[bitfolk] Virtualmin on CentOS 8

Hi All, Not sure if this is a valid thing to post here. Bit long sorry. I have a VPS running Virtualmin on Centos 8 here no probs: Linux version 5.7.10-1.el8.elrepo.x86_64 (mockbuild@072389ed160c4f05a56ad0894a89bf2f) (gcc version 8.3.1 20191121 (Red Hat 8.3.1-5) (GCC), GNU ld version 2.30-73.el8) I have a new VPS in New Zealand with a good supplier (call it NZS) - only a few levels behind Andy :-) When I set up Virtualmin on a new VPS there on CentOS 8, Virtualmin does not work. Linux version 4.19.144-rh174-20200910010734.xenU.x86_64 (tomcat(a)ci.build.***hosting.com) (gcc version 8.3.0 (Debian 8.3.0-6)) NZS has option to change kernel in their excellent customer control panel: Kernel Architecture Comments default-4.14.xenU.x86_64 x86_64 After a VM reboot, use the latest kernel in the 4.14.197-rh229-20200910022519.xenU.x86_64 series. default-4.19.xenU.x86_64 x86_64 After a VM reboot, use the latest kernel in the 4.19.144-rh174-20200910010734.xenU.x86_64 series. Booted on 4.19.144-rh174-20200910010734.xenU.x86_64 default-5.4.xenU.x86_64 x86_64 After a VM reboot, use the latest kernel in the 5.4.64-rh70-20200910022002.xenU.x86_64 series. 4.14.197-rh229-20200910022519.xenU.x86_64 x86_64 lts kernel 4.19.144-rh174-20200910010734.xenU.x86_64 x86_64 lts kernel, for both 64bit and 32bit installs 5.4.64-rh70-20200910022002.xenU.x86_64 x86_64 lts kernel, for both 64bit and 32bit installs VM installed kernel via PV Grub 4.7.2.pv-grub.x86_64 x86_64 64bit only. Lets you boot your own kernel. I switched to the 5.4 and no difference. I got onto NZS support with this message: *** I want to run Virtualmin under Centos 8 on my new VPS. (Currently I have a VPS running Virtualmin under Centos 7.) I have reinstalled a few times, full vps and also virtualmin manually and from your install package, and tried various things but get these issues: • SuExec cannot be used to run PHP scripts in CGI or FCGId modes : The Suexec command on your system is configured to only run scripts under /var/www, but the Virtualmin virtual server home directory is /home. CGI scripts run as domain owners will not be executed. • The following PHP-FPM versions cannot be used : 7.2.24 (Apache module mod_proxy is missing or not enabled) My searches finally turned up this: https://www.virtualmin.com/documentation/installation/faq Q. "I installed manually or using packages from a third party source, and I have the following error after install: "The Suexec command on your system is configured to only run scripts under /var/www, but the Virtualmin virtual server home directory is /home. CGI and PHP scripts run as domain owners will not be executed” A. The Apache suexec command on your system is misconfigured for use in a virtual hosting environment, and needs to be recompiled or configured (on systems that provide a configurable suexec command) with the docroot set to /home. On Debian/Ubuntu systems, you can install the apache2-suexec-custom package, and modify /etc/apache2/www-data to include /home. On other systems, you will need to recompile the Apache package or the suexec binary. Or, you can use our automated install script, which insures a correctly configured suexec binary is installed. Am I on the right track here, and can you please help with suexec problem? *** Reply from NZS (wihtin 4 hours) " After a quick look through, this is more than just a couple bugs. There are some seriously broken things by default and it does not work, and is not easily fixable. Things that do not work out of the box are 1. Dav - easily disabled and not used often (HF: don’t care abotu this myself) 2. PHPFCGID - suexec. you need to use this or PHP-FPM, this is broken because the chroot is /var/www 3. php-FPM - this is the deal breaker, it needs mod_proxy, but even when enabled it fails to detect it , so that does not work At this stage I'm going to suggest we do not allow installers of the Centos 8 to have virtualmin install as an option since its far more broken than a small thing. I would suggest you move to a debian based distro (ubuntu or similar) and virtualmin, since we know these work well without issue." *** So now, looking for recommendations. Server has to be in NZ and with that supplier who I like. I know Virtualmin CAN work with CentOS8 because it does here. The options are: 1. Wait and investigate - but was hoping to move everything over from an old server this weeek before end of month renewal where I really don’t want the supplier to have any more money, they have gone really bad. 2. Choose Centos7 that works with their build - ony 4 years life though? Seems like I am making an unnecessary extra problem for myself? 3. Can I install my own distro same as Andy has, somehow? 4. Ideas? Cheers Hugh