# Linux Nodes

### Overview

This guide describes how to install a StrongDM node (gateway or relay) on Linux.

### Steps

1. Log in to the [StrongDM Admin UI](https://app.strongdm.com/app/admin).
2. Go to **Networking** > **Gateways** and click **Add gateway**, or go to **Networking** > **Relays** and click **Add relay**.

![](/files/SMLEq3R0GOPwbm7PdQ44)

3. For **Name**, enter a display name for the gateway or relay.
4. For a gateway, for **Advertised Host**, define the advertised host for the server (for example, `sdm-gw0.yourcompany.com`, or `111.222.333.444`). It must be an IP or hostname accessible to your StrongDM clients. Additionally, for **Advertised Port**, enter the port that you left open for the gateway to interact with StrongDM clients (by default, `5000`).

If you change the advertised port, verify whether or not you also need to change the bind port. The bind port is set from the **Advanced** option upon [gateway creation](/admin/networking/gateways-and-relays.md#add-a-gateway).

1. Click **Create gateway** or **Create relay**. A token is generated **that is only shown to you one time** that you'll need to use later in the installation process. Carefully copy the token and save it somewhere for later use.
2. Log in to the server you created to host your node.
3. Download the StrongDM binary:

   ```bash
   curl -J -O -L https://app.strongdm.com/releases/cli/linux
   ```
4. Unzip it (if this is a new server, you may need to install a package to unzip archives, such as with `sudo apt-get install unzip` on Ubuntu distributions):

   ```bash
   unzip sdmcli_VERSION_NUMBER_linux_amd64.zip
   ```
5. Install the node:

{% tabs %}
{% tab title="US" %}

```sh
sudo ./sdm install --node
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="UK" %}
*Follow instructions in the tab for the region of your organization's StrongDM control plane, not your own location. The default control plane region is US.*

```sh
sudo ./sdm install --app-domain app.uk.strongdm.com --node
```

{% endtab %}

{% tab title="EU" %}
*Follow instructions in the tab for the region of your organization's StrongDM control plane, not your own location. The default control plane region is US.*

```sh
sudo ./sdm install --app-domain app.eu.strongdm.com --node
```

{% endtab %}
{% endtabs %}

```
You will be prompted for the token you generated in the Admin UI; paste it in and hit enter. Note that the token won't show in the terminal for security purposes, similar to the masking of a password.
```

{% hint style="info" %}
The installer must be run by a user that exists in the `/etc/passwd` file. Any users remotely authenticated, such as with LDAP or an SSO service, may fail to complete the installation.
{% endhint %}

6. In the Admin UI, go back to **Networking** > **Gateways** or **Networking** > **Relays** to check the status of your node.

The node you created should appear to be online and have a heartbeat. If it doesn't appear online, perform a hard refresh of your browser. Within a couple of minutes, if it is still not online, verify that the StrongDM daemon is running by running `ps aux|grep sdm` on the server and looking for a line that says `sdm relay`.


---

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