The folks behind NethServer have announced a fresh milestone release for their Linux-based server platform. Version 8.5, which landed today, delivers a long list of improvements, feature expansions, and bug fixes aimed at sysadmins and small business users alike.
A key addition is a version compatibility check for worker nodes. Now, when new nodes join a cluster, their core version is compared against the leader node’s, which should prevent version mismatches that might lead to instability. Users are advised to always update the cluster core before adding new nodes.
Backup options have also improved. NethServer 8.5 adds native support for Hetzner S3-compatible storage as a backup destination. A related bug involving renaming custom S3 destinations has also been squashed.
Samba integration sees a major overhaul. Administrators can now install the Samba module from the Software Center and configure it to act as an Active Directory domain member. New features include alias naming for simplified SMB migration, visibility control for shared folders, and advanced tools like a recycle bin, centralized audit logging via Grafana, and local network discovery using modern multicast via WSDD.
The Metrics settings page now lets users configure Grafana’s web interface and set up alert notifications by email. In the same vein, Promtail has been replaced by Alloy for log forwarding to Loki, which itself has been upgraded to version 3.
The Mail app has matured since version 1.7, now supporting a proper catch-all address feature that works regardless of other domain settings. Bugs related to SMTP relay and credential handling have also been addressed. A known limitation remains in rare name collisions: if a user and group share the same name, mail goes to the group.
The system’s TLS certificate request process is smarter too. It now blocks domain names already used in HTTP routes and shows ACME validation errors before changes are saved. Meanwhile, HTTP routing also benefits from better visibility in the UI and an automatic redirect for paths missing a trailing slash, helpful for certain apps like the User portal.
Webtop, the platform’s groupware suite, has been bumped to version 5.28.6. It includes a sleeker login experience, faster mail search with attachment support, and better integration with NethVoice’s address book. PEC Bridge also sees an upgrade, now offering more flexible custom notifications.
On the NethVoice front, version 1.3.4 introduces an updated CTI with a redesigned UI, built-in Asterisk logs and CLI access, call pickup, and video stream support for use cases like intercoms. There’s even a hotel integration module supporting FIAS protocol for those deploying NethServer in hospitality environments.
If you’re using Debian Bookworm and run into issues, you may be missing the gettext-base package. The team recommends running apt update followed by apt install gettext-base to resolve it.
Rounding out the update are newer versions of several popular apps: Nextcloud 31, Collabora 25, Roundcube 1.6.11, SOGo 5.12, Mattermost 10.5.5 (with PostgreSQL 17.5), Netdata 2.4, CrowdSec 1.6.8, and Ejabberd 25.4.
You can find a list of known bugs on the project’s GitHub, with additional discussion taking place on the official NethServer forum. With this update, the platform continues to serve as a practical, flexible option for anyone building an on-prem or hybrid Linux server stack. You can learn more about installation here.
