Free Club Management Without Cloud: Setting Up and Securing a Member Database and Contribution Management with JVerein on Your Own Virtualmin Server in a GDPR-Compliant Way

Why JVerein on Your Own Server?

Clubs often face the challenge of efficiently managing member data and contributions. Cloud solutions are convenient, but often come with monthly costs and raise data protection concerns. With JVerein, you can run free club management on your own server. This gives you full control over the data and enables GDPR-compliant management.

In this article, we show you how to install JVerein on a virtual server with Virtualmin, secure it, and use it for club work.

What is JVerein?

JVerein is open-source software for managing clubs. It offers functions such as:

• Member management with custom fields
• Contribution management including SEPA direct debits
• Accounting and donation management
• Reports and statistics

The software is written in Java and requires a MySQL database. This makes it ideal for operation on your own server.

Requirements

For installation, you need:

• A virtual server or web hosting plan with sufficient resources (at least 2 GB RAM, 20 GB storage)
• An installed Virtualmin (e.g., on Ubuntu 22.04)
• A domain pointing to the server (e.g., via Dezhost Domains)
• Basic knowledge of Linux and Virtualmin

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Set Up Server and Install Virtualmin

After ordering your virtual server, install Virtualmin. The official installation guide can be found on the Virtualmin website. For Ubuntu 22.04, run the following command:

wget https://software.virtualmin.com/gpl/scripts/virtualmin-install.sh
sudo sh virtualmin-install.sh

After installation, you can access Virtualmin at https://your-domain:10000.

2. Create a Virtual Server for JVerein

In Virtualmin, create a new virtual server for your club domain. Make sure to enable PHP and MySQL. JVerein requires a MySQL database.

3. Create MySQL Database and User

In Virtualmin, under Edit Databases, create a new database. Note down the database name, username, and password.

4. Install Java

JVerein is a Java application. Install OpenJDK 11 or higher:

sudo apt install openjdk-17-jre

5. Download and Install JVerein

Download the latest version of JVerein from the official website. Extract the archive to a directory of your choice, e.g., /opt/jverein.

Start JVerein with:

java -jar jverein.jar

On first start, a configuration dialog opens. Enter the database connection there (host: localhost, database name, user, password).

6. Set Up JVerein as a Service (Optional)

To run JVerein in the background, you can create a systemd service. Create the file /etc/systemd/system/jverein.service with the following content:

[Unit]
Description=JVerein
After=network.target

[Service]
User=jverein
ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -jar /opt/jverein/jverein.jar
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Then:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable jverein
sudo systemctl start jverein

7. Securing

The security of your club data is of utmost priority. Consider the following points:

• Firewall: Open only the necessary ports (e.g., 80, 443, 10000 for Virtualmin).
• SSL Encryption: Set up a Let's Encrypt certificate for your domain (in Virtualmin under Server Configuration > SSL Certificate).
• Regular Backups: Virtualmin offers backup functions. Schedule automatic backups of the database and the JVerein files.
• Access Restriction: Restrict access to JVerein to specific IP addresses or use a VPN.
• Updates: Keep server, Virtualmin, and JVerein always up to date.

GDPR Compliance

By operating on your own server, all member data remains in your hands. You are the controller within the meaning of the GDPR. Make sure that you:

• Have a privacy policy for your club website
• Obtain consent from members for data processing
• Use the data only for club purposes
• Comply with deletion periods

For more information, see our knowledge base.

Conclusion

With JVerein on your own Virtualmin server, you run cost-effective, flexible, and GDPR-compliant club management. You save monthly fees and retain control over your data. Take advantage of the benefits of virtual servers at Dezhost and start today!