Cacti tool is an open source web based network monitoring and system monitoring graphing solution for IT business. Cacti enables a user to poll services at regular intervals to create graphs on resulting data using RRDtool. Generally, it is used to graph time-series data of metrics such as network bandwidth utilization, CPU load, running processes, disk space etc.
Install Cacti in RHEL / CentOS / Fedora
In this how-to we are going to show you how to install and setup complete network monitoring application called Cacti using Net-SNMP tool on RHEL 6.3/6.2/6.1/6/5.8, CentOS 6.3/6.2/6.1/6/5.8 and Fedora 17,16,15,14,13,12 systems using YUM package manager tool.
Cacti Required Packages
The Cacti required following packages to be installed on your Linux operating systems like RHEL / CentOS / Fedora.
- Apache : A Web server to display network graphs created by PHP and RRDTool.
- MySQL : A Database server to store cacti information.
- PHP : A script module to create graphs using RRDTool.
- PHP-SNMP : A PHP extension for SNMP to access data.
- NET-SNMP : A SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) is used to manage network.
- RRDTool : A database tool to manage and retrieve time series data like CPU load, Network Bandwidth etc.
Installing Cacti Required Packages on RHEL / CentOS / Fedora
First, we need to install following dependency packages one-by-one using YUM package manager tool.
Install Apache
# yum install httpd httpd-devel
Install MySQL
# yum install mysql mysql-server
Install PHP
# yum install php-mysql php-pear php-common php-gd php-devel php php-mbstring php-cli php-mysql
Install PHP-SNMP
# yum install php-snmp
Install NET-SNMP
# yum install net-snmp-utils p net-snmp-libs php-pear-Net-SMTP
Install RRDTool
# yum install rrdtool
Staring Apache, MySQL and SNMP Services
Once you’ve installed all the required software’s for Cacti installation, lets start them one-by-one using following commands.
Starting Apache
# /etc/init.d/httpd start OR # service httpd start
Starting MySQL
# /etc/init.d/mysqld start OR # service mysqld start
Starting SNMP
# /etc/init.d/snmpd start OR # service snmpd start
Configure Start-up Links
Configuring Apache, MySQL and SNMP Services to start on boot.
# /sbin/chkconfig --levels 345 httpd on # /sbin/chkconfig --levels 345 mysqld on # /sbin/chkconfig --levels 345 snmpd on
Install Cacti on RHEL / CentOS / Fedora
Here, you need to install and enable EPEL Repository. Once you’ve enabled repository, type the following command to install Cacti application.
# yum install cacti
Sample Output:
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, refresh-packagekit Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package cacti.noarch 0:0.8.8a-2.el6 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ================================================================================ Package Arch Version Repository Size ================================================================================ Installing: cacti noarch 0.8.8a-2.el6 epel 2.0 M Transaction Summary ================================================================================ Install 1 Package(s) Total download size: 2.0 M Installed size: 5.4 M Is this ok [y/N]: y Downloading Packages: cacti-0.8.8a-2.el6.noarch.rpm | 2.0 MB 00:40 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : cacti-0.8.8a-2.el6.noarch 1/1 Verifying : cacti-0.8.8a-2.el6.noarch 1/1 Installed: cacti.noarch 0:0.8.8a-2.el6 Complete!
Configuring MySQL Server for Cacti Installation
We need to configure MySQL for Cacti, to do this we need to set password for our newly installed MySQL server and then we will create Cacti database with user Cacti. If you’re MySQL is already password protected, then don’t need to set it again.
Set MySQL Password
To set new password for MySQL server, use the following command. (Note : This is for new MySQL installation only).
# mysqladmin -u root password YOUR-PASSWORD-HERE
Create MySQL Cacti Database
Login into MySQL server with newly created password and create Cacti database with user Cacti and set the password for it.
# mysql -u root -p mysql> create database cacti; mysql> GRANT ALL ON cacti.* TO cacti@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'your-password-here'; mysql> FLUSH privileges; mysql> quit;
Install Cacti Tables to MySQL
Find out the database file path using RPM command, to install cacti tables into newly created Cacti database, use the following command.
# rpm -ql cacti | grep cacti.sql
Sample Output:
/usr/share/doc/cacti-0.8.7d/cacti.sql
Now we’ve of the location of Cacti.sql file, type the following command to install tables, here you need to type the Cacti user password.
mysql -u cacti -p cacti < /usr/share/doc/cacti-0.8.8a/cacti.sql
Configure MySQL settings for Cacti
Open the file called /etc/cacti/db.php with any editor.
# vi /etc/cacti/db.php
Make the following changes and save the file. Make sure you set password correctly.
