How to Install Jenkins on Debian 10 or Raspberry Pi OS

Updated:
June 5, 2022 - Debian 11 Installation warning
April 5, 2023 - Repository Signing Key Update on 2.387.2

Why Use Jenkins CI/CD?

I have been building Docker for a while and I found myself doing repetitive tasks on the CLI such as from pulling from GitHub, changing Dockerfiles and Docker build and more! I came across Jenkins that lets you continuously integrate and continuously deliver or CI/CD.

Project Overview

This project enables you to install Jenkins on Debian or Raspberry Pi operating systems.

Overview of the installation steps:

1. System Update
2. Java Installation
3. Jenkins Pre-Installation
4. Jenkins Installation
5. Post Installation

1. System Update

Before installing make sure your system is up to date.

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

2. Java Installation

You will need to explicitly install a Java runtime environment, because Oracle's Java RPMs are incorrect and fail to register as providing a java dependency. Thus, adding an explicit dependency requirement on Java would force installation of the OpenJDK JVM.

Available Compatible Java

• 2.164 (2019-02) and newer: Java 8 or Java 11
• 2.54(2017-04) and newer: Java 8
• 1.612 (2015-05) and newer: Java 7

OpenJDK Library

Search for the library that is best for your stack.

sudo apt search openjdk

Install Java

For this project, we will install the latest Java 11.

sudo apt install openjdk-11-jre

Java Installation Status

Check java installation version to make sure it is up and running.

java --version

Results should show:

openjdk 11.0.9 2020-10-20
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.9+11-post-Debian-1deb10u1)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0.9+11-post-Debian-1deb10u1, mixed mode)

3. Jenkins Pre-Installation

This part makes sure you have source list so Jenkins can properly grab updates on your device.

Get Source List Package Key from GitHub

Get package key for Debian package repository of Jenkins to automate installation and upgrade.

The Jenkins project produces two release lines: Stable (LTS) and regular (Weekly). Depending on your organization's needs, one may be preferred over the other. See the links below for more information and recommendations about the release lines.

Install WGET

Install wget prior to proceeding to pre-installation.

sudo apt-get install wget

Check package to verify it has been successfully installed.

wget --version

Stable (LTS) - Recommended

Long-Term Support (LTS) release baselines are chosen every 12 weeks from the stream of regular releases. Recommended for conservative users, it’s preferable to stick to a release line which changes less often and only receives important bug and security related fixes.

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

Regular releases (Weekly) - Optional

This release line delivers bug fixes and new features rapidly to users and plugin developers who need them. Recommended for releases with all features, improvements, security, and bug fixes integrated since the last release.

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

Debian 11 Installation Warning

If you get the warning installation when you are installing on Debian 11, install curl and use the install curl installation method.

"Warning: apt-key is deprecated. Manage keyring files in trusted.gpg.d instead (see apt-key(8))."

Install Curl

Install and Use Curl on Debian 11 Bullseye Linux (lincuna.com)

Jenkins Curl Install

Before version 2.387.2

curl -fsSL https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian-stable/jenkins.io.key | sudo tee \
    /usr/share/keyrings/jenkins-keyring.asc > /dev/null

After version 2.387.2

curl -fsSL https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian/jenkins.io-2023.key | sudo tee \
  /usr/share/keyrings/jenkins-keyring.asc > /dev/null

Add to Source List

By adding this source list, you are able to get updates install packages from Jenkins.

sudo nano /etc/apt/sources.list

Copy and Paste

Add to the following list. See Image.

deb https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian-stable binary/

4. Jenkins Installation

Once you have Java and pre-installation, you are finally ready to install Jenkins in your system.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install jenkins

After installation is completed go to designated IP on your web browser.

localhost:8080

If localhost:8080 doesn't work, use your system IP address, such as 192.168.1.2:8080. If you don't know your device IP address use the command below:

hostname -I

Once you are able to load Jenkins on your web browser it will prompt for an initialAdminPassword. To find out, type secret password on your CLI. Once you are able to pass initialAdminPassword, you are ready to install additional plug-ins and create your admin credentials.

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

5. Post Installation

Errors

If you come across user connection errors while using with Docker, add docker as a user. Not having docker as a user may cause connection errors with docker on builds.

sudo usermod -aG docker jenkins
sudo systemctl restart docker

If you come across folder setting errors, make sure folder ownership is to jenkins:jenkins. Not having jenkins as user permission may cause build errors.

sudo chown -R jenkins:jenkins /var/lib/jenkins

GitHub or Repository Pulls

To properly pull your repository, install git in your system or if you are having problems connecting with your git repositories.

sudo apt install git

Jenkins Commands for Systemctl

Commands to help you navigate Jenkins without using GUI using CLI.

sudo systemctl status jenkins

sudo systemctl restart jenkins

sudo systemctl start jenkins

sudo systemctl stop jenkins

sudo systemctl enable jenkins

sudo systemctl disable jenkins

Uninstall

sudo apt-get remove --purge jenkins