Admin: Automated server configuration article

2025-04-15T17:40:51Z

Automated server configuration article

New page

# Operating System Configuration

This article details the recommended operating system configuration for running a MediaWiki 1.40 installation. Proper OS configuration is crucial for performance, security, and stability. This guide is geared towards system administrators and those new to setting up a MediaWiki server.

== Supported Operating Systems ==

MediaWiki 1.40 is known to function reliably on a variety of operating systems. However, some are more commonly used and better supported. The following table summarizes the most frequently used options:

{| class="wikitable"
! Operating System
! Version
! Support Level
|-
| Linux
| Debian 11 (Bullseye)
| Excellent
|-
| Linux
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS (Focal Fossa)
| Excellent
|-
| Linux
| CentOS 7 (EOL June 30, 2024 - *Migration Recommended*)
| Limited
|-
| Windows Server
| 2019
| Good (Requires IIS configuration)
|-
| Windows Server
| 2022
| Good (Requires IIS configuration)
|}

It's strongly recommended to use a Long Term Support (LTS) distribution of Linux for stability and security updates. See [[Operating System Selection]] for further discussion.

== Essential OS Packages ==

Several OS packages are essential for MediaWiki to function correctly. These include a web server, a database server, PHP, and necessary extensions.

{| class="wikitable"
! Package Type
! Package Name (Example - varies by OS)
! Purpose
|-
| Web Server
| Apache 2.4 or Nginx 1.18
| Handles HTTP requests and serves MediaWiki files. See [[Web Server Configuration]].
|-
| Database Server
| MySQL 8.0 or MariaDB 10.6
| Stores all MediaWiki data. See [[Database Server Configuration]].
|-
| PHP
| PHP 7.4 or PHP 8.1
| Processes MediaWiki code and generates HTML output. See [[PHP Configuration]].
|-
| PHP Extensions
| php-gd, php-mbstring, php-xml, php-curl, php-zip
| Provides additional functionality for MediaWiki. See [[PHP Extensions]].
|-
| Command-line Tools
| bash, curl, wget
| Useful for maintenance and troubleshooting. See [[Command Line Tools]].
|}

Ensure all packages are up-to-date using your operating system’s package manager (e.g., `apt update && apt upgrade` on Debian/Ubuntu, `yum update` on CentOS).

== Recommended System Resources ==

The system resources required depend on the size and traffic of your wiki. The following table provides recommendations for small, medium, and large wikis. These are *minimum* recommendations; more resources will improve performance.

{| class="wikitable"
! Wiki Size
! CPU
! RAM
! Disk Space
! Concurrent Users (Approximate)
|-
| Small ( < 10,000 pages)
| 2 cores
| 4 GB
| 50 GB
| 50
|-
| Medium (10,000 - 100,000 pages)
| 4 cores
| 8 GB
| 100 GB
| 200
|-
| Large ( > 100,000 pages)
| 8+ cores
| 16+ GB
| 500+ GB (SSD recommended)
| 500+
|}

Consider using Solid State Drives (SSDs) for the database and MediaWiki installation to significantly improve performance. See [[Performance Tuning]] for more advanced optimization techniques.

== Security Considerations ==

Operating system security is paramount. Always follow best practices for securing your server.

* **Firewall:** Configure a firewall (e.g., `ufw` on Ubuntu, `firewalld` on CentOS) to allow only necessary traffic (typically ports 80 and 443 for HTTP/HTTPS). See [[Firewall Configuration]].
* **User Accounts:** Use strong passwords and limit user access to only what is necessary.
* **Regular Updates:** Keep the operating system and all installed packages up-to-date with the latest security patches.
* **SSH Access:** Secure SSH access by disabling password authentication and using SSH keys. [[Secure Shell Access]].
* **Disable Unnecessary Services:** Disable any unnecessary services to reduce the attack surface.
* **SELinux/AppArmor:** Utilize security modules like SELinux (CentOS) or AppArmor (Ubuntu) for mandatory access control. [[Security Modules]].

== File System Permissions ==

Proper file system permissions are essential for MediaWiki to function correctly and securely. The web server user (e.g., `www-data` on Debian/Ubuntu, `apache` on CentOS) needs read and write access to the following directories:

* `config/` (Read/Write)
* `images/` (Read/Write)
* `extensions/` (Read/Write)
* `uploads/` (Read/Write)

The `config/` directory should have restricted permissions (e.g., 750) to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive configuration files. See [[File System Permissions]] for a detailed guide.

== Further Reading ==

* [[Setting Up a Development Environment]]
* [[Server Hardening]]
* [[Troubleshooting Common Issues]]
* [[Backups and Disaster Recovery]]
* [[Monitoring Server Resources]]

[[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? ===
* Telegram: [https://t.me/powervps @powervps Servers at a discounted price]

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

Operating System Configuration - Revision history

Admin: Automated server configuration article