Setting Up a LAMP Stack on AlmaLinux

A LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL/MariaDB, PHP) is one of the most popular web development platforms. This guide will walk you through setting up a complete LAMP stack on AlmaLinux, creating a robust foundation for hosting dynamic websites and web applications.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• A fresh installation of AlmaLinux
• Root or sudo access
• A stable internet connection
• Basic knowledge of command line operations

Step 1: Update System Packages

Start by updating your system to ensure all packages are current:

sudo dnf update -y

This ensures you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.

Step 2: Install Apache Web Server

Apache is one of the most popular web servers in the world. Install it using:

sudo dnf install httpd -y

Start and Enable Apache

Start the Apache service:

sudo systemctl start httpd

Enable Apache to start automatically on boot:

sudo systemctl enable httpd

Configure Firewall

Allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic through the firewall:

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

Test Apache

Open your web browser and navigate to your server’s IP address:

http://your-server-ip

You should see the default AlmaLinux Apache welcome page.

Step 3: Install MySQL (MariaDB) Database Server

AlmaLinux uses MariaDB, a drop-in replacement for MySQL:

sudo dnf install mariadb-server mariadb -y

Start and Enable MariaDB

sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb

Secure MariaDB Installation

Run the security script to remove insecure defaults:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Follow the prompts to:

• Set a root password
• Remove anonymous users
• Disallow root login remotely
• Remove test database
• Reload privilege tables

Step 4: Install PHP

Install PHP along with commonly used modules:

sudo dnf install php php-mysqlnd php-fpm php-opcache php-gd php-xml php-mbstring -y

Restart Apache

Restart Apache to load the PHP module:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

Step 5: Test PHP Processing

Create a test PHP file to verify PHP is working:

echo "<?php phpinfo(); ?>" | sudo tee /var/www/html/info.php

Navigate to:

http://your-server-ip/info.php

You should see the PHP information page displaying PHP version and configuration details.

Remove Test File

For security reasons, remove the test file after verification:

sudo rm /var/www/html/info.php

Step 6: Configure Virtual Hosts (Optional)

To host multiple websites, set up virtual hosts:

Create Directory Structure

sudo mkdir -p /var/www/example.com/html
sudo chown -R $USER:$USER /var/www/example.com/html
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www

Create Virtual Host Configuration

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/example.com.conf

Add the following configuration:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName example.com
    ServerAlias www.example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/example.com/html
    ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/example.com-error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/example.com-access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Test and Reload Apache

Test configuration:

sudo apachectl configtest

Reload Apache:

sudo systemctl reload httpd

Step 7: Optimize Your LAMP Stack

Enable Apache Modules

Enable useful Apache modules:

sudo dnf install mod_ssl mod_security -y

Configure PHP Settings

Edit PHP configuration for better performance:

sudo nano /etc/php.ini

Recommended settings:

memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 64M
post_max_size = 64M
max_execution_time = 300

Enable OPcache

Ensure OPcache is enabled for better PHP performance:

sudo nano /etc/php.d/10-opcache.ini

Add or modify:

opcache.enable=1
opcache.memory_consumption=128
opcache.max_accelerated_files=4000

Testing Your LAMP Stack

Create a simple PHP application to test database connectivity:

sudo nano /var/www/html/test.php

Add the following code:

<?php
$servername = "localhost";
$username = "root";
$password = "your_password";

try {
    $conn = new PDO("mysql:host=$servername", $username, $password);
    $conn->setAttribute(PDO::ATTR_ERRMODE, PDO::ERRMODE_EXCEPTION);
    echo "Connected successfully to MariaDB!";
} catch(PDOException $e) {
    echo "Connection failed: " . $e->getMessage();
}
?>

Security Best Practices

Hide Apache Version

Edit Apache configuration:

sudo nano /etc/httpd/conf/httpd.conf

Add:

ServerTokens Prod
ServerSignature Off

Secure PHP

Hide PHP version:

sudo nano /etc/php.ini

Set:

expose_php = Off

Regular Updates

Set up automatic security updates:

sudo dnf install dnf-automatic -y
sudo systemctl enable dnf-automatic.timer
sudo systemctl start dnf-automatic.timer

Monitoring and Maintenance

Monitor Apache Status

Enable Apache status module:

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

Add:

<Location "/server-status">
    SetHandler server-status
    Require local
</Location>

Log Rotation

Logs are automatically rotated by logrotate. Check configuration:

cat /etc/logrotate.d/httpd

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully set up a complete LAMP stack on AlmaLinux. Your server is now ready to host dynamic websites and web applications. Remember to:

• Keep your system updated regularly
• Monitor server logs for issues
• Implement proper security measures
• Create regular backups of your data
• Test your applications thoroughly before deploying to production

With this LAMP stack, you have a solid foundation for web development projects ranging from simple websites to complex web applications.