How do I install Cacti?

server network-monitoring cacti

21,709

This has been tested on 10.04 and 12.04 LTS.

It's as simple as installing the cacti package.

To do that, run sudo apt-get install cacti and then follow the prompts. It will ask you to set a password for the root MySQL user.

However, one thing that catches people is that it gives you a choice of which HTTP server you want to have it run under.

enter image description here

Unless you have good reason to do otherwise, select "Apache2" and hit enter.

Now it will go and install all the packages.

When it asks you if you want to have the database configured with dbconfig-common, select yes.

enter image description here

And then it will ask you for the password of the root user.

And then it will ask you to set a MySQL application password specifically for cacti.

Enter one in, and then repeat it in the confirmation dialog.

Once the install is done, head over to your-ip/cacti follow the prompts there.

enter image description here

Click next if you agree to the license.

Now you need to tell it what kind of installation - we're assuming you're doing a new install here, so just click "Next".

enter image description here

Now here is the important part.

It will try and find all the various tools it needs - by default, they should be all green, but if it isn't, you'll need to do some digging to find where that tool is.

enter image description here

Click next.

Now you're at the login screen. The default username is admin, and the default password is admin as well.

enter image description here

Now it will have a forced password change. Change your password to whatever you want it to be.

enter image description here

Hit next after that, and you're in!

enter image description here

Have fun with Cacti!

21,709

jrg

BY DAY: Software Developer at Upstart. BY NIGHT: I have an infrequently updated blog. FOR FUN: Camping, motorcycling, bicycling, geekin' out from time to time. In The Past: Ask Ubuntu Moderator email: james at armyofminions dot com

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

jrg almost 2 years

I'd like to use Cacti, but I'm not entirely sure how to install it.

I have a 10.04 Server that I'm installing this on.
Kevin Bowen over 11 years

I have provided some additional information on upgrading to cacti version 0.8.8.a, which supports the Cacti Plugin architecture(PIA) here
UpTheCreek over 11 years

Thanks - followed this, script runs ok, but nothing seems to get installed under /var/www - any ideas?
jrg over 11 years

@UpTheCreek it isn't installed under /var/www. it's installed in its own special place, I'm not entirely sure where.
UpTheCreek over 11 years

Ah I see - I guess there must be something in apache config - I'll check, thanks.
cwd about 10 years

apache auto configuration creates a symlink in /etc/apache2/conf.d to /etc/cacti/apache.conf (similar to how phpmyadmin does it) which is where you can find information about the cacti file locations - although you may be doing something wrong if you think you need to start editing these files ;)