/* make sure these values reflect your actual database/host/user/password */ $database_type = "mysql"; $database_default = "cacti"; $database_hostname = "localhost"; $database_username = "cacti"; $database_password = "your-password-here"; $database_port = "3306"; $database_ssl = false;
Configuring Apache Server for Cacti Installation
Open file called /etc/httpd/conf.d/cacti.conf with your choice of editor.
# vi /etc/httpd/conf.d/cacti.conf
You need to enabled access to Cacti application for your local network or per IP level. For example we’ve enabled access to our local LAN network 172.16.16.0/20. In your case, it would be different.
Alias /cacti /usr/share/cacti
<Directory /usr/share/cacti/>
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
Allow from 172.16.16.0/20
</Directory>
Finally, restart the Apache service.
# /etc/init.d/httpd restart OR # service httpd restart
Setting Cron for Cacti
Open file /etc/cron.d/cacti.
# vi /etc/cron.d/cacti
Uncomment the following line. The poller.php script runs every 5mins and collects data of known host which is used by Cacti application to display graphs.
#*/5 * * * * cacti /usr/bin/php /usr/share/cacti/poller.php > /dev/null 2>&1
Running Cacti Installer Setup
Finally, Cacti is ready, just go to http://YOUR-IP-HERE/cacti/ & follow the installer instruction through the following screens. Click Next button.
Cacti Setup Screen
Please choose installation Type as “New Install“.
Select Cacti New Install
Make sure all the following values are correct before continuing. Click Finish button.
Cacti Installation Directories
Cacti Login Screen, enter username as admin and password as admin.
Cacti Login Screen
Once you’ve entered username and password, it will ask you to enter a new password for cacti.
Cacti Force Password Screen
Cacti Console Screen.
Cacti Console Screen
How to Create New Graphs
To create graphs, Click on New Graphs –> Select Host –> Select SNMP – Interface Statistics and Select a graph type In/Out Bits. Click on Create button. Please refer screen below.
How to Create Graphs in Cacti
For more information and usage please visit the Cacti Page.
Before step “Running Cacti Installer Setup” you need to open for HTTP in IPTABLES firewall….
nano /etc/sysconfig/iptables
Add the following:
-A INPUT -m state –state NEW -m tcp -p tcp –dport 80 -j ACCEPT
and restart IPTABLES:
service iptables restart
thanks for the tutorial bro ; )
Great Instructions!!!! Do you have anyting on adding plugins like routerconfigs or realtime
Hi,
I have installed cacti in CentOS. Currently, the installation was successful, but it is not allowing me to go to the next screen after login. After I give admin/admin, the page is getting refreshed and its not moving to the next screen, where we can see the “force password change” page. Please help in giving some solution to it.
@Venkat,
I think you have login session problem, set 777 writes to /tmp folder and /var/lib/php/session. it should work.
Dear Venkat,
Please give the new password and confirm password for cacti use.
Hope this will be solve your issue.
Thanks…….
Thank you Very much . I have configured Cacti with out any error.
Can anyone help me in setting up a cacti for monitor only my network devices. Please if any one could be me with the commands and the interface also. Console screen
Hey , Really great instruction installing cacti.However I am facing a little problem.
When I reach to the point of Running cacti installer set up I get the following error:
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /cacti on this server.
Apache/2.2.15 (CentOS) Server at localhost Port 80
P.S : I am new at unix
@Abbas,
Did you added Allow from 127.0.0.1 in /etc/httpd/conf.d/cacti.conf file to allow access to localhost?
After that, restart httpd service. It will fix the problem.
I have tried that this moment, but still the same error
is there any service that should be restarted upon this config ?
Abbas, restart httpd service like below.
Ravi,its done,
I was using localhost/cacti so I changed to use my-local-IP/cacti and edited my proxy settings
1 more question for now
which username and password I must use
Well, I did not notice the default ones
Thanks man
I have logged in
I have only two options regarding Graph types :
*Graph templated base
*Unix-Get mounted partitions
please use this default user name admin and password admin. it works
Hi!
Please help me!
Alias /cacti /usr/share/cacti
# httpd 2.4
Require host localhost
# httpd 2.2
Order deny,allow
Deny from all
Allow from 172.16.16.0/20
in this section , when I restart apache it didn’t start and give me a error that Reqire or Order or Deny or Allow not allowed here
@safa,
The article is updated, please replace the old content in cacti.conf with updated one. It will work 100%
Did nobody got this error message:
Error: Package: php-devel-5.3.3-14.el6_3.i686 (updates)
Requires: php = 5.3.3-14.el6_3
Installed: php-5.4.10-1.el6.remi.i686 (@remi)
php = 5.4.10-1.el6.remi
Available: php-5.3.3-3.el6_2.8.i686 (base)
php = 5.3.3-3.el6_2.8
Available: php-5.3.3-14.el6_3.i686 (updates)
php = 5.3.3-14.el6_3
You could try using –skip-broken to work around the problem
You could try running: rpm -Va –nofiles –nodigest
So I did, someone knows how to resolve this ?
