How to install and configure csf on CentOS

Install and configure csf on CentOS the following steps as root user

1: Downloading csf package.

rm -fv csf.tgz
wget http://www.configserver.com/free/csf.tgz

2: Remove already installed firewall settings

Execute the following command to remove already installed firewall like APF (Advanced Policy Firewall) or BFD (Brute Force Detection) from server.

[root@server #] sh /tmp/csf/remove_apf_bfd.sh 

3: Installation

[root@server #] tar -xzf csf.tgz 
[root@server #] cd csf 
[root@server #] sh install.sh 

You will get an output like below pasted if that was a successful installation.

----------------------------
----------------------------
*WARNING* TESTING mode is enabled - do not forget to disable it in the configuration `/etc/csf/csfwebmin.tgz' -> `/usr/local/csf/csfwebmin.tgz' Installation Completed 

Then, check whether your server have required IP tables modules by using the following command.

[root@server #] perl /usr/local/csf/bin/csftest.pl 

4: Configure CSF

Once the installation process is completed we need to enable the csf to work it properly. ‘csf -e'[csf -x for disabling csf] command is using to enable csf on server.

[root@server csf]# csf -e
Starting lfd:[  OK  ]
csf and lfd have been enabled
*WARNING* TESTING mode is enabled - do not forget to disable it in the configuration

The ‘csf -e’ output sounds, the csf is configured in testing mode on your server. You need to edit the conf file for enabling it.

[root@server #] vim /etc/csf/csf.conf
Then change the value of 'TESTING' from 1 to 0

Important configuration options
All cofiguration options are located under the directory “/etc/csf” . Some usefull and importent configuration files are listed below.

csf.conf : Configuration file for controlling CSF.
csf.allow : Allowed IP’s and CIDR addresses list on the firewall.
csf.deny : Denied IP’s and CIDR addresses list on the firewall.
csf.ignore : Ignored IP’s and CIDR addresses list on the firewall.
csf.*ignore : The list of various ignore files of users, IP’s.

Uninstallation
Removing csf and lfd is even more simple:

cd /etc/csf
sh uninstall.sh

That’s all. 

 


How to install and configure csf on CentOS, Hostripples Web Hosting
Vishwajit Kale
Vishwajit Kale blazed onto the digital marketing scene back in 2015 and is the digital marketing strategist of Hostripples, a company that aims to provide affordable web hosting solutions. Vishwajit is experienced in digital and content marketing along with SEO. He's fond of writing technology blogs, traveling and reading.