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Full Setup for SDR++ in Headless Server Mode in a VM (No Audio Config Required)

This guide will walk you through setting up SDR++ in server mode on a Linux system, without requiring audio configuration. The steps are designed to be minimal and secure, using a dedicated user for running the SDR++ service.

Prerequisites

  • A Linux system with apt package manager (e.g., Ubuntu, Debian)
  • Access to the terminal with sudo privileges

Step 1: Install Dependencies (Minimal)

Update your system and install basic tools. Note that audio-related dependencies like alsa-utils are generally not required for this setup, but you can include them if necessary.

```bash sudo apt update sudo apt install -y alsa-utils # Optional, only if absolutely needed as audio will not be coming from the VM or metal. ```

Step 2: Create a Dedicated SDR++ User and add necessary groups

For security reasons, it's recommended to run the SDR++ server under a dedicated user account with limited privileges.

```bash sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false sdrpp sudo mkdir /home/sdrpp sudo chown -R sdrpp:sdrpp /home/sdrpp sudo usermod -aG plugdev,dialout sdrpp ```

Step 3: Install SDR++

Download the SDR++ .deb package that matches your system architecture (e.g., sdrpp_ubuntu_noble_amd64.deb), and then install it.

```bash sudo dpkg -i sdrpp_ubuntu_noble_amd64.deb sudo apt-get install -f # Resolves missing dependencies, if any ```

Step 4: Set Up the SDR++ Systemd Service

To ensure SDR++ starts automatically in server mode on system boot, create a systemd service file.

  1. Create the service file:

```bash sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/sdrpp-server.service ```

  1. Add the following configuration to the file. Dont worry about the port as it defaults to 5259 on the sdrpp client.

```ini [Unit] Description=SDR++ Server Mode After=network.target

[Service] Type=simple User=sdrpp Group=sdrpp ExecStart=/usr/bin/sdrpp --server Restart=always Environment="HOME=/home/sdrpp"

[Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target ```

  1. Save and close the file (CTRL + o, then CTRL + x).

Step 5: Enable and Start the SDR++ Service

Make sure the systemd configuration is reloaded, enable the service to start on boot, and then start it immediately.

```bash sudo systemctl daemon-reload sudo systemctl enable sdrpp-server.service sudo systemctl start sdrpp-server.service ```

Verify that the service is running correctly:

```bash sudo systemctl status sdrpp-server.service ```

You should see an output indicating that the service is active and running.

Conclusion

You have now successfully set up SDR++ to run in server mode, starting automatically on system boot. This setup is minimal and does not require audio configuration. Enjoy using your SDR++ server!

Optional: Configure ALSA to Use a Dummy Device

There is a slim chance you may need to still get some sort of audio taking with your sdrpp server. Suppress ALSA-related errors by using a dummy device:

Load the Dummy Driver:

```bash sudo modprobe snd-dummy ```

Create or Edit the ALSA Configuration File:

```bash sudo nano /etc/asound.conf ```

Add these lines to configure ALSA to use the dummy device:

```ini pcm.!default { type hw card 0 } ctl.!default { type hw card 0 } ```