How to Install and Configure LibreNMS on Ubuntu 22.04/20.04

n an age where nearly everything is connected, network monitoring is no longer a luxury—it’s a necessity. The consequences of network downtimes can be severe, ranging from financial losses to brand damage and customer distrust. Hence, monitoring tools that can keep up with the complexity and scale of modern networks are crucial. LibreNMS, a flexible, open-source network monitoring system, fits this description. Built on PHP, MySQL, and SNMP, it provides comprehensive insights into the health of your network infrastructure. If you’re running on an Ubuntu server, you’re in luck.

In this article, we’ll delve into the step-by-step process of installing and setting up LibreNMS on Ubuntu 22.04/20.04, giving you the tools you need to ensure your network’s reliability and performance.

Prerequisites

Fresh Ubuntu 22.04 or 20.04 server installation.
Sudo or root access to the server.
A web server (We’ll use Apache for this tutorial).
MariaDB or MySQL for the database.

Step-by-step Installation

Step 1: Update Your System

First of all, launch a terminal and update the system packages to the latest version by executing the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Dependencies

Before installing LibreNMS, you need to install some necessary packages:

sudo apt install software-properties-common composer fping git graphviz imagemagick mariadb-server mtr-tiny nmap python3-pymysql python3-dotenv python3-redis python3-setuptools rrdtool snmp snmpd whois -y

Step 3: Install PHP and Extensions

LibreNMS requires PHP. Add the PHP repository and install the necessary PHP extensions:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Now install the PHP 8.1 with required extensions:

sudo apt install libapache2-mod-php8.1 php8.1-cli php8.1-curl php8.1-fpm php8.1-gd php8.1-mbstring php8.1-mysql php8.1-snmp php8.1-xml php8.1-zip -y

Step 4: Configure MySQL/MariaDB

Once MariaDB is installed, secure your installation:

sudo mysql_secure_installation

Next, log into the MariaDB shell and create a database and user for LibreNMS:

sudo mysql -u root -p 

CREATE DATABASE librenms2 CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci; 
CREATE USER 'librenms'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password'; 
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON librenms.* TO 'librenms'@'localhost'; 
FLUSH PRIVILEGES; 
exit

Replace ‘your_password’ with a secure password.

Step 5: Download and Install LibreNMS

Navigate to the web server’s root directory and clone the LibreNMS repository:

cd /opt 
sudo git clone https://github.com/librenms/librenms.git

Set the proper permissions:

cd /opt/librenms 
sudo chown -R librenms:librenms . 
sudo setfacl -d -m g::rwx rrd/ logs/ 
sudo chmod -R ug=rwX rrd/ logs/

Install the required PHP libraries using composer:

composer install

Step 6: Other Required Configuration

Setup Timezone: You need to edit the PHP configuration file and setup the required time zone:
Ref: https://tecadmin.net/setup-timezone-in-php-configuration/

Setup scheduler service:

sudo cp /opt/librenms/dist/librenms-scheduler.service /opt/librenms/dist/librenms-scheduler.timer /etc/systemd/system/ 
sudo systemctl enable librenms-scheduler.timer 
sudo systemctl start librenms-scheduler.timer

Setup lnms binary:

sudo ln -s /opt/librenms/lnms /usr/local/bin/lnms

Setup bash completion:

sudo cp /opt/librenms/misc/lnms-completion.bash /etc/bash_completion.d/

Setup log rotate:

sudo cp /opt/librenms/misc/librenms.logrotate /etc/logrotate.d/librenms

Step 7: Configure SNMP

Copy the LibreNMS SNMP configuration:

sudo cp /opt/librenms/snmpd.conf.example /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf

Edit the SNMP configuration:
```
sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf 
```
Replace RANDOMSTRINGGOESHERE with a secure community string of your choice.
Restart the SNMP service:
```
sudo systemctl restart snmpd 
```

Step 8: Configure Apache

Create a new Apache configuration file for LibreNMS:

sudo nano /etc/apache2/sites-available/librenms.conf

Add the following configuration:


<VirtualHost *:80>
    DocumentRoot /opt/librenms/html/
    ServerName your_domain_or_ip

    AllowEncodedSlashes NoDecode
    <Directory "/opt/librenms/html/">
        Require all granted
        AllowOverride All
        Options FollowSymLinks MultiViews
    </Directory>
</VirtualHost>

Enable the configuration and restart Apache:

sudo a2ensite librenms.conf 
sudo systemctl restart apache2

Step 9: Final Installation Steps

Now, open a browser and navigate to your server’s domain or IP address. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the LibreNMS installation.

You will see a configuration wizard to complete the installation process. Follow on screen instruction to makesure all required packages are configured. Then setup the database credentials and create admin user. After the successful completed wizard, You will find the login screen:

Conclusion

Network monitoring is indispensable in our interconnected world. Tools like LibreNMS offer a holistic view of your network’s state, ensuring you can react swiftly to potential issues and maintain optimal performance. With our guide, you have installed and configured LibreNMS on your Ubuntu 22.04/20.04 system, laying the groundwork for robust network management. But the journey doesn’t stop here. Continuously explore LibreNMS’s plethora of features to fine-tune your monitoring practices, ensuring a robust, efficient, and secure network environment for your organization. Remember, in the world of networking, vigilance is the key to reliability.