Thanks
You have older version php which is conflicting with php 5.4, first remove the older php with the following commands.
and then try again…
Thanks Ravi for your quick response,
That is going well so far, but when I try to startup the cacti install webinterface I got the following error message:
FATAL: Cannot connect to MYsql server on myhostname, Please make sure you have specified a valid mysql databasename in ‘/include/config.php’
Please put correct database name, localhost and user details in config.php.
I am receiving the same error,
Fatal: Cannot connect to MySql Server on my hostname, Please make sure you have specified a valid mysql database name in ‘/include/config.php’
I understand I need to vi to config.php and apply the correct parameters; however can someone tell me where to find this file.
I assume it was under /var/www/html/cacti but the path mention is not a valid path
use the /etc/cacti/db.php file and add the correct mysql parameters.
hello!
I configure httpd and mysql and cron but when i type in browser ,i just view a empty page
Hi,
even am facing the same problem ..
Hello,
I am facing the same problem
Have you solved it now?
Run the poller.php script to fix this issue.
Hey i’ve tried this 3 times, and each time Cacti works but no graphs show, like no image at all, not even a broken image link just no graph image, Any ideas?
Poller shows this when i run it:SYSTEM STATS: Time:0.5038 Method:cmd.php Processes:1 Threads:N/A Hosts:3 HostsPerProcess:3 DataSources:1 RRDsProcessed:0
Is there some permissions or something that needs to be set for this to work?
Asking questions are in fact nice thing if you are
not understanding anything fully, but this piece of writing presents nice understanding even.
help me !
I don’n log on to Cacti
Thank so much
Hi,
am getting an error on the web browser:
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /cacti/ on this server.
Apache/2.2.3 (CentOS) Server at 197.231.244.21 Port 80
My cacti.conf looks like this:
Alias /cacti /var/www/html/cacti/
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
Allow from 172.227.244.0/22
Check the IP address of your machine and add that IP in allow list and check again.
Hi Ravi,
Sorry about the first post, i have made corrections:
My cacti.conf looks like this:
Alias /cacti /var/www/html/cacti/
Order Deny,Allow
Deny from all
Allow from 172.227.244.21
but still:
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /cacti/ on this server.
Apache/2.2.3 (CentOS) Server at 172.227.244.21 Port 80
both mysqld and httpd services are running.
After making corrections, have you restarted Apache? If yes, then you must define proper IP address in Allow section. Have you tried from the localhost?
Yes i did the needful, both localhost and my IP are tripping. if i type my IP or localhost in the browser the apache test web page opens nicely.
Hi,
me too having same problem. tried using the ip and localhost both with no luck.restarted the HTTPD service too
Hi,
All installed as per these excellent instructions however I do not get any graph images showing – just a broken link where the image should be showing.
It looks like a possible permissions issue but can not see where it could be. The yum install cacti placed the website directory structure /usr/share/cacti as with root permissions and everything else appears to work fine.
Cent OS 6.3 clean and minimal install then installed as per your instructions.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Andy
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /cacti on this server.
Don’t Work
Why this tutorial not including configure snmp for cacti. I think cacti is 100% useful if it configure using snmp for trap any statistic interface both from the host and remote host
Do You have any tutorial regarding on plugins, like the “monitor tab maybe”
thanks
No idea, can you tell us about it so we could think of creating an article on this.
Thanks Ravi for your excellent instructions …
I am still getting “FATAL: Cannot connect to MySQL server on ‘localhost’. Please make sure you have specified a valid MySQL database name in ‘include/config.php’ ”
I am sure i have configured db.php properly as per the right credentials…
—–
$database_type = “mysql”;
$database_default = “cacti”;
$database_hostname = “localhost”;
$database_username = “cacti”;
$database_password = “titan#12″;
$database_port = “3306″;
$database_ssl = false;
Ravi, Please help me in this case…
Is MySQL service is started? and port is open on firewall? can you post the output of the following command.
Thank you Ravi for the prompt response.
Below is the output of the given command.
o/p: -bash: telnet: command not found
in my box , the db.php is residing in “/var/www/cacti”
Thanks in advance…
Gopi.
telnet package is not installed, install it tbis way.
And then again post the output command.
