How To Install OpenSearch on Fedora 42

OpenSearch is a powerful, community-driven search and analytics engine that offers enterprise-grade functionality for log analysis, application monitoring, and real-time search capabilities. Fedora 42, with its cutting-edge kernel optimizations and robust package management system, provides an ideal platform for hosting OpenSearch installations. This comprehensive guide will walk through every step of installing and configuring OpenSearch on Fedora 42, ensuring a secure, optimized deployment ready for production use.

Whether deploying OpenSearch for centralized logging, business intelligence, or application search functionality, this tutorial covers all installation methods, security configurations, and performance optimizations specific to Fedora 42’s architecture. The process involves several key phases: system preparation, package installation, security hardening, and performance tuning.

Understanding OpenSearch and Fedora 42 Compatibility

What is OpenSearch and Why Use It?

OpenSearch represents Amazon’s commitment to open-source search technology, providing a comprehensive suite of tools for search, analytics, and data visualization. The platform excels in handling large-scale data ingestion, real-time search operations, and complex analytical queries across distributed systems.

Key features include advanced full-text search capabilities, aggregation frameworks for analytics, alerting mechanisms, and machine learning integrations for anomaly detection. OpenSearch also supports multiple data formats including JSON, CSV, and various log formats, making it versatile for diverse use cases.

The platform’s architecture allows horizontal scaling across multiple nodes, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance. Unlike traditional database systems, OpenSearch specializes in handling unstructured and semi-structured data, making it particularly valuable for log analysis, application performance monitoring, and business intelligence applications.

Fedora 42 Advantages for OpenSearch Hosting

Fedora 42 introduces significant improvements that benefit OpenSearch deployments, including enhanced container support, optimized kernel scheduling, and improved memory management. The distribution’s commitment to latest upstream technologies ensures compatibility with OpenSearch’s modern requirements.

The systemd integration in Fedora 42 provides robust service management capabilities, essential for maintaining OpenSearch as a system service. Additionally, Fedora’s SELinux implementation offers granular security controls that complement OpenSearch’s built-in security features.

Package management through DNF simplifies dependency resolution and system updates, reducing maintenance overhead for production OpenSearch deployments. The distribution’s focus on developer-friendly tools and libraries creates an optimal environment for custom OpenSearch plugin development and integration.

Pre-Installation System Preparation

System Updates and Package Management

Begin by ensuring Fedora 42 is fully updated with the latest security patches and system components. This process establishes a stable foundation for OpenSearch installation and prevents compatibility issues with outdated system libraries.

sudo dnf update -y
sudo dnf install -y curl wget tar gzip

Install essential development tools and utilities that support OpenSearch operations and troubleshooting. These tools include network utilities, text processing commands, and system monitoring applications that prove invaluable during configuration and maintenance phases.

Configure system locale and timezone settings to ensure proper log timestamps and international character handling within OpenSearch indices. Proper localization prevents data corruption and ensures accurate time-based queries and aggregations.

Java Requirements and Installation

OpenSearch requires specific Java versions for optimal performance and compatibility. Fedora 42 supports multiple OpenJDK versions, allowing flexibility in meeting OpenSearch’s Java requirements while maintaining system security through regular updates.

sudo dnf install -y java-21-openjdk-devel
java -version

Configure Java environment variables to ensure OpenSearch uses the correct Java installation. Set both JAVA_HOME and OPENSEARCH_JAVA_HOME variables in system-wide configuration files to maintain consistency across user sessions and service contexts.

echo 'export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-21-openjdk' | sudo tee -a /etc/environment
echo 'export OPENSEARCH_JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-21-openjdk' | sudo tee -a /etc/environment
source /etc/environment

Verify Java installation by checking version output and ensuring development tools are properly installed. The development package includes necessary components for OpenSearch plugins and custom extensions.

