I've always been into solving stuff and just in general always problem solving, so I decided to set up a Pterodactyl Panel and Wings on two separate Ubuntu Server VMs to manage game servers. Here's my process, the issues I hit, and how I fixed them.
Installing the Pterodactyl Panel
I started by setting up the Pterodactyl panel on the first VM. The installation guide was mostly helpful, but I ran into issues with incompatible PHP versions and missing extensions. I fixed this by Installing PHP 8.3, adding the ondrej/php PPA, and manually installing the required extensions.
Setting Up Nginx
After PHP was sorted, I moved on to configuring Nginx. This involved setting up a server block for SSL and adding proxy headers. I also Adjusted Nginx settings to handle CORS and SSL issues, ensuring proper communication with Wings.
Wings Installation
On the second VM, I installed Wings to handle game server instances. The panel couldn't communicate with Wings at first due to SSL and token issues. I solved this by changing the Panel URL, added the token in the Wings config and setting up Nginx headers properly.
Networking Between VMs
I got a 502 Bad Gateway error due to networking/firewall issues between the VMs. I solved this by opening ports 443 & 8080 in the firewall and switching Docker's networking mode to bridged for better and easier connectivity.
Containers Not Showing in Docker
After running docker ps, no containers showed up, despite them being created. I quickly fixed this by Adding my user to the Docker group and rebooting the system, which resolved the issue.
The Outcome
Panel: Running smoothly
Wings: Successfully connected
Game Servers: I can create and start various game servers in under 30 seconds.
Key Takeaways
Networking: Proper firewall rules and network modes between VMs are crucial.
Docker Management: Handling permissions saved a ton of time.
Debugging: The --debug flag on Wings helped me find issues quickly.
Tutorials Aren’t Enough: I had to customize beyond the guide to get everything working properly.
Final Thoughts
Setting up Pterodactyl and Wings was a challenge, but I learned a lot about system administration and Docker management. If you've run into similar issues, or have some tips and tricks to share, hit me up! Always down to learn more.
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