How to Install Centmin Mod on AlmaLinux VPS (5 Minute Quick-Start Guide)

Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to install Centmin Mod on AlmaLinux VPS server.

What is Centmin Mod?

Centmin Mod is a shell-based, menu-driven installer that automates the deployment of a LEMP (Linux, Nginx, MariaDB/MySQL, PHP-FPM) stack on CentOS, AlmaLinux, and Rocky Linux servers. Designed for efficiency and performance, it streamlines the installation and optimization of essential web server components without the overhead of a graphical user interface.

Key Features of Centmin Mod:

• Automated Installation: Simplifies the setup of Nginx, MariaDB, PHP-FPM, and additional components through an interactive shell menu.
• Performance Optimization: Integrates various optimizations, such as Intel CPU-optimized compiler options for Nginx and PHP, potentially enhancing performance by 10-50%.
• Security Enhancements: Includes ConfigServer Security & Firewall (CSF) for improved server security.
• Additional Tools: Offers support for Memcached, Redis, and other utilities to enhance server capabilities.

Centmin Mod is particularly beneficial for users seeking a lightweight, command-line-based control panel to manage web hosting environments efficiently. Its design caters to those who prefer streamlined server management without the resource consumption associated with traditional graphical interfaces.

Prerequisites

Before installing Centmin Mod, ensure the following:

1. A VPS running AlmaLinux (AlmaLinux 8 or later).
2. Root or sudo access.
3. A clean installation (Centmin Mod works best on a fresh OS installation).
4. At least 2GB RAM (recommended for performance).

How to Install Centmin Mod on AlmaLinux VPS Server

To install Centmin Mod on AlmaLinux VPS server, follow the steps outlined below:

1. Update the System

   Before installing anything, update your AlmaLinux server:

   sudo dnf update -y

   Once the update is complete, reboot the server if necessary:

   sudo reboot

2. Install Required Dependencies

   Centmin Mod requires certain packages before installation. Install them using:

   sudo dnf install -y epel-release wget nano curl tar

   Additionally, disable SELinux temporarily to avoid conflicts:

   setenforce 0 sed -i 's/^SELINUX=enforcing/SELINUX=permissive/' /etc/selinux/config

3. Download and Install Centmin Mod

   Centmin Mod is installed via a shell script. First, download and execute the installation script:

   cd /usr/local/src wget -O centminmod.tar.gz https://centminmod.com/download/centminmod.tar.gz tar -xvf centminmod.tar.gz cd centminmod chmod +x centmin.sh

   Run the installer:

   ./centmin.sh

   This will launch the Centmin Mod interactive menu.

4. Select the Installation Option

   When the Centmin Mod menu appears, you will see several options. For a full installation, type 1 and press Enter:

   -------------------------------------------------------- Centmin Mod Menu 124.00stable -------------------------------------------------------- 1). Install Centmin Mod 2). Add Nginx vhost 3). Upgrade Centmin Mod code base 4). Exit --------------------------------------------------------

   This will start the installation process. It may take 15–30 minutes, depending on your server’s speed.

5. Verify the Installation

   Once the installation is complete, you should see messages indicating the setup has finished. Verify that Nginx, PHP, and MariaDB are installed:

   nginx -v php -v mysql -V

   If these commands return version numbers, Centmin Mod has been successfully installed.

6. Configure Firewall for Web Access

   To allow web traffic through the firewall, run:

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

7. Add a New Nginx Virtual Host

   To host a website, create a new Nginx vhost using Centmin Mod’s menu:

   cd /usr/local/src/centminmod ./centmin.sh

   Select option 2 (Add Nginx vhost) and follow the prompts.

8. Test the Web Server

   Check if Nginx is running:

   systemctl status nginx

   If it’s active, open your server’s IP in a web browser:

   http://your-server-ip

   You should see the default Centmin Mod welcome page.

9. Secure the Server

   1. Set Up SSL with Let’s Encrypt
      Use the acmetool.sh script that comes with Centmin Mod:

      /usr/local/src/centminmod/addons/acmetool.sh issue yourdomain.com

   2. Create a Swap File (if your VPS has < 2GB RAM):

      sudo fallocate -l 2G /swapfile sudo chmod 600 /swapfile sudo mkswap /swapfile sudo swapon /swapfile echo '/swapfile none swap sw 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

   3. Set up Automatic Updates:

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

10. Final Checks

    Ensure all services start on boot:

    sudo systemctl enable nginx mariadb php-fpm

    Reboot the system:

    sudo reboot

    After reboot, confirm everything is running:

    systemctl status nginx mariadb php-fpm

Conclusion

You now know how to install Centmin Mod on AlmaLinux VPS. Your server is now optimized with a powerful LEMP stack for hosting websites. You can now add domains, enable SSL, and configure your web applications.