System Configuration Optimization

Configure kernel parameters essential for OpenSearch operation, particularly the virtual memory map count setting that prevents startup failures in production environments. This parameter determines the maximum number of memory map areas a process can have.

echo 'vm.max_map_count=262144' | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
sudo sysctl -p

Optimize file descriptor limits to support OpenSearch’s concurrent connection requirements. Production deployments often require handling thousands of simultaneous connections, necessitating increased system limits.

echo 'opensearch soft nofile 65536' | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
echo 'opensearch hard nofile 65536' | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
echo 'opensearch soft memlock unlimited' | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf
echo 'opensearch hard memlock unlimited' | sudo tee -a /etc/security/limits.conf

Create a dedicated system user for OpenSearch operations, following security best practices by avoiding root execution. This user account provides proper isolation and simplifies permission management throughout the OpenSearch ecosystem.

sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false opensearch

Firewall and Network Configuration

Configure firewalld to allow OpenSearch traffic while maintaining system security. OpenSearch requires specific ports for REST API access, inter-node communication, and dashboard connectivity.

sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=9200/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=9300/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=5601/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload

Configure SELinux policies to accommodate OpenSearch operations without compromising system security. Modern OpenSearch versions work well with SELinux when properly configured, providing additional security layers.

Verify network interface configuration and ensure hostname resolution works correctly for both local and cluster deployments. Proper DNS configuration prevents communication issues in multi-node setups.

OpenSearch Installation Methods

Method 1: YUM Repository Installation (Recommended)

The repository-based installation method provides the most maintainable approach for production OpenSearch deployments on Fedora 42. This method ensures automatic updates and simplified dependency management through the system package manager.

Add the official OpenSearch repository to the system configuration, including GPG key verification for package authenticity. Repository installation provides signed packages and automatic security updates through the standard system update process.

sudo curl -SL https://artifacts.opensearch.org/releases/bundle/opensearch/3.x/opensearch-3.x.repo -o /etc/yum.repos.d/opensearch-3.x.repo
sudo rpm --import https://artifacts.opensearch.org/publickeys/opensearch.pgp

Clean the package cache and update repository metadata to ensure access to the latest OpenSearch packages. This step prevents installation failures due to stale package information.

sudo dnf clean all
sudo dnf makecache

Install OpenSearch with proper initial admin password configuration for versions 2.12 and later. The initial admin password requirement enhances security by preventing default credential vulnerabilities.

sudo env OPENSEARCH_INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD="MyStrongPassword123!" dnf install -y opensearch

Method 2: RPM Package Installation

Direct RPM installation provides greater control over the specific OpenSearch version and installation timing. This method suits environments requiring specific version pinning or offline installation scenarios.

Download the appropriate OpenSearch RPM package from the official repository, verifying package integrity through checksum validation. Always download packages from official sources to prevent supply chain security issues.

wget https://artifacts.opensearch.org/releases/bundle/opensearch/3.0.0/opensearch-3.0.0-linux-x64.rpm
wget https://artifacts.opensearch.org/releases/bundle/opensearch/3.0.0/opensearch-3.0.0-linux-x64.rpm.sha512

Verify package integrity using SHA-512 checksums before installation. This verification step ensures package authenticity and prevents installation of corrupted or tampered packages.

sha512sum -c opensearch-3.0.0-linux-x64.rpm.sha512

Install the verified RPM package using the package manager, which handles dependency resolution and system integration automatically.

sudo env OPENSEARCH_INITIAL_ADMIN_PASSWORD="MyStrongPassword123!" rpm -ivh opensearch-3.0.0-linux-x64.rpm

Installation Verification and Service Configuration

Enable OpenSearch as a system service to ensure automatic startup during system boot and proper integration with systemd management tools. Service enablement also configures proper dependencies and startup ordering.

sudo systemctl enable opensearch
sudo systemctl start opensearch

Verify service status and examine startup logs to ensure successful initialization. Pay particular attention to Java version detection, plugin loading, and network binding confirmation in the service logs.

sudo systemctl status opensearch
sudo journalctl -u opensearch -f

Test basic connectivity using curl commands to verify that OpenSearch is responding to HTTP requests on the configured port. Initial connectivity tests should include both localhost and external interface access where appropriate.

