How to Install Zabbix with Apache on Ubuntu Linux

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The content provides an extensive step-by-step tutorial on how to install and configure Zabbix, an open-source monitoring software tool, on Ubuntu 16.04, 17.10, and 18.04 LTS servers. This tool is helpful for managing large quantities of data from servers and networking devices. The guideline elaborates on the installation of related software, including Apache2 HTTP Server,…

How to install Zabbiz with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux.

Zabbix is a powerful open-source monitoring software tool that enables you to monitor, search, and analyze vast amounts of data in a simple format. By installing Zabbix with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux, you can gain insights and simplify log data from servers, networking devices, and others so you can make sense of them.

Apache is required because Zabbix is a web-based application, and the Apache HTTP server provides an environment for running PHP scripts, which are needed for Zabbix to function.

Overall, installing Zabbix with Apache support on Ubuntu Linux is essential to use this powerful monitoring tool to its full potential.

For more about Zabbix, please check its homepage.

Install Apache2 HTTP Server on Ubuntu

Apache2 HTTP Server is the most popular web server in use. Install it since Zabbix needs it. To install Apache2 HTTP on the Ubuntu server, run the commands below.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can stop, start, and enable the Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

To test the Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address. You should see the Apache2 default test page, as shown below. When you see that, then Apache2 is working as expected.

http://localhost

Install MariaDB Database Server

MariaDB database server is a great place to start when looking at open-source database servers to use with Zabbix. To install MariaDB, run the commands below.

sudo apt-get install mariadb-server mariadb-client

After installing MariaDB, the commands below can stop, start, and enable the service to start when the server boots.

Run these on Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mysql.service
sudo systemctl start mysql.service
sudo systemctl enable mysql.service

Run these on Ubuntu 18.04 and 18.10 LTS

sudo systemctl stop mariadb.service
sudo systemctl start mariadb.service
sudo systemctl enable mariadb.service

After that, run the commands below to secure the MariaDB server by creating a root password and disallowing remote root access.

sudo mysql_secure_installation

When prompted, answer the questions below by following the guide.

  • Enter current password for root (enter for none): Just press the Enter
  • Set root password? [Y/n]: Y
  • New password: Enter password
  • Re-enter new password: Repeat password
  • Remove anonymous users? [Y/n]: Y
  • Disallow root login remotely? [Y/n]: Y
  • Remove test database and access to it? [Y/n]:  Y
  • Reload privilege tables now? [Y/n]:  Y

Next, run the commands below to open the MariaDB default config file…

sudo nano /etc/mysql/mariadb.conf.d/50-server.cnf

Then add the lines below and save…

innodb_file_format = Barracuda
innodb_large_prefix = 1
innodb_default_row_format = dynamic

Restart MariaDB after that…

Type the commands below to log on to the MariaDB server to test if MariaDB is installed.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, type the password you created above to sign on. If successful, you should see a MariaDB welcome message.

Install PHP 7.2 and Related Modules

PHP 7.2 may not be available in Ubuntu default repositories. To install it, you will have to get it from third-party repositories.

Run the commands below to add the below third-party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.2

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.2 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.2 libapache2-mod-php7.2 php7.2-common php7.2-mysql php7.2-gmp php7.2-curl php7.2-intl php7.2-mbstring php7.2-xmlrpc php7.2-mysql php7.2-gd php7.2-xml php7.2-cli php7.2-zip

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Apache2.

sudo nano /etc/php/7.2/apache2/php.ini

Then, save the changes on the following lines below in the file. The value below is an excellent setting to apply in your environment.

file_uploads = On
allow_url_fopen = On
short_open_tag = On
memory_limit = 256M
upload_max_filesize = 100M
max_execution_time = 360
date.timezone = America/Chicago

After making the change above, please save the file and close it. Next, restart Apache2 by running the commands below:

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

To test PHP 7.2 settings with Apache2, create a phpinfo.php file in the Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

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

Then, type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file. then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

Create Zabbix Database

Once you’ve installed all the packages required for Zabbix to function, continue below to start configuring the servers. First, run the commands below to create a blank Zabbix.

To log on to the MariaDB database server, run the commands below.

sudo mysql -u root -p

Then, create a database called zabbix

CREATE DATABASE zabbix character set utf8 collate utf8_bin;

Create a database user called zabbixuser with a new password

CREATE USER 'zabbixuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'new_password_here';

Then, grant the user full access to the database.

GRANT ALL ON zabbix.* TO 'zabbixuser'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'user_password_here' WITH GRANT OPTION;

Finally, save your changes and exit.

FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Install Zabbix

Now that you’ve installed and configured the servers above run the commands below to add Zabbix repositories.

cd /tmp
wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/4.0/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_4.0-2+bionic_all.deb
wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/4.0/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_4.0-2+xenial_all.deb
sudo dpkg -i zabbix-release_4.0-2+bionic*.deb
sudo dpkg -i zabbix-release_4.0-2+xenial*.deb

After that, install these other packages to complete the Zabbix installation.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-agent zabbix-frontend-php php7.2-bcmath

Configure Zabbix

After installing Zabbix, run the commands below to open the Zabbix server config file and change the highlighted lines below:

sudo nano /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf

Then, make the highlighted changes below and save the file.

#       Database name.
#       For SQLite3 path to database file must be provided. DBUser and DBPassword are ignored.
#
# Mandatory: yes
# Default:
# DBName=

DBName=zabbix

### Option: DBSchema
#       Schema name. Used for IBM DB2 and PostgreSQL.
#
# Mandatory: no
# Default:
# DBSchema=

### Option: DBUser
#       Database user. Ignored for SQLite.
#
# Mandatory: no
# Default:
# DBUser=

DBUser=zabbixuser

### Option: DBPassword
#       Database password. Ignored for SQLite.
#       Comment this line if no password is used.
#
# Mandatory: no
# Default:
 DBPassword= zabbixuser_password_here

Finally, save the file and exit.

