# Configuring Retro AIM Server With systemd

This document details the configuration of Retro AIM Server to run as an unprivileged user with `systemd` managing it as a production service.

1. ** Download Retro AIM Server**

   Grab the latest Linux release from the [releases page](https://github.com/mk6i/retro-aim-server/releases)

2. ** Create the ras user and group **

   Run the following commands:

   ```shell
   $ sudo useradd ras
   $ sudo mkdir -p /opt/ras
   $ sudo mkdir -p /var/ras
   ```

3. ** Extract the archive **

   Extract the archive using the usual `tar` invocation, and move the extracted contents into `/opt/ras`

4. ** Set Ownership and Permissions **

   ```shell
   $ sudo chown -R ras:ras /opt/ras
   $ sudo chmod -R o-rx /opt/ras
   ```

5. ** Copy the systemd service **

   Place the `ras.service` file in `/etc/systemd/system`

6. ** Reload systemd **

   ```shell
   $ sudo systemctl daemon-reload
   ```

7. ** Enable and start the service **

  ```shell
  $ sudo systemctl enable --now ras.service
  ```

8. ** Make sure the service is running **

   ```shell
   $ sudo systemctl status ras.service
   $ sudo journalctl -xeu ras.service
   ```

Note that the `systemd` service defines the configuration for Retro AIM Server directly, bypassing the usual `run.sh` script and `settings.env`. Customizations may be performed in `/etc/systemd/system/ras.service`.