curl -X GET "localhost:9200" -u admin:MyStrongPassword123! -k

Initial Configuration and Security Setup

Basic OpenSearch Configuration

Configure OpenSearch for single-node operation by editing the primary configuration file located at /etc/opensearch/opensearch.yml. Single-node configuration simplifies initial setup while providing a foundation for future cluster expansion.

cluster.name: fedora-opensearch-cluster
node.name: fedora-node-1
network.host: 0.0.0.0
http.port: 9200
discovery.type: single-node

Set appropriate network binding to enable access from remote clients while maintaining security through proper authentication. Network configuration should balance accessibility with security requirements based on deployment environment.

Configure cluster and node naming conventions that facilitate future scaling and maintenance operations. Descriptive names improve troubleshooting and monitoring capabilities in production environments.

Security Plugin Configuration

OpenSearch 2.12 and later versions require explicit admin password configuration during installation, eliminating default credential vulnerabilities that plagued earlier versions. This security enhancement requires careful initial configuration to maintain system access.

Disable demo configuration components that are inappropriate for production use. Demo configurations use self-signed certificates and default passwords that present significant security risks in production environments.

sudo /usr/share/opensearch/plugins/opensearch-security/tools/securityadmin.sh -cd /usr/share/opensearch/plugins/opensearch-security/securityconfig/ -icl -nhnv -cacert /etc/opensearch/root-ca.pem -cert /etc/opensearch/admin.pem -key /etc/opensearch/admin-key.pem

Configure the internal users database with strong passwords and appropriate role assignments. Internal user management provides basic authentication capabilities suitable for small to medium deployments.

TLS/SSL Certificate Setup

Replace demo certificates with production-ready certificates to ensure proper encryption and authentication for all OpenSearch communications. Production certificates prevent man-in-the-middle attacks and ensure data confidentiality.

Generate a custom certificate authority for internal certificate signing, providing better security than self-signed certificates while avoiding the complexity of external certificate authorities for internal communications.

sudo openssl genrsa -out /etc/opensearch/root-ca-key.pem 2048
sudo openssl req -new -x509 -sha256 -key /etc/opensearch/root-ca-key.pem -out /etc/opensearch/root-ca.pem -days 365

Create node-specific certificates with proper subject alternative names that match the server’s network configuration. Proper certificate configuration prevents SSL verification failures and ensures secure inter-node communication.

sudo openssl genrsa -out /etc/opensearch/node-key.pem 2048
sudo openssl req -new -key /etc/opensearch/node-key.pem -out /etc/opensearch/node.csr
sudo openssl x509 -req -in /etc/opensearch/node.csr -CA /etc/opensearch/root-ca.pem -CAkey /etc/opensearch/root-ca-key.pem -CAcreateserial -out /etc/opensearch/node.pem -days 365

JVM and Performance Tuning

Configure Java Virtual Machine heap settings based on available system memory, following the general rule of allocating 50% of available RAM to OpenSearch while leaving sufficient memory for system operations and file system caches.

sudo sed -i 's/-Xms1g/-Xms4g/' /etc/opensearch/jvm.options
sudo sed -i 's/-Xmx1g/-Xmx4g/' /etc/opensearch/jvm.options

Enable memory locking to prevent OpenSearch heap memory from being swapped to disk, which significantly impacts performance. Memory locking requires proper system limits configuration established during preparation steps.

echo 'bootstrap.memory_lock: true' | sudo tee -a /etc/opensearch/opensearch.yml

Configure garbage collection settings for optimal performance based on heap size and expected workload patterns. Modern garbage collectors like G1GC provide better performance for large heap sizes common in production deployments.

