7. Install PHP
PHP is a server-side scripting language for web based services. It is frequently used as general-purpose programming language as well. Install PHP on CentOS Minimal Server as.
# yum install php
After installing php, make sure to restart Apache service to render PHP in Web Browser.
# systemctl restart httpd.service
Next, verify PHP by creating following php script in the Apache document root directory.
# echo -e "<?php\nphpinfo();\n?>" > /var/www/html/phpinfo.php
Now view the PHP file, we just created (phpinfo.php) in Linux Command Line as below.
# php /var/www/html/phpinfo.php OR # links http://127.0.0.1/phpinfo.php
8. Install MariaDB Database
MariaDB is a fork of MySQL. RedHat Enterprise Linux and its derivatives have shifted to MariaDB from MySQL. It is the Primary Database management System. It is again one of those tools which is necessary to have and you will need it sooner or later no matter what kind of server you are setting. Install MariaDB on CentOS Minimal Install server as below.
# yum install mariadb-server mariadb
Start and configure MariaDB to start automatically at boot.
# systemctl start mariadb.service # systemctl enable mariadb.service
Allow service mysql (mariadb) through firewall.
# firewall-cmd --add-service=mysql
Now it’s time to secure MariaDB server.
# /usr/bin/mysql_secure_installation
Read Also:
- Installing LAMP (Linux, Apache, MariaDB, PHP/PhpMyAdmin) in CentOS 7.0
- Creating Apache Virtual Hosts in CentOS 7.0
9. Install and Configure SSH Server
SSH stands for Secure Shell which is the default protocol in Linux for remote management. SSH is one of those essential piece of software which comes default with CentOS Minimal Server.
Check Currently Installed SSH version.
# SSH -V
Use Secure Protocol over the default SSH Protocol and change port number also for extra Security. Edit the SSH configuration file ‘/etc/ssh/sshd_config‘.
Uncomment the line below line or delete 1 from the Protocol string, so the line seems like:
# Protocol 2,1 (Original) Protocol 2 (Now)
This change force SSH to use Protocol 2 which is considered to be more secure than Protocol 1 and also make sure to change the port number 22 to any in the configuration.
Disable SSH ‘root login‘ and allow to connect to root only after login to normal user account for added additional Security. For this, open and edit configuration file ‘/etc/ssh/sshd_config‘ and change PermitRootLogin yes t PermitRootLogin no.
# PermitRootLogin yes (Original) PermitRootLogin no (Now)
Finally, restart SSH service to reflect new changes..
# systemctl restart sshd.service
Read Also:
- 5 Best Practices to Secure and Protect SSH Server
- SSH Passwordless Login Using SSH Keygen in 5 Easy Steps
- No Password SSH Keys Authentication” with PuTTY
10. Install GCC (GNU Compiler Collection)
GCC stands for GNU Compiler Collection is a compiler system developed by GNU Project that support various programming languages. It is not installed by default in CentOS Minimal Install. To install gcc compiler run the below command.
# yum install gcc
Check the version of installed gcc.
# gcc --version
11. Install Java
Java is a general purpose class based, object-oriented Programming language. It is not installed by default in CentOS Minimal Server. Install Java from repository as below.
# yum install java
Check version of Java Installed.
# java -version
I followed this guide. Its really helpful. As you said quite extensively about installing apache, databases and others.
Can you also provide a guide regarding how to upload a site in CentOS after doing all this?
You can use WordPress and add the blogs.create new website add the domain to that website apache.
I am wondering why httpd,php is installed after installing virtualbox. Initially it is installed, will it conflict
Resourceful tutorial for Linux enthusiast.
There is a mistake in the SSH section. The config file is NOT ‘ssh-config’. That is meant for the SSH client not the server. The SSH server settings are in ‘sshd-config’. As a noob, it took me a while to figure out why my changes had no effect on the server.
Otherwise, this has been a great resource for someone like me learning Linux for the first time. Thanks!
@Gary,
Thanks for notifying, yes it should sshd_config for configuring SSH Server. We’ve corrected in the article.
One of the commands didn’t work for me, the one related to opening up the httpd port through firewalld. I got a syntax error
I got a successful execution with the following command, because I did not choose to assign http a funky port, just the standard one (80)
If you want to use a custom port for httpd, use this command, which specifies the port/protocol:
SOURCE:
https://stackoverflow.com/questions/24729024/open-firewall-port-on-centos-7
Thank you for getting this information together, it is very helpful for people not familiar to minimal dekstop-less installations.
There’s a syntax error in the article, it should say:
(two dashes instead of one, before every argument)
@IvanZ,
Thanks, I have corrected the command in the article..