Yeah! i will try and update the status…
Thnx/Gopi
Ravi, installed telnet and below is the output…
——————————————————————
[root@XXXXXXXXX~]# telnet localhost 3306
Trying 127.0.0.1…
Connected to localhost.
Escape character is ‘^]’.
4
5.0.95?.7i+:~/l,S=rLc/^m)!jrConnection closed by foreign host.
[root@sbcloudlymem02 ~]#
Below is the output after install
…….
[root@machineName ~]# yum install telnet
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* addons: centos.mirror.nac.net
* base: centos.mirror.nac.net
* extras: centos.vipernetworksystems.com
* rpmforge: mirror.hmc.edu
* updates: mirror.wiredtree.com
Setting up Install Process
Resolving Dependencies
–> Running transaction check
—> Package telnet.i386 1:0.17-41.el5 set to be updated
–> Finished Dependency Resolution
Dependencies Resolved
================================================================================
Package Arch Version Repository Size
================================================================================
Installing:
telnet i386 1:0.17-41.el5 base 57 k
Transaction Summary
================================================================================
Install 1 Package(s)
Update 0 Package(s)
Remove 0 Package(s)
Total download size: 57 k
Is this ok [y/N]: y
Downloading Packages:
telnet-0.17-41.el5.i386.rpm | 57 kB 00:00
Running rpm_check_debug
Running Transaction Test
Finished Transaction Test
Transaction Test Succeeded
Running Transaction
Installing : telnet 1/1
Installed:
telnet.i386 1:0.17-41.el5
Complete!
[root@machineName ~]# telnet localhost 3306
Trying 127.0.0.1…
Connected to localhost.
Escape character is ‘^]’.
4
5.0.95?.7i+:~/l,S=rLc/^m)!jrConnection closed by foreign host.
[root@machineName ~]#
Everything seems to be fine, I don’t know why you getting such error. If you don’t mind can I have your server IP address to check from the browser. Or create a testdb.php file under your website root directory and add the following lines and replace MySQL settings as per your needs and browse the file and post the output.
<?php ob_start(); define('server_name','172.16.25.126'); //define('server_name','localhost'); define('user_name','root'); define('user_password','tecmint'); define('dbname','dbname'); $conn = mysql_pconnect(server_name,user_name,user_password); if($conn) echo "Connection establish<br>"; else echo "Connection Failed<br>".mysql_error(); $db = mysql_select_db(dbname,$conn); if($db) echo "DB establish<br>"; else echo "DB Failed<br>".mysql_error(); ?>Great instructions. Finally was able to install and run Cacti on a CentOS linux box.
I ran into a problem when installing Cacti tables to MySQL.
I had to change the permissions on the cacti.sql file inorder to install the tables.
Other than that, this recipe works great.
Thanks for sharing.
Hi,
Do you know where to configure about email notifications? for example the system is up or down, you’ll be notified something like that.
thanks in advanced.
Sir,
I have follow all steps but i am getting error
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /cacti on this server.
please help me
please reply in my email id
Please add correct IP address of your machine to “Allow” list of cacti.conf file.
Hi Ravi,
Great instructions/notes.
I’ve gotten up to the point of running cacti in my browser – getting the ole 403 Forbidden message.
I’m running Fedora 18 in a VM. My host OS is Windows 7; and I’m running VirtualBox (in case this makes a difference)
Anyway, I’ve specified my guest/Fedora IP in …/cacti.conf; restarted httpd.service. I’ve changed it back to 127.0.0.1 and restarted httpd.service… I’m also running Firewall and selected http and https as trusted for the current zone and added 3306 to “ports”.
Still no luck. Iptables.service is not running.
Any suggestions?
-Rich
Can you able to browse http://localhost/cacti? What error you getting?
Forbidden
You don’t have permission to access /cacti on this server.
Forbidden
You do not have permission to access this server.
I’m running http 2.4.4-2
If I change cacti.conf to “Require all granted” (under httpd 2.4), I get a blank browser. I guess that’s some type of progress. I feel I’m missing something simple.
-Rich
[root@test ~]# yum install cacti
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, security
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
* base: less.cogeco.net
* extras: less.cogeco.net
* updates: centos.bhs.mirrors.ovh.net
Excluding Packages in global exclude list
Finished
Setting up Install Process
No package cacti available.
Nothing to do
[root@test ~]#
Which OS version you using?
centos 5.9
Centos 5.9 32bit
Please enable Epel repository and try to install again.
I follow every step. But no images shows on the screen, even no warning, I wonder why?
Hi, is Cacti capable of monitoring storage? monitor your hard disk and it will send a email that if it is near full?
Yes, But you need to configure it.
Can you give a link or a tutorial on how am I going to configure. many thanks