# How to Install Cacti Monitoring on Ubuntu 14.04

> URL: https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/how-to-install-cacti-monitoring-ubuntu-14-04/ | Published: 2016-01-08 | Updated: 2026-03-03 | Author: Alexander Wise

## Introduction

Cacti is a web-based tool for monitoring and graphing, designed as an easy-to-use front-end for the data logging software RRDTool.

Cacti allows you to graph data–such as system load or network traffic–polled over predetermined intervals. It most commonly polls network utilization data via Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). You can also use custom shell scripts and executables to collect data.

This guide will show you how to install and perform a basic setup to begin using Cacti on your server.

> We will use example.com in this guide. Replace it with the domain name or IP address you have configured on your server.

## Prerequisites

- This guide covers installation on [Ubuntu 14.04](https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/how-to-get-started-ubuntu-14-04-lts-lamp/) (or later) server. You can run Cacti on a different flavor of GNU/Linux, but some of the distribution-specific steps outlined below will differ. If you do not have an Ubuntu server, Atlantic.Net offers a wide range of industry leading [VPS hosting](https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/) solutions.

## Install the Cacti Packages

Before you begin, make sure your system is updated. From the command line, type:

```
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
```

Proceed to install Cacti and the SNMP daemon.

```
sudo apt-get install cacti snmpd
```

The package management system will install all the dependencies required. You will likely get a few prompts during the installation of these packages and dependencies.

The [MySQL database server](https://www.atlantic.net/hipaa-compliant-hosting/hipaa-webdatabase-hosting-solution-real-world-scenario/) is one of these dependencies. If MySQL is not already installed on your server, then the installer will prompt you for a password for the root MySQL user. Remember to choose a unique, secure password, different from the server user’s. Keep this password handy. You’ll need it again later during this installation.

The package libphp-adodb (a PHP database abstraction layer library) will also be installed as part of the dependencies required. The installer will show you a warning message telling you about a change in the installation path for that library: “Configuring libphp-adodb – WARNING: include path for php has changed!” You can safely acknowledge the notification pressing Enter to continue with the installation.

The installer then will ask you to choose the web server for which Cacti will be automatically configured. Select Apache or Lighttpd, as you prefer (you can also skip this step and configure your web server later). In this example, we’ll choose to configure apache2.

![Automatic web server configuration](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti1.jpg) Automatic web server configuration

In the next step, the installer will offer you to set up the database automatically. Select **Yes**.

![Automatic database configuration](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti2.jpg) Automatic database configuration

The installer will ask you for the MySQL administrator (root) password. Input the MySQL root password and select **Ok**

![Enter the password for the root MySQL user](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti3.jpg) Enter the password for the root MySQL user

The next step is to provide the password Cacti will use to connect to the database server. You can provide your own new password, or leave it blank and let the installer generate a random one for you.

> Usually you will not need to connect directly to the database with the cacti account, so a random password would suffice.

![Leave Password Blank for cacti User To Generate a Random Password](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti4.jpg) Leave Password Blank for cacti User To Generate a Random Password

At this point, Cacti is installed, but before using it, you first need to set it up.
 .

## Installing Cacti on Ubuntu 14.04

From a web browser, go to http://example.com/cacti. You will see the web setup wizard. Click **Next**.

![Web setup wizard welcome page](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti5.jpg) Web setup wizard welcome page

On the next screen, select **New Install** and click **Next**.

![Web setup wizard - New Install](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti6.jpg) Web setup wizard – New Install

Cacti will now check for the packages it needs to run properly. Make sure all the checks appear with an “OK” status, and then click **Finish**.

![Web setup wizard - Checks before installing](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti7.jpg) Web setup wizard – Checks before installing

The next page is the login page. The first time you log into Cacti, use *admin* as username and password.

The system will ask you to change the password for the admin account. After you choose the new password (and enter it again in the second field to confirm), the system automatically will log you in as the “admin” user.

![Cacti page upon first login](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti8.jpg) Cacti page upon first login

Cacti is ready to use.
 .

## Set Up the SNMP Daemon

Before setting up the polling of data in the Cacti web interface, we’ll need to configure the SNMP daemon running on the server.

