Bonum Certa Men Certa

How to Set Up a Gemini Server of Your Own, Even on a Simple Single-Board Computer

Gemini Turntable



Summary: Using Agate to start one's own Gemini capsule (self-hosted) is a lot simpler than one might be inclined to believe; this is a detailed HOWTO, hoping to encourage more people to join Gemini space, which is fast-growing and free of garbage

THE one thing that stunned me was how easy it was to set up a Gemini server. A lot simpler than setting up a Web server. The harder part is certificates, but that too is trivial once it's done a couple of times, potentially with errors at first.



Here's a quick recipe for setting up one's own instance and Gemini capsule.

First, create a new user's account. Gemini ought to have its own account, as it'll make things a lot simpler (backup, permissions etc.) and for the sake of this example we'll assume the user account is "gemini" (with home directory /home/gemini)

Then, in the user's top-level (home) directory:

mkdir gemini bin certs

This will set up directories for the capsule, the programs, and the certificates, respectively.

There's not so much left to do now.

Go to the directory gemini (e.g. cd ~/gemini/ or equivalent using a graphical file browser)

In that directory, create or place a file called index.gmi

It can be empty or contain something simple like Hello world! (just to make sure that the server is set up and works)

Now let's get the server software. Go to the bin directory (e.g. cd ~/bin/). For most practical purposes agate (Apache Licence) seems to be OK and it supports quite a few architectures. Unfortunately it's hosted on GitHub (Microsoft), with latest versions shown at the top of this page. If you are not sure what architecture to choose, run uname -a

The correct binary can be downloaded using a Web browser or a tool like wget/curl. That program is quite small and needs to be placed in bin in order to stay consistent with this manual.

Unpack and set 'executable' (x) permission for the file, e.g. using

gunzip [binary_file]
chmod +x [binary_file]


Depending on the name of the binary file in question.

For my ARM SBC it is gunzip agate.armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf.gz and chmod +x agate.armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf

All the pieces are now in place except the certificate and the service setup.

On a systemd-based operating system create a new file at /etc/systemd/system/agate.service

It should look something like this:

[Unit]
Description=agate
After=network.target



[Service] User=gemini Type=simple ExecStart=[your settings]

[Install] WantedBy=default.target


Wherein [your settings] ties together the program, the root directory for hosting (capsule), and the certificate.

In the case of Techrights on ARM, it's something as follows:

/home/gemini/bin/agate.armv7-unknown-linux-gnueabihf -s --content /home/gemini/gemini/ --key /home/gemini/certs/key.pem --cert /home/gemini/certs/cert.pem --hostname your hostname --lang en-GB

In our case, your hostname is gemini.techrights.org (how you set up your hostname may depend on how you manage domains and where). That hostname needs to point to your device's IP address.

All that's left now is certificate setup and service initiation.

Go to the certificates directory (e.g. cd ~/certs/) as this will likely involve the command line (unless you have some graphical tools that do the same).

A simple self-signed certificate ought to be sufficient:

openssl req -new -subj "/CN=your hostname" -x509 -newkey ec -pkeyopt ec_paramgen_curve:prime256v1 -days 365 -nodes -out cert.pem -keyout key.pem

That's for 1 year. It can be set to anything.

The command then leaves the two files required by the service/server, namely cert.pem and key.pem. These can be modified and regenerated at any time, so there's no need to worry if at any point they're wrongly generated or made for the 'wrong' domain.

To get it all started, assuming systemd:

sudo systemctl restart agate
sudo systemctl enable agate


Use a Gemini browser (or Web proxy) to then test access to the hostname over gemini:// (it will attempt to connect over port 1965, so make sure there's no firewall standing in the way at the level of the device or the network it is in). This is pretty much it, with the exception of variation for non-systemd systems. All that systemd does is, it starts the server using the suitable command and arguments, even after restarts. That command can instead be run manually, or set up for any init system of choice. The hardest part is setting up the domain, generating the key/certificate correctly, and then lowering the filters (if any) to allow access over port 1965.

We don't typically do HOWTO-type articles, but for this one we make an exception. If you get stuck, ask us in IRC for help. Gemini needs to grow and for faster growth we need to help one another.

