How to Run Classic ASP on Linux: A Step-by-Step Guide to Installing AxonASP on Ubuntu & Debian

Introduction
Hosting Classic ASP (Active Server Pages) has traditionally meant being tethered to Windows Server and IIS. For developers maintaining legacy applications or looking to migrate older VBScript systems to modern, cost-effective infrastructure, finding a native Linux alternative has always been a significant challenge.

Enter AxonASP, an open-source, multi-platform runtime built in GoLang. It is designed specifically to host Classic ASP applications natively on modern systems like Linux and macOS. Instead of relying on heavy virtual machines, emulators, or complex workarounds, AxonASP provides a streamlined environment to run your VBScript files directly.

In this tutorial, we will walk through the process of installing the AxonASP runtime on an Ubuntu or Debian server using the pre-compiled .deb package.

Prerequisites

• A server running an Ubuntu or Debian-based Linux distribution.
• Command-line access with sudo privileges.
• wget or curl installed for downloading the package.

Step 1: Download the Release Package
The easiest way to install AxonASP on Debian-based systems is via the official .deb packages provided in the project's GitHub repository.

Navigate to your terminal and use wget to download the target release. (Note: The URL below uses version 2.1.7 as an example. Always check the repository for the latest version).

wget https://github.com/guimaraeslucas/axonasp/releases/download/v2.1.7/axonasp_2.1.7_amd64.deb

Step 2: Install the .deb Package
Once the download is complete, use the dpkg command to install the package onto your system.

sudo dpkg -i axonasp_2.1.7_amd64.deb

Tip: If you encounter any dependency errors during installation, you can easily resolve them by running sudo apt-get install -f.

Step 3: Understand the Directory Structure
After a successful installation, the runtime is neatly unpacked into the /opt/axonasp/ directory. It is helpful to understand the core components included in this path:

• /opt/axonasp/ - The main installation directory.
• /opt/axonasp/axonasp-http - The standalone HTTP web server binary, perfect for quick deployments, testing, or development.
• /opt/axonasp/axonasp-fastcgi - The FastCGI application server binary, ideal for production environments when integrating with reverse proxies like Nginx or Apache.

Step 4: Install and Enable the Background Service
To ensure that the AxonASP runtime runs continuously and starts up automatically whenever your server reboots, you need to configure it as a systemd service. The installation package includes a handy bash script to automate this exact process.

Navigate to the installation directory and run the service installation script:

cd /opt/axonasp
sudo bash install-service.sh

Next, start the service and enable it so it persists across reboots:

sudo systemctl start axonasp
sudo systemctl enable axonasp

Step 5: Verify the Installation
To confirm everything is running smoothly, check the status of the service using systemctl:

sudo systemctl status axonasp

You should see an output indicating that the service is "active (running)". From here, your Linux server is officially ready to process .asp files and execute VBScript natively!

Conclusion
Running Classic ASP doesn't mean your infrastructure is permanently locked into legacy operating systems. By utilizing a modern runtime like AxonASP, you can breathe new life into older web applications, leveraging the stability, security, and performance of Linux environments.

For more advanced configurations—including setting up Nginx as a reverse proxy, configuring virtual hosts, or exploring the FastCGI implementation—check out the official AxonASP documentation.