How to Install Jenkins on Ubuntu 24.04

What is Jenkins?

Jenkins is a popular open-source automation server designed to support continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) of software projects. It allows developers to automate the building, testing, and deployment of applications across various platforms and environments.

Originally created in Java, Jenkins is highly extensible through plugins and integrates with virtually every modern DevOps tool and cloud provider.

Why Use Jenkins on Ubuntu 24.04?

Ubuntu 24.04 LTS offers a modern, stable, and secure platform for running Jenkins, especially in production CI/CD environments. Key advantages include:

Long-term support until 2029
Native availability of Java 17+, required by modern Jenkins versions
Improved systemd management and updated security features
Easy integration with Docker, Kubernetes, Git, Ansible, and system packages
Smooth installation via official Jenkins Debian repository or containerized options

Key Features of Jenkins

Feature	Description
CI/CD Pipeline Support	Automate software build, test, and deployment workflows
Web Dashboard	Manage jobs, plugins, and builds through a web-based interface
Plugin Ecosystem	1,800+ plugins for SCM, build tools, cloud integrations, and UIs
Pipeline-as-Code	Define build logic in version-controlled Jenkinsfiles (Groovy syntax)
Multi-platform Support	Supports Linux, macOS, Windows, and containerized workloads
Integration Ready	GitHub, GitLab, Docker, Maven, Gradle, AWS, Azure, and more
Authentication & RBAC	LDAP, OAuth, GitHub SSO, plus role-based access controls

Common Use Cases

Automating code builds, unit tests, and deployment pipelines
Managing multi-branch projects with Git-based triggers
Deploying Docker containers or Helm charts to Kubernetes clusters
Running scheduled scripts and integration tests
Performing security scans or quality analysis (e.g., SonarQube, Snyk)
Executing infrastructure automation (e.g., Terraform, Ansible)

Jenkins Architecture on Ubuntu 24.04

Jenkins Master – Manages job scheduling, UI, and plugins
Build Agents (Slaves) – Execute build steps (can run locally or remotely)
Java Runtime – Required to run Jenkins (Ubuntu 24.04 supports Java 17)
Systemd Service – Jenkins runs as a systemd service on Ubuntu for process control
Web Access – Default port is 8080 (http://your-ip:8080)
Data Directory – /var/lib/jenkins stores configuration, plugins, jobs, and credentials

Security Considerations

Set up HTTPS via Nginx reverse proxy or using SSL certificates
Integrate LDAP, SAML, or GitHub OAuth for secure user authentication
Configure RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) using the “Matrix Authorization” plugin
Keep plugins and core Jenkins updated to reduce vulnerability exposure
Enable backup routines and store /var/lib/jenkins safely
Harden the Jenkins server using UFW, Fail2Ban, and AppArmor

Performance Tips on Ubuntu 24.04

Use SSD-backed volumes for faster job execution
Increase Java heap size for large builds
Run agents on separate servers to distribute load
Use pipeline parallelization to speed up CI/CD stages
Offload artifacts and logs to external storage (e.g., S3, GCS, NAS)

Running Jenkins on Ubuntu 24.04 gives you a reliable and secure foundation for modern DevOps automation. With its plugin-driven architecture, powerful pipeline engine, and seamless Ubuntu integration, Jenkins remains a top choice for CI/CD orchestration across organizations of all sizes.

Ubuntu 24.04 enhances this setup with long-term security, performance improvements, and system compatibility with Java 17+ and container runtimes.

🔹 Create a VPS Instance on Shape.Host

Before installing Jenkins, you need a VPS server. Follow these steps to create one on Shape.Host:

Go to https://shape.host and log in.

Click “Create”, then select “Instance”.

Set:

Location: Choose your preferred data center region.

Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

Operating System: Select Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit).

Resources: Pick a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.

Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Click “Create Instance”.

Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

Wait for deployment and note your server IP address.

Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

Now you can SSH into your new VPS and begin the Jenkins installation.

Connect to Your Server via SSH

On Linux/macOS:

ssh root@your_server_ip

On Windows:

Use PuTTY, enter the IP, and connect as root.

🔹 Step 1: Update the System

apt update && apt upgrade -y

🔹 Updates the local package index and upgrades all installed packages to their latest versions.

Terminal showing APT package management commands and output.

🔹 Step 2: Install Java (Jenkins Requirement)

Jenkins requires Java 11 or 17. We’ll use OpenJDK 17.

apt install openjdk-17-jdk -y

🔹 Installs the latest OpenJDK 17 package, which Jenkins requires to run.

Check Java version:

java -version

🔹 Verifies that Java is correctly installed.

Terminal showing java commands or output during Step 2: Install Java (Jenkins Requirement).

🔹 Step 3: Add Jenkins Repository

1. Import the Jenkins GPG key:

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

🔹 Adds Jenkins’ trusted key to your system.

2. Add the Jenkins repository:

echo deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/jenkins-keyring.asc] \
  https://pkg.jenkins.io/debian-stable binary/ > \
  /etc/apt/sources.list.d/jenkins.list

🔹 Adds the official Jenkins APT repository to your sources list.

🔹 Step 4: Install Jenkins

apt update
apt install jenkins -y

🔹 Installs the latest stable Jenkins package from the newly added repository.

🔹 Step 5: Start and Enable Jenkins

systemctl start jenkins

🔹 Starts the Jenkins service immediately.

systemctl enable jenkins

🔹 Enables Jenkins to start automatically on system boot.

Check Jenkins status:

systemctl status jenkins

🔹 Confirms Jenkins is active and running.

Terminal showing systemd service management commands or output.

🔹 Step 6: Adjust Firewall (if UFW is enabled)

Allow traffic on Jenkins port:

ufw enable
ufw allow 8080

🔹 Opens TCP port 8080 for incoming connections.

Terminal showing firewall configuration commands and rules.

ufw allow ssh
ufw reload

🔹 Reloads the firewall with the new rules.

Terminal showing UFW rule commands and firewall status messages.

🔹 Step 7: Access Jenkins Web Interface

Open your browser and go to:

http://your-server-ip:8080

Jenkins initial unlock screen requesting the administrator password.

Or, if using a domain:

http://your-domain.com:8080

🔹 You should see the Jenkins unlock screen.

🔹 Step 8: Retrieve Initial Admin Password

Run:

cat /var/lib/jenkins/secrets/initialAdminPassword

🔹 Outputs a one-time admin password required to unlock Jenkins the first time.

Copy and paste this into the setup wizard in your browser.

Terminal showing cat commands or output during Step 8: Retrieve Initial Admin Password.

🔹 Step 9: Finish Jenkins Setup

Choose “Install suggested plugins”

Jenkins Getting Started screen showing plugin installation progress.

Create your admin user

Set Jenkins URL (IP or domain with port 8080)

You’re done! Access the Jenkins dashboard.

Jenkins welcome dashboard with options for creating a job.

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