Next, run the commands below to open the Zabbix agent config file. And change the add a hostname.

sudo nano /etc/zabbix/zabbix_agentd.conf

Then, add a hostname for your server.

# Mandatory: no
# Default:
# Hostname=

Hostname=zabbix.example.com

Save the file and exit.

Import initial schema and data for the server with MySQL:

zcat /usr/share/doc/zabbix-server-mysql/create.sql.gz | mysql -u zabbixuser -p zabbix

Enter your Zabbix database user password when prompted.

After that, restart and enable the Zabbix service.

sudo systemctl restart zabbix-server
sudo systemctl enable zabbix-server
sudo systemctl reload apache2.service

Now open your browser and browse to the Zabbix hostname or IP address followed by /zabbix/

http://zabbix.example.com/zabbix/

You should see the Zabbix setup page. Continue with the setup wizard until you’re done.

Verify that all the PHP requirements are met. Then, continue with the database configuration. Type the database connection info you created above and continue.

Then, type the Zabbix server name and continue.

Finally, complete the installation.

When you’re done, log in with the following:

Username: admin
Password zabbix

That’s it!

Conclusion:

You’ve successfully installed Zabbix 4.0 on Ubuntu 16.04 | 18.04 and 18.10 servers. I hope you continue to read our tutorials on Linux and Ubuntu.

Enjoy!

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17 responses to “How to Install Zabbix with Apache on Ubuntu Linux”

  1. Kyle Avatar
    Kyle

    This tutorial is totally awesome and saved my bacon!

  2. praveen Avatar
    praveen

    Hi,
    I want to create a separate DB server, Web Server and Zabbix server.
    Because i am having a lot of inventory.
    Guide me how can i do it.

  3. Praveen Avatar
    Praveen

    HI,
    While installing , the below is the error:

    sudo apt install zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-agent zabbix-frontend-php
    [sudo] password for ans:
    Reading package lists… Done
    Building dependency tree
    Reading state information… Done
    Some packages could not be installed. This may mean that you have
    requested an impossible situation or if you are using the unstable
    distribution that some required packages have not yet been created
    or been moved out of Incoming.
    The following information may help to resolve the situation:

    The following packages have unmet dependencies:
    zabbix-server-mysql : Depends: libevent-2.0-5 (>= 2.0.10-stable) but it is not installable
    Recommends: snmpd but it is not going to be installed
    E: Unable to correct problems, you have held broken packages.

    lsb_release -a
    No LSB modules are available.
    Distributor ID: Ubuntu
    Description: Ubuntu 18.04.1 LTS
    Release: 18.04
    Codename: bionic

    How to rectify it?

  4. dimir Avatar
    dimir

    Your database creation instructions are not correct. Zabbix expects support for UTF-8 characters. Refer to the correct instructions here:
    https://www.zabbix.com/documentation/current/manual/appendix/install/db_scripts

  5. dimir Avatar
    dimir

    @Praveen, the following commands should fix it:

    sudo apt update
    sudo apt install zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-agent zabbix-frontend-php libevent

  6. systemoad Avatar
    systemoad

    Hi,
    This worked perfectly well for me.
    Only change I had to make was to use Admin (A Capital) instead of admin when logging into the console.
    Other than that, perfect!

  7. akter Avatar
    akter

    deafult user :admin and password:zabbix is not working

    1. LRicci Avatar
      LRicci

      The correct username is Admin (capital A) password zabbix.

  8. Fabiano Estellita Avatar
    Fabiano Estellita

    Hi. Your tutorial is so good.
    But, I´ve problems when I use Ubuntu 18.10 in Step 5.
    When I use:
    sudo apt install zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-agent zabbix-frontend-php php7.2-bcmath
    I got error in libevent.2.0-5.

    To fix it, I do:

    wget https://repo.zabbix.com/zabbix/4.0/ubuntu/pool/main/z/zabbix-release/zabbix-release_4.0-2+bionic_all.deb

    dpkg -i zabbix-release_4.0-2+bionic_all.deb

    apt update

    apt install zabbix-server-mysql zabbix-frontend-php zabbix-agent

    This is instructions I saw in:
    https://www.zabbix.com/download?zabbix=4.0&os_distribution=ubuntu&os_version=18.04_bionic&db=mysql

  9. Fabiano Estellita Avatar
    Fabiano Estellita

    Great document!
    I use to install in Ubuntu 18.10 with sucess!

  10. Chad Avatar
    Chad

    I’m getting a 404 error when trying to access http://zabbix.example.com/zabbix/.

    Any pointers?

    1. Chad Avatar
      Chad

      NM, found my mistake.

  11. julian alzate Avatar
    julian alzate

    Buenas tardes, lo que pasa es que al momento de reiniciar el mariadb y al usar el comando ” sudo mysql -u root -p” me dice que hay un error en la linea 1, que es donde tengo escrito “innodb_file_format = Barracuda”
    SI por favor me ayudan gracias

  12. Bogdan Stoica Avatar
    Bogdan Stoica

    The username used to login in the Zabbix Web Interface right after install is Admin and not admin (Linux is key sensitive). So the login credentials are Admin/zabbix. Also, after setting up everything is necessary to correctly configure the ownership of the /var/lib/php/sessions folder (which by default has ownership as root:root). A chown -R www-data:www-data /var/lib/php/sessions has to be issued prior logging in the zabbix web interface.

    Other than that, a great article!

  13. MD Avatar
    MD

    Merci pour le partage sa fonctionner bien

  14. Sam Avatar
    Sam

    great thank you!
    how about a guide to configure agents to report to the server?

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