How should I handle SELinux permissions for a Valheim server?
Asked by
MellowOrbit42
I'm setting up a Valheim dedicated server and followed a service-based installation guide. When I run `sudo systemctl start valheim`, SELinux blocks the process and reports an access violation. I used the suggested `ausearch` and `audit2allow` commands, but each subsequent attempt produces another denial—first for transition access, then for map permissions. Am I configuring SELinux incorrectly? Is there a better way to grant the server the permissions it needs without creating a new policy rule for every denial?
Answers
You probably haven’t done anything unusual—SELinux is doing its job by denying behavior that the service policy doesn’t already allow. Creating an `audit2allow` rule for every denial can eventually make the service work, but it may also hide an incorrect file location, service configuration, or overly broad permissions. First check the complete audit records and make sure the server files have the correct SELinux file context, ownership, and permissions. If the guide does not provide an SELinux policy for Valheim, running it in a properly configured container can be simpler because the container setup usually handles the application’s expected filesystem and process permissions. Docker or another container runtime still takes some learning, but a maintained Valheim image may be more streamlined than building a custom SELinux policy one denial at a time.
Reply to this answer
Add your answer
Answers are reviewed before publication.
MellowOrbit42: I looked at containers but didn’t understand them well, so I followed a traditional service guide instead. It sounds like using a maintained Valheim container could be easier than continuing to add individual SELinux exceptions.