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How to Install Snipe-IT on Debian 12

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Snipe-IT on Debian 12 (Nginx + PHP-FPM + MariaDB + SSL)

Snipe-IT is a free, open-source IT asset management system (ITAM) designed to help organizations keep track of hardware, software licenses, accessories, and users in a structured and auditable way. It provides a modern web interface built on Laravel (PHP framework) and offers features like check-in/check-out tracking, user assignment, depreciation management, and REST API integration.

Running Snipe-IT on Debian 12 (Bookworm) provides a stable, secure, and long-term supported base for enterprise asset management. With PHP 8.2, MariaDB 10.11, and Nginx, Debian 12 ensures excellent performance, security, and compatibility — making it a perfect choice for production environments requiring reliability and control.

Architecture Overview

LayerComponentRole
OSDebian 12 (Bookworm)Stable, long-term supported Linux base for production systems
Web ServerNginxHandles HTTP/HTTPS requests, compression, and caching
Backend RuntimePHP 8.2 + PHP-FPMExecutes Snipe-IT’s Laravel application code
DatabaseMariaDB 10.11 / MySQL 8Stores assets, users, and system configuration
App FrameworkLaravel (PHP)Provides routing, authentication, and ORM logic
TLSLet’s Encrypt / PKISecures the web interface and API access

Why Use Snipe-IT?

  • Centralized IT asset management – track everything from laptops to licenses.
  • Flexible role-based access control – assign permissions by team or department.
  • Audit trails and check-out history – maintain full accountability of all assets.
  • REST API – integrate Snipe-IT with ticketing systems or automation tools.
  • Free and open-source – deploy on your infrastructure without vendor lock-in.
  • Multi-language support – ideal for global or distributed teams.

Snipe-IT vs Other IT Asset Management Platforms

Feature/CapabilitySnipe-IT (Self-hosted)GLPI (Self-hosted)Odoo (IT Module)ManageEngine (Cloud)
HostingSelf-hostedSelf-hostedCloud/Self-hostedCloud only
CostFree, open-sourceFree, open-sourceSubscriptionSubscription
BackendPHP + MariaDBPHP + MySQLPython + PostgreSQLProprietary stack
REST API✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes✅ Yes
CustomizationHighHighMediumLow

Snipe-IT excels in simplicity and control, providing all core ITAM features without the complexity or cost of commercial solutions.

Security & Best Practices

  • Deploy behind Nginx with HTTPS (Let’s Encrypt or PKI certificates).
  • Store database credentials and app keys in a secure .env file.
  • Limit MariaDB connections to localhost or private networks only.
  • Keep PHP, Composer, and Laravel dependencies updated regularly.
  • Use Debian’s UFW or nftables to allow only ports 80 and 443.
  • Configure automatic database backups and test restore procedures.
  • Use strong passwords and 2FA for admin accounts.
  • Harden file permissions under /var/www/snipe-it (only www-data should have write access).

Typical Use Cases

  • Corporate IT departments managing laptops, phones, and accessories.
  • Universities and schools tracking shared lab equipment.
  • MSPs and IT service providers managing multiple client inventories.
  • Startups and SMEs implementing organized asset management.
  • Nonprofits needing a transparent, free asset tracking system.

Deploying Snipe-IT on Debian 12 with Nginx, PHP-FPM, and MariaDB gives you a secure, efficient, and fully customizable IT asset management platform — ideal for organizations of all sizes looking for open-source transparency and reliability in asset tracking.

Step 1: Create a Cloud Instance on Shape.Host

Log in to your Shape.Host account.

Click Create → Instance.

Choose a server location close to your users.

Select a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 30 GB SSD.

Choose Debian 12 (64-bit) as the operating system.

Click Create Instance.

Copy your public IP address from the Resources section.

Step 2: Connect to the Server

Use SSH to access your instance:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Step 3: Update System Packages

Before installing any software, update your package list:

apt update

Step 4: Install Nginx, MariaDB, and PHP

Install the Nginx web server, MariaDB database server, and all required PHP extensions for Snipe-IT:

apt install nginx mariadb-server php-fpm php-bcmath php-common php-ctype php-curl php-fileinfo php-gd php-iconv php-intl php-mbstring php-mysql php-soap php-xml php-xsl php-zip git

Install Composer, the PHP dependency manager:

apt install composer

Step 5: Configure the Database

Access the MariaDB shell:

mysql

Create the Snipe-IT database and user:

CREATE DATABASE snipeit;
GRANT ALL ON snipeit.* TO 'snipeit'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
\q

⚠️ Replace 'password' with a strong password for security.

Step 6: Download and Configure Snipe-IT

Move to the web directory:

cd /var/www/html

Clone the Snipe-IT repository:

git clone https://github.com/snipe/snipe-it
cd snipe-it

Copy the example environment file:

cp .env.example .env

Edit the configuration file:

nano .env

Update the following values:

APP_URL=http://snipeit.example.com
APP_TIMEZONE='UTC'

DB_DATABASE=snipeit
DB_USERNAME=snipeit
DB_PASSWORD=password

Save and close (CTRL + O, ENTER, CTRL + X).

Step 7: Set Permissions

Assign ownership and set proper permissions for the web directory:

chown -R www-data: /var/www/html/snipe-it
chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/snipe-it

Step 8: Install PHP Dependencies

Run Composer to install the required Laravel dependencies:

composer update --no-plugins --no-scripts
composer install --no-dev --prefer-source --no-plugins --no-scripts

Generate the Laravel application key:

php artisan key:generate

This creates a unique key required for encryption and security.

Step 9: Configure Nginx

Create a new Nginx virtual host configuration file:

nano /etc/nginx/conf.d/snipeit.conf

Paste the following configuration:

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name snipeit.example.com;
    root /var/www/html/snipe-it/public;

    index index.php;

    location / {
        try_files $uri $uri/ /index.php?$query_string;
    }

    location ~ \.php$ {
        include snippets/fastcgi-php.conf;
        fastcgi_pass unix:/run/php/php8.2-fpm.sock;
        fastcgi_split_path_info ^(.+\.php)(/.+)$;
        fastcgi_param SCRIPT_FILENAME $document_root$fastcgi_script_name;
        include fastcgi_params;
    }
}

Replace snipeit.example.com with your real domain or server IP.

Save and exit the file.

Step 10: Adjust Global Nginx Settings

Edit the main Nginx configuration file:

nano /etc/nginx/nginx.conf

Inside the http block, add the following line:

server_names_hash_bucket_size 64;

Save and exit the file.

Test the configuration:

nginx -t

If you see syntax is ok, restart Nginx:

systemctl restart nginx

Step 11: Access Snipe-IT Web Interface

Now open your browser and go to:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP

or, if you’ve set up a domain:

http://snipeit.example.com

You’ll be greeted with the Snipe-IT installation wizard.
Follow the steps to configure the admin account, mail settings, and organization details.

Ensure all required dependencies are installed, then click the Next: Create Database Table. You will see the following page.

Define your site name, email, user, and password, then click Next: Save User. You will see the Snipe-IT dashboard.

Congratulations! You installed Snipe-IT on Debian 12 with Nginx, PHP 8.2, and MariaDB.
You can now manage all your company’s IT assets securely from a single web-based dashboard.

For reliable performance and uptime, host your Snipe-IT instance on a Shape.Host Cloud VPS — optimized for business applications with root access and SSD storage.

Tags:
Christian Wells

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