 1: Update the System

Before we start the installation process, we need to update the CentOS 7 system to the latest version. To do this, log in to the server as a non-root user with sudo privileges and run the following command −

sudo yum update

This command will update the system packages to the latest available version.

Step 2: Install EPEL Repository

Murmur is not available in the default CentOS 7 repository. Therefore, we need to install the Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux (EPEL) repository to install Murmur. To install the EPEL repository, run the following command −

sudo yum install epel-release

Once the EPEL repository is installed, we can proceed with the installation of Murmur.

Step 3: Install Murmur Server

To install Murmur, run the following command −

sudo yum install mumble-server

This command will download and install Murmur on the CentOS 7 server.

Step 4: Configure Murmur Server

After the installation of Murmur, we need to configure it to suit our needs. The Murmur server configuration file is located at /etc/mumble-server.ini. We can edit the file using any text editor. In this article, we will use nano.

sudo nano /etc/mumble-server.ini

Once the configuration file is open, we need to make the following changes −

• Set the SuperUser password − By default, the SuperUser password is not set. Therefore, we need to set a password for the SuperUser. To do this, find the line that says "serverpassword=". Uncomment it and set a strong password.

• Set the server hostname − Set the server hostname to the fully qualified domain name (FQDN) of the server.

• Set the server bandwidth − Set the server bandwidth according to your internet connection speed. By default, the server bandwidth is set to 72000, which should be enough for most users.

Once you have made the necessary changes, save the file and exit.

Step 5: Start Murmur Server

After configuring Murmur, we can start the server using the following command −

sudo systemctl start mumble-server

This command will start the Murmur server. To check the status of the server, run the following command −

sudo systemctl status mumble-server

This command will display the status of the Murmur server.

Step 6: Configure Firewall

By default, CentOS 7 comes with the firewalld firewall installed. Therefore, we need to configure the firewall to allow traffic to the Murmur server. To do this, run the following commands −

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=64738/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=64738/udp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

These commands will allow traffic to the Murmur server on TCP and UDP port 64738.

Step 7: Connect to the Murmur Server

After setting up the Murmur server, we can connect to it using the Mumble client software. You can download the Mumble client software from the official website (https://www.mumble.info/downloads/).

Once you have downloaded and installed the client software, open it and click on "Add New...". In the "Server" tab, enter the server hostname or IP address, port number (default is 64738), and a label for the server. Click on "OK" to save the changes.

Next, click on "Connect" to connect to the Murmur server. You will be prompted to enter a username and password. Enter the SuperUser username and password that you set in the Murmur server configuration file.

Once you have connected to the server, you can create channels, manage users, and configure permissions according to your needs.

In addition to gaming communities, Mumble can also be used for other purposes, such as hosting online meetings, remote collaboration, and online classes. Its low-latency and high-quality audio make it an excellent choice for real-time communication.

To further customize the Murmur server, you can modify the configuration file to change settings such as server bandwidth, codecs, and SSL certificates. Additionally, you can install third-party plugins to add extra features such as text-to-speech, music bots, and integration with other services.

It is important to keep the Murmur server up-to-date with the latest security patches to ensure the safety of your users' data. You can check for updates using the following command −

sudo yum check-update mumble-server

If updates are available, you can install them using the following command −

sudo yum update mumble-server

One of the benefits of Mumble is its low resource usage, making it ideal for running on low-end servers or virtual private servers (VPS). This means that you can host a Mumble server on a cost-effective hosting plan without sacrificing performance.

To enhance the security of your Mumble server, you can enable SSL encryption to encrypt the communication between the server and clients. This will prevent eavesdropping and man-in-the-middle attacks. You can obtain an SSL certificate from a trusted certificate authority (CA) or generate a self-signed certificate using OpenSSL.

To generate a self-signed certificate, run the following command −

openssl req -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout /etc/pki/tls/private/mumble-server.key -x509 -days 365 -out /etc/pki/tls/certs/mumble-server.crt

This command will generate a private key and a self-signed certificate valid for 365 days.

To enable SSL encryption in Murmur, add the following lines to the Murmur server configuration file −

sslCert=/etc/pki/tls/certs/mumble-server.crt
sslKey=/etc/pki/tls/private/mumble-server.key

Restart the Murmur server to apply the changes −

sudo systemctl restart mumble-server

With SSL encryption enabled, you can ensure that the communication between the server and clients is secure and encrypted.

Another important aspect of setting up a Mumble server is managing user permissions and access. By default, Murmur grants SuperUser status to the first user who connects to the server. The SuperUser has full control over the server and can manage channels, users, and permissions.

To manage user permissions, you can create groups and assign permissions to each group. For example, you can create a "Moderator" group with the ability to kick and ban users, and a "Regular" group with limited permissions. You can then assign users to the appropriate groups based on their role or status.

To create a new group, click on the "Groups" tab in the Mumble client software, and click on "Add". Enter a name for the group and select the permissions that you want to grant to the group. Once you have created the group, you can assign users to it by right-clicking on their name and selecting "Edit User". In the "Groups" tab, select the appropriate group and click on "Add".

By managing user permissions and access, you can ensure that your Mumble server is secure and well-organized.

In addition to managing users and groups, you can also customize the appearance and behavior of the Mumble client software. For example, you can change the font size, color, and theme of the client software, or configure hotkeys for common actions.

To customize the appearance and behavior of the Mumble client software, click on "Configure" and select "Settings". In the "User Interface" tab, you can change the appearance and behavior of the client software. In the "Shortcuts" tab, you can configure hotkeys for common actions such as mute, deafen, and push-to-talk.

With the ability to customize the appearance and behavior of the client software, you can provide a personalized and user-friendly experience for your users.

Conclusion

In this article, we have discussed how to install and set up a Murmur server on Linux CentOS 7. We have also covered how to configure the server and connect to it using the Mumble client software. With this setup, you can provide a reliable and secure communication system for your online gaming community.