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How to install snipe it on CentOS?

Published in Asset Management 8 mins read

Installing Snipe-IT on CentOS involves setting up a robust LAMP (Linux, Apache, MariaDB, PHP) stack, configuring system-level settings, and then deploying the Snipe-IT application. This guide walks you through the comprehensive process for a successful installation, ensuring all dependencies and configurations are handled properly.

How to Install Snipe-IT on CentOS

To install Snipe-IT on CentOS, you'll first prepare your server with necessary prerequisites, including a web server, database, and PHP, then proceed with the Snipe-IT specific installation script, followed by crucial configuration steps like enabling HTTPS and performing data migration if applicable.

1. Initial Server Setup and Prerequisites

Before installing Snipe-IT, ensure your CentOS system is updated and has the necessary tools and services.

Update System and Install EPEL Release

It's always a good practice to start with an updated system. The EPEL (Extra Packages for Enterprise Linux) repository provides additional packages, including some that Snipe-IT or its dependencies might need, like Certbot.

sudo yum update -y
sudo yum install epel-release -y
sudo yum upgrade -y # For CentOS 7
sudo dnf upgrade -y # For CentOS 8+

Configure YUM Proxy (If Applicable)

If your CentOS server is behind a corporate proxy, you must configure yum to use it. This ensures that package installations and updates can connect to the repositories.

Edit the yum configuration file:

sudo vi /etc/yum.conf

Add the following lines at the end of the file, replacing proxy.yourcompany.com:port with your actual proxy address and port:

proxy=http://proxy.yourcompany.com:port
proxy_username=your_username # Optional, if your proxy requires authentication
proxy_password=your_password # Optional

Save and exit the file.

Install LAMP Stack Components

Snipe-IT requires a web server (Apache is commonly used), a database (MariaDB is recommended), and PHP with several extensions.

  1. Install Apache HTTP Server:

    sudo yum install httpd -y
sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd

  2. Install MariaDB Database Server:

    sudo yum install mariadb-server mariadb -y
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb
sudo mysql_secure_installation # Follow prompts to set root password and secure the installation

  3. Install PHP and Required Extensions:
    Snipe-IT requires a specific PHP version (check the official Snipe-IT documentation for the latest requirements). For CentOS 7, you might need to enable the remi-php74 (or desired version) repository. For CentOS 8, dnf handles modular repositories better.

    For CentOS 7 (using Remi repository for modern PHP):

    sudo yum install http://rpms.remirepo.net/enterprise/remi-release-7.rpm -y
sudo yum-config-manager --enable remi-php74 # Or remi-php80, remi-php81, etc.
sudo yum install php php-cli php-fpm php-mysqlnd php-gd php-ldap php-mbstring php-xml php-bcmath php-json php-zip php-pdo php-curl php-intl php-dom php-fileinfo php-tokenizer -y

    For CentOS 8 (using AppStream):

    sudo dnf module enable php:7.4 # Or php:8.0, php:8.1, etc.
sudo dnf install php php-cli php-fpm php-mysqlnd php-gd php-ldap php-mbstring php-xml php-bcmath php-json php-zip php-pdo php-curl php-intl php-dom php-fileinfo php-tokenizer -y

    After installation, restart Apache:

    sudo systemctl restart httpd

Configure Firewall (Firewalld)

Allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic through your firewall.

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

Create a Database for Snipe-IT

Log in to MariaDB as root and create a database and a user for Snipe-IT. Replace snipeit_db, snipeit_user, and your_strong_password with your desired values.

sudo mysql -u root -p

CREATE DATABASE snipeit_db CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
CREATE USER 'snipeit_user'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_strong_password';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON snipeit_db.* TO 'snipeit_user'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

2. Install Snipe-IT and Dependencies from Script

Snipe-IT provides an official installation script that simplifies the process of downloading the application and its Composer dependencies.

Download the Install Script

You can download the Snipe-IT install script directly from their GitHub repository. Navigate to the /var/www/ directory where web applications are typically hosted.

cd /var/www/
sudo git clone https://github.com/snipe/snipe-it snipeit
cd snipeit

Run the Snipe-IT Installation Script

The install.sh script will guide you through the process, prompting for database details and other configurations. Make sure the script is executable.

sudo chmod +x install.sh
sudo ./install.sh

Follow the on-screen prompts. When prompted for database details, use the snipeit_db, snipeit_user, and your_strong_password you created earlier. The script will also generate your application key.

Configure Directory Permissions

Proper file permissions are crucial for Snipe-IT to function correctly and securely. The web server user (usually apache on CentOS) needs ownership and write access to specific directories.

sudo chown -R apache:apache /var/www/snipeit
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/snipeit
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/snipeit/storage
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/snipeit/public/uploads
sudo chcon -R -t httpd_sys_rw_content_t /var/www/snipeit/storage
sudo chcon -R -t httpd_sys_rw_content_t /var/www/snipeit/public/uploads

These chcon commands are for SELinux. If you have SELinux enabled, they are necessary.