Agate is quite small and simple. As of the time of writing, it does not support server-side CGI scripts (for something like in-capsule search), but Gemini ought to be kept light and simple anyway; we're not trying to just replicate the bloated Web.

Credit: Chris Were, for some initial notes and suggestions. gemini://chriswere.uk/

Recent Techrights' Posts

UEFI "Secure Boot Doesn’t Play Nice at the Moment"
UEFI "Secure Boot" does not improve security. It's an artificial obstacle in service of monopoly.
If You Want to "make your 'Windows PC' lean, mean, and fast" You Will Install GNU/Linux or Some BSD
That kind of article says a lot about IDG
"Bad Shim Signature"; So 'Secure' That It Overrides Users' Preferences and Turns Itself Back on (Coercive Measure)
This was a few hours ago
We Covered UEFI 'Secure Boot' Scandals. The World Listened.
To hell with UEFI 'secure boot'
 
Satya's Plan B: Try to Hide the Massive Extent/Scale/Scope of Microsoft Layoffs
fewer people buy Microsoft
Red Hat News About De Facto Mass Layoffs (Bluewashing) Gone From Reddit (Censored by Gatekeepers), Still Online in The Register
With RTOs, PIPs, relocation etc. expect IBM to "shed off" many Red Hatters
Gemini Links 14/09/2025: ROOPHLOCH, Music, and Reddit
Links for the day
Slopwatch: Google News Infested With Slop (About Half of the Results for "Linux" Today)
This is the sort of junk one finds when looking for "Linux" in Google News these days
Links 14/09/2025: Ricky Hatton Dies and McDonald's Declares War on Tipping Culture
Links for the day
Links 14/09/2025: Disasters for CEOs Obsessed With Slop and Slop Companies School Like Fish
Links for the day
"Bad Shim Signature" (Microsoft 'Secure' Boot)
"Fresh install not booting"
What Microsoft Garrett and Microsoft Lunduke Have in Common
Similar tactics, different "wings"
Links 14/09/2025: US "Economy Sagging", "Michigan Economy Wobbles From Tariffs"
Links for the day
Gemini Links 14/09/2025: Minimalist Snippet Manager and Omarchy Linux
Links for the day
The Face of the Digital Far Right: Microsoft Lunduke
Microsoft Lunduke is an online extremist that belongs to and panders to the far right
20 Years Later and Academia Isn't the Same
"I never dreamed of being a professor"
'Cancel Culture' by the Right: Microsoft Lunduke Contacts People's Employers Trying to Get Them Fired
Microsoft Lunduke panders to extremists online
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, September 13, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, September 13, 2025
Microsoft is Rapidly Dropped From Web Servers, Shows Survey
Microsoft lost about 8% "market share" in just 3 months
Many GNU/Linux Users Report MOK (Machine Owner Key) Issues in Recent Days
many people don't report this online and never post in Reddit
Links 13/09/2025: Escalations in East Europe and POTUS’ Health Cover-Up
Links for the day
Gemini Links 13/09/2025: Lagrange Turns 5 and Lagrange 1.19.2 Released
Links for the day
Microsoft Inside Your Linux: "Security vulnerability that allowed an attacker to bypass UEFI Secure Boot."
2 hours ago
A New Low for "Linux Journal": Promoting MICROSOFT WINDOWS Using LLM Slop
They've just jumped the shark entirely
Fake News With Fake Numbers About Microsoft
"This is what happens when the world's economy is governed by sick old men"
Slopwatch: "Google News" is Fast Becoming a Mashup of Slopfarms, Linux Journal ("LJ") is a Dump of LLM Slop
Well done, Google News. Google itself can flourish as a slopfarm mashup.
Torturing Users Who Just Want to Run GNU/Linux on Their Own PC
"Linux does not want to install"
The Register MS Still Takes Money to Hype Up "AI" in Articles by Microsoft Resellers With the Term "AI" 30+ Times in Them
Notice how many times they mention "AI"
The Apache Logo News is VERY Old, Racists and 'Anti-Woke' Bigots Look for Something to Incite Other Bigots With
Nothing to see here, move along
Linux Mint 9/11: "4th One Today..." (in Reddit)
