Install Greenbone OpenVAS from source in Ubuntu 18.04

I Spent a lot of time installing Greenbone OpenVAS from the CentOS/Ubuntu repositories. Most builds in the repositories had issues which would have been fixed in the branches or in the latest release, but the repositories are not updated. Errors were mostly related to the library mismatch. I decided to install it from the source and as usual had to face some challenges as well. You could follow the below mentioned steps to install openvas in Ubuntu 18.04. I tried to install this in CentOS as well. But there were a hell lot of issues. Ubuntu is the only OS I was able to install in. I would continue my effort to install it in CentOS. For now, enjoy installation in Ubuntu. Do make a note that I have provided all the dependency installation as well (As I encountered). You may see some other dependency issues. Do provide comments how it goes. Any comments/questions/corrections are welcome.

Install the cmake compiler:

apt-get update
apt-get upgrade
apt-get install cmake

Install gvm libs:

git clone https://github.com/greenbone/gvm-libs.git

cd gvm-libs/

cmake .

make install

Install openvas-scanner:

apt-get install bison

git clone https://github.com/greenbone/openvas-scanner.git

cd openvas-scanner/

cmake .

make install

Install gvmd:

sudo apt-get install sqlite3 libsqlite3-dev

sudo apt-get install libical-dev

sudo apt-get install libical2

sudo apt-get install libical3

git clone https://github.com/greenbone/gvmd.git

cd gvmd

cmake .

make install

Install gsa:

apt-get install clang-format

sudo apt install nodejs

sudo apt install npm

apt-get install libmicrohttpd-dev

apt-get install libxml2-dev

git clone https://github.com/greenbone/gsa.git

cd gsa

cmake .

make install

Install redis server:

apt-get install redis

Start the redis service:

root@openvas:~/# redis-server /usr/local/share/doc/openvas-scanner/redis_config_examples/redis_4_0.conf

Send the process to background:

root@openvas:~/#  Ctrl + z

root@openvas:~/#  bg

Important Note: If you have the redis server running, started by the installer, stop it and start it as mentioned above. If redis is not started using the above mentioned conf file, openvas scanner will not be able to connect to redis.
If you are using a different version of redis, use the appropriate conf file while starting the redis.

Generate a self signed certificate (If you dont have CA cert):

root@openvas:~/certs# openssl genrsa -des3 -passout pass:abcdef -out server.pass.key 2048

root@openvas:~/certs# openssl rsa -passin pass:abcdef -in server.pass.key -out server.key

root@openvas:~/certs# rm server.pass.key

root@openvas:~/certs# openssl req -new -key server.key -out server.csr
# Fill the certificate information

Verify the files:
root@openvas:~/certs# ls -ltr
-rw------- 1 root root 1679 Apr 26 11:36 server.key
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1090 Apr 26 11:37 server.csr

root@openvas:~/certs# touch v3.ext

root@openvas:~/certs# openssl x509 -req -sha256 -extfile v3.ext -days 365 -in server.csr -signkey server.key -out server.crt

Verify the files:

root@openvas:~/certs# ls -ltr

-rw------- 1 root root 1679 Apr 26 11:36 server.key

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1090 Apr 26 11:37 server.csr

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root    0 Apr 26 11:38 v3.ext

-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1253 Apr 26 11:38 server.crt

Start openvassd process: (Scanner process)

root@openvas:~/certs# openvassd <Enter>

Ensure there are no errors in the logs.

Default log location: /usr/local/var/log/gvm/openvassd.log

Start gvmd process: (Greenbone vulnerability manager)

root@openvas:~/certs# gvmd <Enter>

Ensure there are no errors in the logs.

Default log location: /usr/local/var/log/gvm/gvmd.log

Start gsad service (for web access):

root@openvas:~/certs# gsad --ssl-private-key=/root/certs/server.key --ssl-certificate=/root/certs/server.crt <Enter>

Ensure there are no errors in the logs.

Default log location: /usr/local/var/log/gvm/gsad.log

Create initial admin user:

root@openvas:~/certs# gvmd --create-user=myadmin

User created with password 'xxxx-xxxxx-xxxx'.

Login to console:

https://<ExternalIPAddress>

Possible errors:

get_redis_ctx: redis connection error: Connection refused

If this comes remove the redis, freshly install and start the service.

root@openvas:~#  apt-get remove redis

root@openvas:~#  apt-get purge redis

root@openvas:~#  apt autoremove

root@openvas:~#  apt-get install redis

Stop the process started by installer

root@openvas:~#  service redis-server stop

Start the redis service without using service:

root@openvas:~/# redis-server /usr/local/share/doc/openvas-scanner/redis_config_examples/redis_4_0.conf

Send the process to background:

root@openvas:~/#  Ctrl + z

root@openvas:~/#  bg