SNMP is a powerful protocol and describing its features and capabilities exceeds the purpose of this guide. For our needs, we will just enable full access to SNMP resources for the localhost (that is, the server).

Using your preferred text editor, open the configuration file `/etc/snmp/snmpd.conf`.

```
sudo nano /etc/snmp/snmpd.conf
```

Uncomment (take out the initial `#`) the following line inside that file:

```
rocommunity public localhost
```

> Optionally, you can also modify the contact and location information about your server. This information shows up along with other data such as hostname, kernel version, and system uptime in the Cacti notification area when you check your server details.
>
> Edit the `sysLocation` and `sysContact` values under the system information section. Change the text in the right column without changing the variable names on the left. By default, the following values appear on that section of the configuration file:
>
> ```
> sysLocation Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
> sysContact Me me@example.org
> ```

Save your modifications and close the text editor. Reboot the daemon to apply your changes.

```
sudo service snmpd restart
```

.

## Initial Cacti Monitoring

Even without having done any configuration yet, Cacti is running and already polling information from your server.

If you wait for a couple of minutes (to give Cacti time to collect data) and then go to the **Graphs** tab in the Cacti web interface, you will see four graphs already there: Memory Usage, Load Average, Logged in Users, and Processes.

![Cacti Page showing graphs](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti9.jpg) Cacti Page showing graphs

At first, all the options and features available could seem intimidating–do not let this overwhelm you, though! Instead, let’s see how to add more graphs.

## Add a Cacti Graph Monitoring Network Traffic

Go to the Console tab, in the upper left. On the left panel beneath, under *Management* click **Devices**.

Just to the right, select **Localhost**. This page will show you properties related to your server.

In the *SNMP Options* section, click the drop-down menu next to *SNMP version* and select **Version 2**. Click **Save** in the lower right.

If all is working right, on the top left of the page will appear a notification area with a message showing SNMP information with data such as uptime and hostname of your server, confirming the SNMP polling was successful.

![Cacti page after setting up the SNMP parameters for the Localhost](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti10.jpg) Cacti page after setting up the SNMP parameters for the Localhost

Without leaving that page, look at the bottom for the *Associated Data Queries* section.

From the drop down menu next to *Add Data Query*, select **SNMP – Interface Statistics**.

Click **Add** and then **Save**.

Still in the same page but at the top, click on **Create Graphs for this Host**. Cacti will take you to a new page with available data sources to generate graphs.

Under *Data Query [SNMP – Interface Statistics]* select the interface to monitor (for example, eth0).

![Cacti page showing network interfaces available for monitoring](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti11.jpg) Cacti page showing network interfaces available for monitoring

Click **Create**.

The same window will reload. Check the notification area on the top left for the confirmation message: `Created graph: Localhost - Traffic – eth0`.

Give Cacti a couple of minutes to begin gathering and graphing data. Then go to the **Graphs** tab to see the new data you just added.
 .

## Monitoring Disk Usage on Cacti

Let’s add a graph showing server disk (or partition) usage.

Go to the **Console** tab. On the left panel, under *Management* click **Devices**. On the right page, select **Localhost**.

Click **Create Graph for this Host**.

Go to *Data Query [Unix – Get Mounted Partitions]* section and check the partition you want to monitor (for example, `/dev/sda1`).

![Cacti page showing storage partitions available for monitoring](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti12.jpg) Cacti page showing storage partitions available for monitoring

Click **Create**, and check success message on the notification area: `Created graph: Localhost - Disk Space - /dev/sda1`.

Go to the **Graphs** tab to check. Remember to give Cacti a few minutes to collect and process the initial data.
 .

## Monitoring Connectivity via Ping on Cacti

You can also use Cacti to monitor ping response times to remote servers.

Go to the **Console** tab. On the left panel, under *Management*, click **Devices**.

In previous steps, we have used the **Localhost** device already present on the page. Now we will create a new device for the remote server we want to ping.

Click on **Add** on the far right of the *Devices* header.

Input a description for the host you will monitor–for example, *Google Public DNS Server*. Then its hostname or IP–*8.8.8.8* in this same example.

In the *Availability/Reachability Options* section, select the type of *Downed Device Detection*. Choose **Ping** from the drop-down menu. For *Ping Method*, select **ICMP Ping**.

