The issue I am facing:
I am trying to install pi hole on Ubuntu 18.04, and it gets stuck on "[i] Restarting lighttpd service".
Details about my system:
I have a windows 8.1 laptop. I installed VirtualBox 6.1.50, and installed Ubuntu 18.04 in that to install pi hole.
What I have changed since installing Pi-hole:
I have not been able to install it yet.
Any help would be appreciated! Thank you!
Ubuntu 18.04 is not a supported OS.
Pi-hole currently supports these Operating Systems:
Raspbian=11,12 Ubuntu=20,22,23,24 Debian=11,12 Fedora=40,41 CentOS=9
Is there a reason why you installed a very old Ubuntu 18.04 ( released in April 2018) and that is out of service since May 2023?
I had to use older versions of all of the software that I installed as mentioned in my post because I am using a computer that has Windows 8.1 installed on it. I am not able to update it to a newer operating system. So I have been trying to get older software to work that is compatible with it.
Is there any way to install pi hole on an older version of Ubuntu?
You could consider Installing a current Linux OS on the old hardware and install windows in a VM on that machine. It would depend on your software needs but it would likely run much better.
Do you mean format the computer and install the newest Ubuntu instead?
Yes in a broader solution to your unsuppoted windows / old hardware issue
The pro is that you'd have a more up to date OS that is supported with security patches etc. The con is that its a process and it depends on your skills and comfort level.
If you choose to go down a route like that I could consider purchasing a new drive and simply removing the old one. That way if you run into issues you can always just put the old drive back in and boot back to your old system. If your current drive is not an ssd then you can also reap a pretty good performance boost with a new drive.
Another option is to purchase something like a raspberry pi and host pihole on it.
put an old used laptop to good use
How to BLOCK ADS on ALL YOUR DEVICES with an OLD LAPTOP for FREE - YouTube
Since you run your Ubuntu 18.04 as a VM within Win8.1, what stops you from creating a new VM from a more recent Ubuntu image (e.g. an Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS server install)?
Unfortunately I can’t use a newer version of Ubuntu because I had to use an older version of VirtualBox that would work with Windows 8.1.
Running Windows 8.1 you are opening yourself up for a whole lot of trouble (i.e. malware, viruses, etc...). Running a security product like Pi-hole on a non-security OS is a security nightmare.
Why not nuke it altogether and install Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS and then install Pi-hole. Why bother with VirtualBox or a nightmare Windows 8.1 (Microsoft end support 1/10/2023). This means that OS 8.1 no longer receives security updates.
Toasting an old OS release, and replacing with some current variant of Linux is a fine option, as long as the hardware supports the release.
That said, I don’t think of Pi-hole as a security device, nor do I believe it is promoted as such. Sure, I suppose if you had it block some domains known to be malware related that might work, but I personally would not consider this security in any way.
that depends on who you ask i guess, I myself using a combination of unbound, wireguard and a secure router with strict firewall would consider pi-hole as part of my overall security package that protecting my home network. Blocking domain with infected ads with malicious code, drive-by-download, clickbait, etc... I would consider pi-hole a security device.
Perhaps in the context in which you have configured, sure. But you have no control over the blocking content of the various block lists, unless you are responsible for the list, or vigilantly add your own domain blocks.
But, as an general application/utility, I would not consider pi-hole a security solution.
Thank you all for your advice! I have decided to use my newer home computer instead.
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