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Automated server configuration article

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# CentOS Stream Server Configuration for MediaWiki 1.40

This article details the recommended server configuration for running [[MediaWiki 1.40]] on a [[CentOS Stream]] based system. It's geared towards system administrators and those new to deploying MediaWiki. CentOS Stream is a rolling-release Linux distribution, so maintaining up-to-date packages is crucial for security and stability. This guide focuses on a basic, functional setup; advanced configurations like [[Load balancing]] and [[Caching]] are outside the scope of this document.

== System Requirements

The following table outlines the minimum and recommended system requirements for a MediaWiki installation. These numbers are *estimates* and will vary based on wiki size, traffic, and usage patterns.

{| class="wikitable"
! Requirement
! Minimum
! Recommended
|-
| CPU
| 2 Cores
| 4+ Cores
|-
| RAM
| 4 GB
| 8+ GB
|-
| Disk Space
| 20 GB
| 50+ GB (SSD preferred)
|-
| Operating System
| CentOS Stream 8 or 9
| CentOS Stream 9 (latest)
|-
| Web Server
| Apache 2.4 or Nginx 1.18
| Apache 2.4 or Nginx 1.20+
|-
| Database
| MariaDB 10.3 or PostgreSQL 12
| MariaDB 10.6+ or PostgreSQL 14+
|}

It's important to note that these are starting points. A heavily used wiki with many images and frequent edits will require significantly more resources. Regularly monitor your server's performance using tools like [[top]], [[htop]], and [[vmstat]].

== Software Installation

This section outlines the installation of the necessary software components.

1. **Update the System:**
```bash
sudo dnf update -y
```

2. **Install the Web Server (Apache):**
```bash
sudo dnf install httpd -y
sudo systemctl start httpd
sudo systemctl enable httpd
```
Or, if you prefer Nginx:
```bash
sudo dnf install nginx -y
sudo systemctl start nginx
sudo systemctl enable nginx
```
Remember to configure your firewall to allow HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) traffic. This is typically done with [[firewalld]].

3. **Install the Database (MariaDB):**
```bash
sudo dnf install mariadb-server mariadb -y
sudo systemctl start mariadb
sudo systemctl enable mariadb
sudo mysql_secure_installation
```
Follow the prompts to set a root password and secure your MariaDB installation. Consider using a stronger password than the default.

4. **Install PHP and Required Extensions:**
```bash
sudo dnf install php php-mysqlnd php-gd php-xml php-mbstring php-intl php-zip php-bcmath php-curl -y
```
Ensure the PHP version is compatible with MediaWiki 1.40 (PHP 7.4 or higher is recommended).

== PHP Configuration

Proper PHP configuration is critical for MediaWiki performance and security. Adjust the `php.ini` file (usually located in `/etc/php.ini`) with the following settings:

{| class="wikitable"
! Setting
! Value
! Description
|-
| `memory_limit`
| 256M
| Maximum memory a script may consume. Increase if you encounter memory errors.
|-
| `upload_max_filesize`
| 100M
| Maximum allowed size for uploaded files. Adjust based on your wiki's needs.
|-
| `post_max_size`
| 100M
| Maximum size of POST data that PHP will accept. Must be greater than or equal to `upload_max_filesize`.
|-
| `max_execution_time`
| 300
| Maximum time a script is allowed to run.
|}

Restart the web server after making changes to `php.ini`. For Apache: `sudo systemctl restart httpd`.
For Nginx: `sudo systemctl restart nginx`.

== MediaWiki Installation

1. **Download MediaWiki:** Download the latest stable release of MediaWiki 1.40 from the [[MediaWiki download page]].

2. **Extract the Archive:** Extract the downloaded archive to your web server's document root (e.g., `/var/www/html` for Apache, or `/usr/share/nginx/html` for Nginx).

3. **Set File Permissions:** Ensure the web server user has appropriate permissions to read and write to the MediaWiki files and directories. For Apache, this is typically `apache`. For Nginx, it's often `nginx`.
```bash
sudo chown -R apache:apache /var/www/html/mediawiki
sudo chmod -R 755 /var/www/html/mediawiki
```

4. **Run the Installation Script:** Access the MediaWiki installation script through your web browser (e.g., `http://your_server_ip/mediawiki/index.php`). Follow the on-screen instructions to configure your wiki, including database connection details.

5. **Configure `LocalSettings.php`:** After the installation, edit the `LocalSettings.php` file to fine-tune your wiki's settings. Pay close attention to the `$wgSecretKey` setting for security.

== Security Considerations

* **HTTPS:** Always use HTTPS to encrypt communication between the server and clients. Use [[Let's Encrypt]] to obtain free SSL/TLS certificates.
* **Firewall:** Configure [[firewalld]] to restrict access to only necessary ports.
* **Regular Updates:** Keep your operating system, web server, database, and PHP up to date with the latest security patches.
* **Database Security:** Secure your MariaDB installation with a strong root password and restrict access to the database user used by MediaWiki.
* **File Permissions:** Limit file permissions to the minimum necessary for the web server user.
* **Backups:** Regularly back up your wiki's database and files to prevent data loss. Consider using a [[backup strategy]].

== Troubleshooting

* **PHP Errors:** Check the web server's error logs for PHP errors.
* **Database Connection Errors:** Verify the database connection details in `LocalSettings.php`.
* **File Permissions:** Ensure the web server user has the necessary permissions to read and write to the MediaWiki files and directories.
* **Memory Errors:** Increase the `memory_limit` in `php.ini` if you encounter memory errors.

[[Special:Search]] | [[Help:Contents]] | [[Manual:Configuration]] | [[Manual:Installation]] | [[Server Configuration]] |

[[Category:Server Hardware]]

== Intel-Based Server Configurations ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Configuration
! Specifications
! Benchmark
|-
| [[Core i7-6700K/7700 Server]]
| 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB
| CPU Benchmark: 8046
|-
| [[Core i7-8700 Server]]
| 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB
| CPU Benchmark: 13124
|-
| [[Core i9-9900K Server]]
| 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB
| CPU Benchmark: 49969
|-
| [[Core i9-13900 Server (64GB)]]
| 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
|
|-
| [[Core i9-13900 Server (128GB)]]
| 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD
|
|-
| [[Core i5-13500 Server (64GB)]]
| 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
|
|-
| [[Core i5-13500 Server (128GB)]]
| 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD
|
|-
| [[Core i5-13500 Workstation]]
| 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000
|
|}

== AMD-Based Server Configurations ==
{| class="wikitable"
! Configuration
! Specifications
! Benchmark
|-
| [[Ryzen 5 3600 Server]]
| 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 17849
|-
| [[Ryzen 7 7700 Server]]
| 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 35224
|-
| [[Ryzen 9 5950X Server]]
| 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 46045
|-
| [[Ryzen 9 7950X Server]]
| 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 63561
|-
| [[EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB)]]
| 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 48021
|-
| [[EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB)]]
| 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 48021
|-
| [[EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB)]]
| 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 48021
|-
| [[EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB)]]
| 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 48021
|-
| [[EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB)]]
| 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe
| CPU Benchmark: 48021
|-
| [[EPYC 9454P Server]]
| 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe
|
|}

== Order Your Dedicated Server ==
[https://powervps.net/?from=32 Configure and order] your ideal server configuration

=== Need Assistance? ===
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️

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Admin: Automated server configuration article