# Fbx install on a VPS at Contabo - needs a couple of tweaks. NetworkManage & rc.local

**URL:** https://discuss.freedombox.org/t/fbx-install-on-a-vps-at-contabo-needs-a-couple-of-tweaks-networkmanage-rc-local/4023
**Category:** Support
**Created:** [December 8, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://discuss.freedombox.org/t/fbx-install-on-a-vps-at-contabo-needs-a-couple-of-tweaks-networkmanage-rc-local/4023 "2025-12-08T13:28:01Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![Peterc](https://discuss.freedombox.org/user_avatar/discuss.freedombox.org/peterc/32/479_2.png) [@Peterc](https://discuss.freedombox.org/u/Peterc)
#### Post date: [December 8, 2025, 1:28pm UTC](https://discuss.freedombox.org/t/fbx-install-on-a-vps-at-contabo-needs-a-couple-of-tweaks-networkmanage-rc-local/4023/1 "2025-12-08T13:28:01Z")

</div>

Hello All,

I have installed Debian 13 as a VPS at contabo. I used ssh to configure the VPS and to run the commands shown below to install freedombox :

`apt-get update`  
`DEBIAN_FRONTEND=noninteractive apt-get install freedombox`

**Note** :

I use the command `top` from another ssh login to watch the progress of **fbx** install. Once I see the cpu usage is down I know that **fbx** as set it self up and the front page will be up and ready to start the setup of fbx first account.

There is **No** interfaces file in `/etc/network` to edit on this debian 13 install at contabo.

**Setting up the first user account:**

After this user as been setup I go to fbx **Network** page to set the firewall for **external**.

Here is a screenshot of that **first**  **Network** page:

 ![1 - First view of the network setup after install](https://discuss.freedombox.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/ca1332483add0bb6d3eeae13925f2808864d1660.png)

I configured the network setup as shown in the below screenshot:

 ![2 - First config and all looks OK before reboot boot](https://discuss.freedombox.org/uploads/default/original/2X/c/cefcc5fab4039ddbd036adaf7dde332ba2b15e4e.png)

It looks a perfect network setup.

**Reboot** boot and login and have a look at the **Network** page - shown below in the screenshot:

 ![3 - After reboot the setting I set have gone](https://discuss.freedombox.org/uploads/default/original/2X/1/186eabc6ea40fe8f915797c0cf87ee03fdc937fc.png)

The previous network setup has gone.

**Note** :

NetworkManager will not let go of **lo**

**eth0** needs to be **Activate**  
**lo** need to be **Deactivate**.

My answer is two tweaks. Add a config file to NetworkManager to stop the device **lo** being took over by NetworkManager for primary device. So **eth0** can be the primary device.

Second, add a bash script to **Activate** eth0 with the command `nmcli con up eth0` At boot. - located at `/etc/rc.local`

#### NetworkManager configuration:

Edit the file:

`sudo nano /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/unmanaged.conf`

Add the lines below:

```auto
[keyfile]
unmanaged-devices=interface-name:lo

```

Below may be wrong but it works for now ?

Add a rc.local file for the bash command:

`sudo nano /etc/rc.local`

Add the lines below:

```auto
#!/bin/bash
/usr/bin/nmcli con up eth0
exit 0

```

Set the file rc.local to executable

`sudo chmod +x /etc/rc.local`

On the **Networks** page I set:

#### FreedomBox Internet Connectivity

**To** : Directly connected to the Internet

#### And

#### Your Internet Connection Type

**To** : I have a public IP address that does not change over time (recommended)

Now the tweaks are done, its a reboot.

Screenshot below:

 ![4 - Magic the issue as gone](https://discuss.freedombox.org/uploads/default/original/2X/0/007b5511c1ef7acfb0245f176972f8d070b17553.png)

It is now back to the correct network setup. !!

Regards to all: peter

Hope the above can be useful, below is a bit more info about NetworkManager and the VPS.

Screenshot of the connection info shown below:

 ![5 - Connection Information](https://discuss.freedombox.org/uploads/default/original/2X/a/a5201fe4e5089be7541c25d0c6de6e571d030c67.png)

#### Before the tweaks:

```auto
admin@Test-setup:~$ nmcli connection show
NAME UUID TYPE DEVICE 
lo b477c81b-38a0-4931-b101-29a785129b4e loopback lo     
eth0 216c413c-23d1-4929-a62b-004ab2938cf7 ethernet --

```

#### After the tweaks:

```auto
admin@Test-setup:~$ nmcli connection show
NAME UUID TYPE DEVICE 
eth0 216c413c-23d1-4929-a62b-004ab2938cf7 ethernet eth0

```

```auto
uname -a

6.12.57+deb13-cloud-amd64 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Debian 6.12.57-1 (2025-11-05) x86_64 GNU/Linux

```