How To Install Cacti on CentOS Stream 10

In this tutorial, we will show you how to install Cacti on CentOS Stream 10. Cacti is a powerful open-source network monitoring and graphing tool that leverages the capabilities of RRDTool for data storage and visualization. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process of installing Cacti on CentOS Stream 10, providing you with a robust solution for monitoring your network infrastructure.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the installation process, ensure that you have the following:

• A CentOS Stream 10 server with root access or sudo privileges
• Minimum of 2 GB RAM and 20 GB disk space
• Basic knowledge of Linux commands and system administration
• A stable internet connection

System Preparation

To begin, we’ll update the system packages and install necessary dependencies. Open a terminal and execute the following commands:

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf install epel-release -y
sudo dnf install net-snmp net-snmp-utils rrdtool -y

These commands update your system, add the EPEL repository, and install SNMP and RRDTool, which are essential for Cacti’s operation.

Installing LAMP Stack

Cacti requires a web server, database, and PHP to function. We’ll install the LAMP (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) stack:

1. Apache Web Server

sudo dnf install httpd -y
sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd

2. MariaDB (MySQL) Database Server

sudo dnf install mariadb-server -y
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb
sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to secure your MariaDB installation. Set a strong root password and answer ‘Y’ to all security questions.

3. PHP and Required Modules

sudo dnf install php php-mysqlnd php-snmp php-xml php-mbstring php-json php-gd php-curl php-zip php-gmp php-intl php-ldap -y
sudo systemctl restart httpd

Database Configuration

Now, let’s set up the database for Cacti:

sudo mysql -u root -p

Enter your MariaDB root password, then execute these SQL commands:

CREATE DATABASE cacti;
GRANT ALL ON cacti.* TO 'cactiuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Replace ‘your_password‘ with a strong, unique password.

Cacti Installation

With the prerequisites in place, we can now install Cacti:

sudo dnf install cacti -y

This command installs Cacti and its dependencies from the EPEL repository.

Configuring Cacti

Edit the Cacti configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/cacti/db.php

Update the database settings:

$database_type = "mysql";
$database_default = "cacti";
$database_hostname = "localhost";
$database_username = "cactiuser";
$database_password = "your_password";
$database_port = "3306";
$database_ssl = false;

Web Interface Setup

Configure Apache to serve Cacti:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/cacti.conf

Add or modify the following:

Alias /cacti /usr/share/cacti
<Directory /usr/share/cacti>
    Options +FollowSymLinks
    AllowOverride None
    Require all granted
    <IfModule mod_php.c>
        php_flag magic_quotes_gpc Off
        php_flag short_open_tag On
        php_flag register_globals Off
        php_flag register_argc_argv On
        php_flag track_vars On
        php_value max_execution_time 300
        php_value memory_limit 128M
        php_value date.timezone America/New_York
    </IfModule>
</Directory>

Adjust the timezone to match your location.

SELinux and Firewall Configuration

If SELinux is enabled, configure it to allow Cacti to function properly:

sudo setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect on
sudo setsebool -P httpd_can_sendmail on

Open the necessary firewall ports:

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Setting Up Cron Jobs

Cacti requires regular polling to collect data. Set up a cron job:

sudo crontab -e -u apache

Add the following line:

*/5 * * * * /usr/bin/php /usr/share/cacti/poller.php > /dev/null 2>&1

Initializing Cacti

Restart Apache to apply all changes:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Now, access the Cacti web interface by navigating to:

http://your_server_ip/cacti

Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation:

1. Accept the license agreement
2. Choose ‘New Install’ as the installation type
3. Verify that all system requirements are met
4. Enter the database information you configured earlier
5. Create an admin account with a strong password

Post-Installation Configuration

After the initial setup, log in to Cacti and perform these tasks:

1. Add Devices

Navigate to ‘Console’ > ‘Devices’ > ‘Add’ to start monitoring network devices.

2. Create Graphs

Select a device and click ‘Create Graphs for this Host’ to begin data collection.

3. Configure Data Collection

Adjust polling intervals and data retention settings in ‘Console’ > ‘Configuration’ > ‘Settings’.

Troubleshooting Tips

If you encounter issues during or after installation, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Check Apache error logs: sudo tail -f /var/log/httpd/error_log
• Verify Cacti log: sudo tail -f /var/log/cacti/cacti.log
• Ensure proper permissions: sudo chown -R apache:apache /usr/share/cacti/rra /usr/share/cacti/log
• Restart services: sudo systemctl restart httpd mariadb snmpd

Performance Optimization

To enhance Cacti’s performance:

• Adjust PHP settings in php.ini for increased memory_limit and max_execution_time
• Optimize MariaDB by tweaking my.cnf parameters like innodb_buffer_pool_size
• Consider using Cacti’s spine poller for faster data collection on large installations

Security Considerations

Enhance the security of your Cacti installation:

• Implement SSL/TLS encryption for the web interface
• Use strong, unique passwords for all accounts
• Regularly update Cacti and all system packages
• Limit access to the Cacti web interface using Apache’s authentication mechanisms

Congratulations! You have successfully installed Cacti. Thanks for using this tutorial for installing the Cacti on your CentOS Stream 10 system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official Cacti website.