Remember that not everyone having an issue reports it to social control media like Reddit
Nepal Will Fall Without a Single Shot Fired, Thanks to Social Control Media
Or very few shots (by the authorities)
European Corruption in the European Patent Office (EPO) Targets Culture
"In reality, the project includes a new “legal instrument” shifting administrative burden and liability on EPO staff while creating new uncertainty and externalising Amicale activities."
European Authorities, Already Bribed and Infiltrated by Microsoft, Won't Help You Find BigBlueButton, Jami, Ring, and Jitsi
Because they're paid by Microsoft and are Microsoft 'addicts' themselves
UEFI Secure Boot Failing, as Expected for Nearly 15 Years Already (Techrights Said This Since 2012)
in the media
Debian 9/11
people report this issue
Gemini and Web Links 13/09/2025: MElon's Slop Grift and "Autonomous Trains"
Links for the day
Moving From Content Management Systems (CMSs) to Static Site Generators (SSGs) Saves You Time, Makes You a Lot More Productive
try to reduce the cost (financial and computational) of running your site
Pursuing Peace Through Violence
You cannot "see" a person's mind, until the mouth opens
Leak: European Patent Office (EPO) is Now Attacking Amicale Clubs
corruption has become the norm and scientists are robbed of any dignity
Can We Please Stop Celebrating Shooters?
"An important point to hammer on is that CoCs were never intended for uniform or symmetric application"
Oracle Fraud (or Defrauding Shareholders)
"the obvious [lie] is that watts are (wasted) electricity [and] and FLOPS are computing capacity"
Geminispace is Growing Faster in 2025 Than It Did in 2024
What matters is that corporations haven't ruined it and LLM slop is extremely rare
Links 13/09/2025: China Punishes for 'Negative' Posts, US Police Unable to Find Shooter
Links for the day
Who's the Mystery Financier of SLAPP Against Techrights and Is That a Millionaire/Billionaire?
Whose idea was it to fund meritless lawsuits against my wife and I?
Slopwatch: Slow Slop Day
This distracts from or may take traffic away from the original articles, actually written by actual people
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, September 12, 2025
IRC logs for Friday, September 12, 2025
CoC Gone Wrong: Celebrating Murder OK, Complaining About the Celebration Gets You Banned
Hopefully the NixOS Foundation will have a word with (maybe replace) the moderator/s
Gemini Links 12/09/2025: Familiarity and Secondary Dominants
Links for the day
Explaining (in Length and Depth) the Damage Matthew Garrett Did to Linux and to GNU/Linux Users
no matter how many threats we receive
Links 12/09/2025: "Bad Reviews" as Extortion Weapon, "Free Speech At Risk in America’s Schools" According to ACLU
Links for the day
Only One Speaker Does Not Do Sharecropping for MElon (in X.com)
The man who puts principles before PR/optics
The Mind of the 'Hulk Hogan of UEFI'
in a nutshell
A Day After "UEFI 9/11": UEFI Secure Boot Bypass
In the news today (right now), as published in the past few hours
Links 12/09/2025: Slop Code as Liability, Microsoft Outlook Down for Many
Links for the day
It's Still Not to Late to Turn Off "Secure Boot"
If people reboot their PC or server today, and it relies on "Secure Boot" on Sept. 12 or later, then depending on the firmware there may be trouble ahead
Links 12/09/2025: Shira Perlmutter is Back, “Software Per Se” Patent Rejections in In re McFadden
Links for the day
Slopwatch: Linux Plagiarism, Slopfarms Still Infesting Google News, Many Images Are Fake
Google is promoting plagiarism
"This Morning Might Turn Out to be an Interesting One for System Admins Who Haven't Updated Their Devices' Secure Boot Certificate" (If They Reboot)
Who asked for this anyway?
Gemini Links 12/09/2025: Metric System, Dumping Windows, and Software Architecture is Dead
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Thursday, September 11, 2025
IRC logs for Thursday, September 11, 2025