OpenSearch Dashboards Installation

Installing OpenSearch Dashboards

Install OpenSearch Dashboards using the same repository method employed for the core OpenSearch installation. Dashboard installation provides a web-based interface for data visualization, query building, and system management.

sudo dnf install -y opensearch-dashboards

Configure OpenSearch Dashboards to connect to the local OpenSearch instance by editing the configuration file located at /etc/opensearch-dashboards/opensearch_dashboards.yml. Proper configuration ensures secure communication between dashboard and search engine components.

server.host: "0.0.0.0"
server.port: 5601
opensearch.hosts: ["https://localhost:9200"]
opensearch.username: "admin"
opensearch.password: "MyStrongPassword123!"
opensearch.ssl.verificationMode: "certificate"

Dashboard Configuration and Integration

Enable and start the OpenSearch Dashboards service, ensuring proper startup ordering relative to the main OpenSearch service. Dashboard functionality depends on OpenSearch availability, requiring careful service dependency management.

sudo systemctl enable opensearch-dashboards
sudo systemctl start opensearch-dashboards
sudo systemctl status opensearch-dashboards

Verify dashboard accessibility through web browser navigation to the configured port. Initial dashboard access may require accepting self-signed certificates in development environments or configuring proper certificate chains for production use.

Access the dashboard interface at https://localhost:5601 using the configured admin credentials. The initial login process may require additional security configuration depending on the chosen authentication method.

Testing and Verification

REST API Testing and Functionality Verification

Perform comprehensive connectivity testing using curl commands to verify all OpenSearch endpoints respond correctly. API testing should include authentication verification, cluster health checks, and basic indexing operations.

curl -X GET "https://localhost:9200/_cluster/health" -u admin:MyStrongPassword123! -k
curl -X GET "https://localhost:9200/_cat/nodes?v" -u admin:MyStrongPassword123! -k

Create test indices and documents to verify core search and indexing functionality. Test operations should include document creation, retrieval, updating, and deletion to ensure complete functionality.

curl -X PUT "https://localhost:9200/test-index/_doc/1" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"message": "Hello OpenSearch on Fedora 42"}' -u admin:MyStrongPassword123! -k
curl -X GET "https://localhost:9200/test-index/_doc/1" -u admin:MyStrongPassword123! -k

Perform search operations and aggregations to verify analytical capabilities. Search testing should include full-text search, filtering, and aggregation operations that represent typical production use cases.

Log Analysis and Troubleshooting

Monitor OpenSearch logs located in /var/log/opensearch/ to identify potential issues and verify proper operation. Log analysis provides insights into performance bottlenecks, security events, and configuration problems.

sudo tail -f /var/log/opensearch/opensearch.log
sudo journalctl -u opensearch --since "1 hour ago"

Common startup issues include Java version incompatibilities, insufficient memory allocation, and permission problems. Systematic troubleshooting involves examining logs, verifying system resources, and confirming configuration file syntax.

Performance monitoring should include CPU utilization, memory consumption, and disk I/O patterns. Establish baseline performance metrics during initial testing to facilitate future performance analysis and capacity planning.

Security Hardening and Best Practices

Production Security Configuration

Implement comprehensive security hardening by replacing all demo certificates with production-grade certificates issued by internal or external certificate authorities. Production security also requires disabling unnecessary plugins and enabling audit logging.

Configure role-based access control to implement the principle of least privilege for all OpenSearch users and applications. RBAC configuration should align with organizational security policies and compliance requirements.

curl -X PUT "https://localhost:9200/_plugins/_security/api/roles/read_only_role" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"cluster_permissions": ["cluster_composite_ops"], "index_permissions": [{"index_patterns": ["*"], "allowed_actions": ["read"]}]}' -u admin:MyStrongPassword123! -k

Enable audit logging to track all security-relevant events including authentication attempts, authorization failures, and administrative actions. Audit logs provide essential information for security monitoring and compliance reporting.

System Security Integration

Configure SELinux policies specifically for OpenSearch operations while maintaining system security integrity. Proper SELinux configuration provides additional security layers without impeding OpenSearch functionality.

Implement network segmentation using firewall rules to restrict OpenSearch access to authorized networks and services. Network security should include both host-based and network-based access controls.

Regular security updates require monitoring both OpenSearch security advisories and Fedora security updates. Maintain a security update schedule that balances security requirements with system stability needs.

