Running JupyterLab as a headless server on Ubuntu is perfect for data science, education, or research. In this guide, we’ll set up JupyterLab with a dedicated user, password authentication, remote access, and persistent service using systemd.
- Create a Dedicated User
sudo adduser --disabled-password --gecos "" jupyter
This creates a jupyter user that we’ll use to isolate the JupyterLab environment.
- Install Required Packages
sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y \
python3 \
python3-pip \
python3-venv
- Install JupyterLab in a Virtual Environment
Switch to the new user:
sudo su - jupyter
Create and activate a virtual environment:
python3 -m venv ~/jupyterlab-venv
source ~/jupyterlab-venv/bin/activate
Install JupyterLab:
pip install --upgrade pip
pip install jupyterlab
- Set a Password and Configure Remote Access
Generate the default config:
jupyter lab --generate-config
Set the password:
jupyter lab password
Copy the generated password hash from:
cat ~/.jupyter/jupyter_server_config.json
It looks like:
{
"IdentityProvider": {
"hashed_password": "argon2:$argon2id$v=19$m=10240,t=10,p=...."
}
}
Now open the main config file:
vi ~/.jupyter/jupyter_lab_config.py
Add these lines, replacing the hash with yours:
c.PasswordIdentityProvider.hashed_password = 'argon2:$argon2id$v=19$m=10240,t=10,p=....'
c.ServerApp.ip = '0.0.0.0'
c.ServerApp.port = 8888
c.ServerApp.open_browser = False
c.ServerApp.allow_remote_access = True
Exit back to your main user:
exit
- Create a systemd Service
Create the service unit:
sudo vi /etc/systemd/system/jupyterlab.service
Paste the following:
[Unit]
Description=JupyterLab Server
After=network.target
[Service]
Type=simple
User=jupyter
WorkingDirectory=/home/jupyter
ExecStart=/home/jupyter/jupyterlab-venv/bin/jupyter lab --config=/home/jupyter/.jupyter/jupyter_lab_config.py
Restart=on-failure
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
- Start and Enable the Service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable --now jupyterlab
Check the status:
systemctl status jupyterlab
Final Result
Visit:
http://<your-server-ip>:8888
login with your password and you’re in!