Configure Apache Virtual Host

Create an Apache virtual host configuration file for Snipe-IT.

sudo vi /etc/httpd/conf.d/snipeit.conf

Add the following content, replacing your_domain.com with your actual domain or server IP address:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerName your_domain.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/snipeit/public

    <Directory /var/www/snipeit/public>
        AllowOverride All
        Order Allow,Deny
        Allow from All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/snipeit_error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/snipeit_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Save and exit. Then, restart Apache:

sudo systemctl restart httpd

3. Finalizing Snipe-IT Configuration

After the basic installation, access Snipe-IT via your web browser (e.g., http://your_domain.com or http://your_server_ip). You should be guided through the final web-based setup to create your administrator account.

Set Up Cron Job

Snipe-IT requires a cron job to handle scheduled tasks like email notifications, backups, and various maintenance tasks.

sudo crontab -e

Add the following line at the end of the file:

* * * * * /usr/bin/php /var/www/snipeit/artisan schedule:run >> /dev/null 2>&1

This cron job runs every minute, executing Snipe-IT's scheduled tasks.

4. Enable HTTPS (Recommended)

Securing your Snipe-IT instance with HTTPS is crucial for protecting sensitive asset data. This involves obtaining an SSL certificate and configuring Apache.

Get Certificate from Your Certificate Authority

You can obtain free SSL/TLS certificates from Let's Encrypt using Certbot.

  1. Install Certbot:

    sudo yum install certbot python-certbot-apache -y # For CentOS 7
sudo dnf install certbot python3-certbot-apache -y # For CentOS 8+

  2. Obtain and Install Certificate:

    sudo certbot --apache -d your_domain.com

    Follow the prompts. Certbot will automatically configure Apache for HTTPS and set up automatic renewal.

  3. Verify Apache Configuration:
    Certbot usually creates a new your_domain.com-le-ssl.conf file in /etc/httpd/conf.d/ and configures it for HTTPS.
    Restart Apache to ensure changes take effect:

    sudo systemctl restart httpd

    Now, try accessing your Snipe-IT instance using https://your_domain.com.

5. Update Snipe-IT

Regularly updating Snipe-IT is important for security patches, bug fixes, and new features.

cd /var/www/snipeit
sudo php artisan down # Put Snipe-IT into maintenance mode
sudo git pull # Pull the latest code from the repository
sudo composer install --no-dev --prefer-source # Update PHP dependencies
sudo php artisan migrate # Run database migrations
sudo php artisan config:clear # Clear configuration cache
sudo php artisan view:clear # Clear view cache
sudo php artisan cache:clear # Clear application cache
sudo php artisan up # Bring Snipe-IT out of maintenance mode

Always back up your database and files before performing a major update.

6. Migrate Production Data (If Applicable)

If you are migrating from an existing Snipe-IT installation or another asset management system, this step involves importing your existing asset data.

  • From another Snipe-IT instance:

    • Perform a database backup of your old instance.
    • Restore the database backup to your new MariaDB server (snipeit_db).
    • Copy the /var/www/snipeit/public/uploads directory from your old server to the new one.
    • Ensure your .env file reflects the correct application key and database credentials.

  • From a different system:

    • Snipe-IT offers CSV import functionality for assets, users, and other data. Prepare your data in CSV format according to Snipe-IT's import templates.
    • Navigate to People > Import or Assets > Import within the Snipe-IT web interface to upload your CSV files.

Summary of Key Steps

The table below provides a concise overview of the critical installation and configuration tasks:

Step Description Key Commands/Actions
Initial Setup Update OS, configure proxy, install LAMP stack. sudo yum update, vi /etc/yum.conf, sudo yum install httpd mariadb-server php...
Database Creation Set up Snipe-IT's dedicated database and user. CREATE DATABASE ..., CREATE USER ..., GRANT ALL ...
Snipe-IT Installation Download Snipe-IT code and run the install script. sudo git clone ..., sudo ./install.sh
Permissions & SELinux Ensure web server has correct file permissions and SELinux contexts. sudo chown -R apache:apache ..., sudo chcon -R -t httpd_sys_rw_content_t ...
Apache Configuration Create a virtual host for Snipe-IT. sudo vi /etc/httpd/conf.d/snipeit.conf
Cron Job Schedule background tasks for Snipe-IT. sudo crontab -e, add * * * * * ... artisan schedule:run
Enable HTTPS Secure your Snipe-IT instance with an SSL certificate. sudo certbot --apache -d your_domain.com
Update Snipe-IT Keep your Snipe-IT installation current. cd /var/www/snipeit, sudo git pull, sudo php artisan migrate
Migrate Production Data Import existing asset management data. Database restore or CSV import via web interface.

By following these steps, you will have a fully functional and secure Snipe-IT installation on your CentOS server, ready for managing your assets.

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