Performance Optimization and Monitoring

System-Level Optimizations

Configure kernel parameters beyond the basic vm.max_map_count setting to optimize I/O performance and memory management for large-scale OpenSearch deployments. Advanced kernel tuning includes TCP buffer sizes, file system caching, and CPU scheduling parameters.

Optimize file system selection and mounting options for OpenSearch data directories. XFS and ext4 file systems provide good performance with different optimization characteristics depending on workload patterns.

sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/opensearch
sudo chown -R opensearch:opensearch /var/lib/opensearch
sudo mount -o noatime,data=writeback /dev/sdb1 /var/lib/opensearch

Configure system swappiness to minimize swap usage while maintaining system stability. OpenSearch performance degrades significantly when heap memory is swapped to disk.

OpenSearch Configuration Tuning

Optimize index settings including shard count, replica configuration, and refresh intervals based on expected data volumes and query patterns. Proper index configuration significantly impacts both ingestion and search performance.

Configure search and indexing thread pools to match available CPU cores and expected workload characteristics. Thread pool optimization requires careful balancing of concurrent operations with system resources.

thread_pool:
  search:
    size: 8
    queue_size: 1000
  index:
    size: 4
    queue_size: 200

Enable slow query logging to identify performance bottlenecks and optimize problematic queries. Slow query analysis provides insights for index design improvements and query optimization strategies.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Installation and Startup Problems

Java compatibility issues represent the most common installation problems, particularly when multiple Java versions are installed on the system. Verify JAVA_HOME and OPENSEARCH_JAVA_HOME settings point to compatible Java installations.

Permission and ownership problems typically manifest as startup failures or file access errors. Ensure all OpenSearch files and directories have proper ownership and permissions for the opensearch user account.

sudo chown -R opensearch:opensearch /etc/opensearch
sudo chown -R opensearch:opensearch /var/lib/opensearch
sudo chown -R opensearch:opensearch /var/log/opensearch

Port binding issues occur when other services use OpenSearch’s default ports or when network configuration prevents proper binding. Use netstat or ss commands to identify port conflicts and adjust configuration accordingly.

Security and Authentication Issues

Certificate verification failures commonly occur when using self-signed certificates or when certificate subject names don’t match server hostnames. Verify certificate configuration and consider using certificate authorities for production deployments.

Authentication and authorization problems often result from incorrect user configuration or role assignments. Review internal users database and role mappings to ensure proper access control configuration.

SSL/TLS handshake errors typically indicate certificate chain problems or cipher suite mismatches. Enable SSL debugging to identify specific handshake failures and certificate chain issues.

Maintenance and Updates

Regular Maintenance Tasks

Establish regular maintenance schedules for system updates, including both Fedora package updates and OpenSearch version updates. Coordinate updates to minimize service disruption while maintaining security currency.

Implement automated backup procedures for OpenSearch configuration files, security certificates, and data indices. Regular backups provide recovery capabilities for both configuration errors and hardware failures.

sudo systemctl stop opensearch
sudo tar -czf opensearch-config-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).tar.gz /etc/opensearch
sudo systemctl start opensearch

Monitor log file growth and implement log rotation policies to prevent disk space exhaustion. Configure logrotate for OpenSearch logs to maintain reasonable disk usage while preserving diagnostic information.

Performance Monitoring and Health Checks

Implement automated health monitoring using OpenSearch’s cluster health APIs and system monitoring tools. Health monitoring should include cluster status, node availability, and performance metrics tracking.

Configure alerting for critical system events including service failures, resource exhaustion, and security incidents. Alerting systems should integrate with existing monitoring infrastructure and notification systems.

Establish performance baselines and capacity planning processes to ensure system scalability as data volumes and user loads increase. Regular capacity assessment prevents performance degradation and service outages.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed OpenSearch. Thanks for using this tutorial to install the latest version of OpenSearch on Fedora 42 Linux system. For additional help or useful information, we recommend you check the official OpenSearch website.