3 Server installation with PostgreSQL database

Red Hat Enterprise Linux / CentOS

Installing packages

Here is an example for Zabbix server and web frontend with PostgreSQL database.

# yum install zabbix-server-pgsql zabbix-web-pgsql

Creating initial database

You need to have a database user with permissions to create database objects. The following shell command will create a user zabbix. Specify a password when prompted and repeat the password (note, you may first be asked for a sudo password):

shell> sudo -u postgres createuser --pwprompt zabbix

Now we will set up the database zabbix (last parameter) with the previously created user as the owner (-O zabbix) and import initial schema and data:

shell> sudo -u postgres createdb -O zabbix zabbix
       shell> zcat /usr/share/doc/zabbix-server-pgsql/create.sql.gz | sudo -u zabbix psql zabbix

Database configuration for Zabbix server

Edit server host, name, user and password in zabbix_server.conf as follows, replacing <username_password> with actual password of PostgreSQL user:

# vi /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf
       DBHost=
       DBName=zabbix
       DBUser=zabbix
       DBPassword=<username_password>

You might want to keep default setting DBHost=localhost (or an IP address), but this would make PostgreSQL use network socket connecting to Zabbix. See SELinux configuration block below for instructions.

Starting Zabbix server process

It's time to start Zabbix server process and make it start at system boot:

# systemctl start zabbix-server
       # systemctl enable zabbix-server

PHP configuration for Zabbix frontend

Apache configuration file for Zabbix frontend is located in /etc/httpd/conf.d/zabbix.conf. Some PHP settings are already configured. But it's necessary to uncomment the "date.timezone" setting and set the right timezone for you.

php_value max_execution_time 300
       php_value memory_limit 128M
       php_value post_max_size 16M
       php_value upload_max_filesize 2M
       php_value max_input_time 300
       php_value always_populate_raw_post_data -1
       # php_value date.timezone Europe/Riga

SELinux configuration

Having SELinux status enabled in enforcing mode, you need to execute the following command to enable successful connection of Zabbix frontend to the server:

# setsebool -P httpd_can_connect_zabbix on

If any parameter such as "localhost" or an IP address is set for DBHost= in zabbix_server.conf, you need to allow connection between Zabbix frontend and the database too:

# setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect_db on

As frontend and SELinux configuration is done, you need to restart Apache web server:

# systemctl start httpd

Installing frontend

Now you are ready to proceed with frontend installation steps which will allow you to access your newly installed Zabbix.

Debian / Ubuntu

Installing packages

Example for Zabbix server and web frontend with PostgreSQL database.

# apt-get install zabbix-server-pgsql zabbix-frontend-php

Creating initial database

You need to have database username user set up with permissions to create database objects.
Create Zabbix database on PostgreSQL with the following commands:

shell> psql -U <username>
       psql> create database zabbix; 
       psql> \q 

Then import initial schema and data:

# zcat /usr/share/doc/zabbix-server-pgsql/create.sql.gz | psql -U <username> zabbix

Database configuration for Zabbix server

Edit server host, name, user and password in zabbix_server.conf as follows, replacing <username_password> with actual password of PostgreSQL user:

# vi /etc/zabbix/zabbix_server.conf
       DBHost=
       DBName=zabbix
       DBUser=zabbix
       DBPassword=<username_password>

You might want to keep default setting DBHost=localhost (or an IP address), but this would make PostgreSQL use network socket instead of UNIX socket connecting to Zabbix. If you also have SELinux enabled in enforcing mode see SELinux configuration for instructions.

Starting Zabbix server process

Now you may start Zabbix server process and make it start at system boot

# service zabbix-server start
       # update-rc.d zabbix-server enable

PHP configuration for Zabbix frontend

Apache configuration file for Zabbix frontend is located in /etc/zabbix/apache.conf. Some PHP settings are already configured. But it's necessary to uncomment the "date.timezone" setting and set the right timezone for you.

php_value max_execution_time 300
       php_value memory_limit 128M
       php_value post_max_size 16M
       php_value upload_max_filesize 2M
       php_value max_input_time 300
       php_value always_populate_raw_post_data -1
       # php_value date.timezone Europe/Riga

As frontend is configured, you need to restart Apache web server:

# service apache2 restart

Installing frontend

Now you are ready to proceed with frontend installation steps which will allow you to access your newly installed Zabbix.