Set Up a Complete LAMP Environment on CentOS

Comprehensive Guide: Setting Up a Complete LAMP Environment on CentOS

This article provides a step-by-step, in-depth walkthrough to deploy a fully functional LAMP (Linux, Apache, MariaDB/MySQL, PHP) stack on a CentOS server. Ideal for developers, system administrators, and enthusiasts seeking a robust web hosting platform.

1. System Prerequisites and Initial Preparation

CentOS Version: This guide targets CentOS 7 and CentOS 8. Confirm your version via cat /etc/centos-release.
Root or Sudo Access: A user with sudo privileges or direct root login.
Network Configuration: Static IP or DHCP reservation. Ensure you can SSH into your server:
```
ssh user@your_server_ip
```
Firewall SELinux: We will configure firewalld and SELinux policies for secure operation.

1.1 Update the System

sudo yum update -y

Reboot if kernel or critical packages were upgraded:

sudo reboot

2. Installing Apache HTTP Server

2.1 Install and Enable Apache

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

2.2 Adjust Firewall for HTTP/S

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

2.3 Verify Apache is Running

Access http://your_server_ip in a browser. You should see the default CentOS Apache page.
Service status: sudo systemctl status httpd.

3. Installing MariaDB (or MySQL)

3.1 Install and Start Database Server

sudo yum install mariadb-server -y
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

3.2 Secure the Installation

Run the interactive security script:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Set a strong root password.
Remove anonymous users.
Disallow remote root login.
Remove test databases.
Reload privilege tables.

4. Installing PHP and Extensions

4.1 Install PHP Package

sudo yum install php php-mysqlnd php-fpm php-xml php-mbstring -y

4.2 Configure PHP-FPM (Optional)

If you prefer php-fpm with mod_proxy_fcgi:

sudo systemctl start php-fpm
sudo systemctl enable php-fpm

4.3 Restart Apache

sudo systemctl restart httpd

5. Testing the LAMP Stack

5.1 Create a PHP Info Page

ltphp
phpinfo()
gt

Save as /var/www/html/info.php and access http://your_server_ip/info.php.

5.2 Database Connection Test

Log in to MariaDB: mysql -u root -p.
Create a test database and user, then connect via PHP script or CLI.

6. Fine-Tuning Security and Performance

6.1 SELinux Configuration

Allow HTTPD scripts to connect to the database:

sudo setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect_db on

If using php-fpm or custom document roots, update file contexts:

sudo semanage fcontext -a -t httpd_sys_rw_content_t /var/www/html(/.)
sudo restorecon -Rv /var/www/html

6.2 Performance Tuning

Component	Tuning Tip
Apache	Adjust `MaxKeepAliveRequests` and `KeepAliveTimeout` in `/etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf`.
MariaDB	Enable query cache, optimize `innodb_buffer_pool_size` in `/etc/my.cnf.d/server.cnf`.
PHP	Use OPcache – enable and tune in `/etc/php.d/10-opcache.ini`.

7. Optional: phpMyAdmin Installation

Install EPEL repo: sudo yum install epel-release -y
Install phpMyAdmin: sudo yum install phpmyadmin -y
Configure access by editing /etc/httpd/conf.d/phpMyAdmin.conf to allow your IP or VPN range.
Restart Apache: sudo systemctl restart httpd.

8. Remote Access and Secure Management

For administrative tasks and secure data transfer, utilize a reliable VPN solution:

ExpressVPN – high-speed servers and robust encryption.
NordVPN – advanced security features and audit-proof privacy.

9. Backup and Maintenance Strategies

Automate database backups via cron and mysqldump.
Rotate Apache and PHP logs using logrotate.
Perform periodic yum updates and security scans (Lynis, ClamAV).
Monitor resource usage with htop, vnstat, and netdata.

10. Conclusion

By following these steps, you will have deployed a secure, high-performance LAMP environment on CentOS, suitable for production workloads and development projects. Customize configurations further to match your unique application requirements. Happy hosting!

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