How to Install Fleet Osquery Manager on Ubuntu Linux
Fleet Osquery Manager on Ubuntu Linux is a central dashboard that helps you track and manage every networked computer in one place. It uses OSquery, a tool that treats your computer’s operating system like a database so you can run standard checks on hardware and software.
You can run live queries, check device health, and spot security problems across machines on your network in real time. For example, the system quickly finds any Ubuntu 22.04 LTS hosts running old security packages.
Install MariaDB Database Server
Fleet Osquery Manager requires a dedicated database backend to store operational data. MariaDB deployment on Ubuntu handles this requirement through standard package management and configuration.
Run these commands to install it :
sudo apt update
sudo apt install mariadb-server
After installation, make sure the service starts whenever your computer turns on:
sudo systemctl stop mariadb
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb
Setup Fleet Database
Database initialization requires hardening the MariaDB instance and generating a dedicated database for Fleet operations.
sudo mariadb-secure-installation
CREATE USER 'fleetuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON fleetdb.* TO 'fleetuser'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;
Install Redis Server
Fleet relies on Redis (an in-memory data store used for caching and messaging) to handle quick data tasks. Install it with this command:
sudo apt install redis
sudo systemctl enable redis-server
sudo systemctl start redis-server
Install Fleet Osquery Manager
Containerizing the application via Docker remains the best practice for maintaining updates and isolating dependencies, although running Fleet as a raw binary is technically supported.
Docker Deployment (Recommended)
Here's how to get started with Docker Deployment:
First, install Docker on your Ubuntu system. Then, create a folder for your configuration and run Fleet as a container. This keeps your setup isolated and clean for future updates.
Manual Binary Installation
Installing Fleet Osquery Manager directly on Ubuntu without using Docker is possible by downloading the latest version. This method uses a custom shell script to fetch and unpack the necessary binaries for system-wide execution.
LATEST_VERSION=$(curl -s https://api.github.com/repos/fleetdm/fleet/releases/latest | grep tag_name | cut -d '"' -f 4)
curl -LO https://github.com/fleetdm/fleet/releases/download/$LATEST_VERSION/fleet_$LATEST_VERSION_linux.tar.gz
tar xf fleet_$LATEST_VERSION_linux.tar.gz
sudo cp fleet /usr/local/bin/
Systemd Service
Background execution requires a dedicated systemd service unit. This configuration file instructs the system service manager on initialization parameters, operational execution paths, and restart policies.
sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/fleet.service
Add this configuration:
[Unit]
Description=Fleet Osquery Manager
After=network.target
[Service]
User=fleet
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/fleet serve --config /etc/fleet/fleet.yml
Restart=always
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
Enable and start the service:
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable fleet
sudo systemctl start fleet
Configure Nginx Reverse Proxy
Nginx reverse proxy configuration handles incoming traffic and SSL certificate management for the web UI. SSL termination protects administrative sessions and routes incoming traffic to the backend application port (defaulting to 8080).
sudo apt install nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx
Create an Nginx configuration file that points to your server's domain and forwards traffic to your Fleet port (usually 8080). Use Certbot to automatically attach your SSL certificate to the site.
Once finished, visit your domain in a web browser to finalize the setup.
Follow the screen prompts to create your admin account.
You can now add your devices to the dashboard.
Conclusion
Fleet OSquery Manager installation is now complete. The infrastructure supports enterprise-grade endpoint monitoring and device telemetry collection. Production-ready tooling like Docker and Nginx guarantees long-term stability and secure administrative access.
[Unit] [Service] [Install] [1] [5395] [5395]
What is fleet Osquery?
Fleet is an open source management system for osquery, the cross-platform agent that allows you to ask anything of your endpoints, from laptops to servers and containers.
What software is used for fleet management?
Fleetio is a comprehensive fleet management software solution designed to streamline operations, enhance maintenance workflows and provide actionable insights for businesses of all sizes. Trusted by thousands of organizations worldwide, Fleetio has become a leading choice for fleet optimization.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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