This comprehensive guide offers a clear, step-by-step walkthrough for installing and setting up the ELK Stack — which includes Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana — on a virtual server running CentOS 7. Whether you're a system administrator, DevOps engineer, or developer looking to implement centralized log management and powerful data visualization, this tutorial will help you get started with a production-ready setup. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a fully operational ELK Stack configured to collect, process, and display log data in real time.
What Is the ELK Stack?
ELK stands for Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana:
- Elasticsearch — a powerful search and analytics engine.
- Logstash — a data processing pipeline that ingests, transforms, and forwards data.
- Kibana — a visualization interface that lets you explore and analyze data stored in Elasticsearch.
Together, these tools provide a flexible and scalable log management and data analysis solution.
System Requirements
To ensure stable performance, your server should meet the following minimum requirements:
- RAM: 4 GB
- CPU: 2 cores
Step 1: Install Java
The ELK stack requires Java. Install it using:
yum -y install java-1.8.0Verify the installation:
java -versionStep 2: Install and Configure Elasticsearch
Add Elasticsearch GPG Key:
sudo rpm --import https://artifacts.elastic.co/GPG-KEY-elasticsearchAdd Elasticsearch Repository:
Create the file:
sudo vi /etc/yum.repos.d/elasticsearch.repoAdd the following content:
[elasticsearch-6.x]
name=Elasticsearch repository for 6.x packages
baseurl=https://artifacts.elastic.co/packages/6.x/yum
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=https://artifacts.elastic.co/GPG-KEY-elasticsearch
enabled=1
autorefresh=1
type=rpm-mdInstall Elasticsearch:
sudo yum install elasticsearchConfigure Elasticsearch:
Edit the config file:
vi /etc/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.ymlUncomment and set the following:
bootstrap.memory_lock: true
network.host: localhost
http.port: 9200Edit the sysconfig file:
vi /etc/sysconfig/elasticsearchSet:
MAX_LOCKED_MEMORY=unlimitedEnable and Start Elasticsearch:
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable elasticsearch
systemctl start elasticsearchStep 3: Install and Configure Kibana
Download and Install Kibana:
wget https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/kibana/kibana-6.2.4-x86_64.rpm
rpm -ivh kibana-6.2.4-x86_64.rpmConfigure Kibana:
vi /etc/kibana/kibana.ymlSet the following values:
server.port: 5601
server.host: "[Your_Server_IP]"
elasticsearch.url: "http://localhost:9200"Enable and Start Kibana:
systemctl enable kibana
systemctl start kibanaOpen Firewall Port:
sudo firewall-cmd --add-port=5601/tcp --permanent
sudo firewall-cmd --reloadStep 4: Set Up Nginx as a Reverse Proxy (Optional but Recommended)
Install NGINX and Utilities:
Refer to this guide for basic NGINX installation.
yum install httpd-toolsCreate NGINX Virtual Host:
vi /etc/nginx/conf.d/your-domain-or-ip.confExample config:
server {
listen 80;
server_name your-server-ip;
auth_basic "Restricted Access";
auth_basic_user_file /etc/nginx/htpasswd.kibana;
location / {
proxy_pass http://localhost:5601;
proxy_http_version 1.1;
proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
proxy_set_header Host $host;
proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
}
}Create Authentication File:
sudo htpasswd -c /etc/nginx/htpasswd.kibana adminRestart NGINX:
systemctl restart nginxStep 5: Install and Configure Logstash
Download and Install:
wget https://artifacts.elastic.co/downloads/logstash/logstash-6.2.4.rpmrpm -ivh logstash-6.2.4.rpmEnable and Start Logstash:
systemctl restart logstashsystemctl enable logstashStep 6: Access Kibana
After completing all steps, open your browser and navigate to:
http://[Your_Server_IP]:5601Example:
http://123.234.123.234:5601You’re now ready to start exploring and visualizing your data with Kibana!
Need help with data pipelines or dashboards? Explore more ELK Stack tutorials on our site