In the *SNMP options* section, select **Not in use** in the drop-down menu for *SNMP Version*.

![Cacti page showing parameters to ping a remote host](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti13.jpg) Cacti page showing parameters to ping a remote host

Click **Create**. The page will reload, and a few extra sections will appear at the bottom.

In the *Associated Graph Template* section, from the *Add Graph Template* drop-down menu, select **Unix – Ping Latency** and click the **Add** button at the bottom right of this particular section.

Click **Save**.

Now, click on **Create Graphs for this Host**.

In the *Graph Templates* section, check the box to the right of *Create: Unix – Ping Latency*, and click **Create**.

A new page will show up. Select the color of the graph and, optionally, enter whatever legend text you desire, and then click **Create**.

In the notification area on top, you can see if the graph was created successfully. If so, after a few minutes, go to the **Graphs** tab to check your new graph.

> Initially, until you organize the way to display the graphs (see the section **Manage Graphs** below), this new graph will not appear along with the other graphs you already have for localhost.
>
> To be able to see this remote ping graph, you should change the viewing mode from the default **Tree view** to **Preview view**. Use the icons on the top right area of the page, next to the **settings** tab. To select the **Preview View**, click on the icon furthest right that looks like a mountain range.

.

## Poll SNMP data from a Remote Host on Cacti

Now, let’s use Cacti and SNMP to monitor and graph resources from another server.

#### On the Remote Server

Install the SNMP daemon (shown here for Ubuntu 14.04). On the command line type:

```
sudo apt-get install snmpd
```

Edit the SNMP daemon configuration file `/etc/snmp/snmpd.conf` to enable the remote server to accept the connection from your Cacti server.

Use the IP address of your Cacti server to permit connections just from that IP address.

```
rocommunity cacti 192.168.0.52
```

> The `cacti` word that appears in the second field is called an *SNMP Community* string. It is like a password, and you can choose any word you want. If you choose a different word, remember to use it when you configure the SNMP connection in Cacti.

Still in the same configuration file, enable access to the SNMP daemon from remote hosts. Comment out the line that restricts access only to localhost (127.0.0.1) and uncomment the line that enables access from the Internet.

```
#agentAddress udp:127.0.0.1:161
agentAddress udp:161,udp6:[::1]:161
```

> You may find it helpful to also change the `sysLocation` and `sysContact` information (as above) as well.

Save changes and restart snmpd.

```
sudo service snmpd restart
```

Those changes are enough for the remote server to work answering SNMP queries from your Cacti server.

#### In the Cacti Web Interface

Go to the **Console** tab. On the left panel, under *Management* click **Devices**. Click on **Add**.

In the *General Host Options* section, enter a description for the remote server and its hostname or IP address.

For *Host template* select **ucd/net SNMP Host**.

In the *Availability/Reachability Options* section, for *Downed Device Detection* select **Ping and SNMP uptime**. For *Ping Method*, **ICMP Ping**.

In the *SNMP Options* section, select for *SNMP Version* **Version 2** and enter the *SNMP Community* you configured in your remote host (*cacti*, in our example).

![Cacti page showing the parameters to connect to remote server using SNMP](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti14.jpg) Cacti page showing the parameters to connect to remote server using SNMP

Click **Create**, and check the notification area for information about a successful SNMP connection to the remote host and ping results.

Now, click **Create Graphs for this Host**.

A list will appear, showing all the available data sources from the remote host. Check all the items you want to monitor and then click on **Create**.

In a few minutes, in the **Graphs** tab, Cacti will begin to show the new graphs.

.
 .

## Manage Graphs on Cacti

You can organize the way Cacti displays graphs by grouping them under Trees.

At first, from the **Graphs** tab, there is a “Default Tree” with just Localhost under it.

In this example, we will create two more branches to group our graphs: *my remote server* and *remote Pings*.

Go to the **Console** tab. On the left panel, under *Management* click **Graph Trees**. Click **Add** (on the far right).

Give a name **Name** for the branch. In this case, *my remote server*.

Select the ordering method you prefer and click **Create**.

> According to the Cacti official help, the ordering methods work as follows:
>
> - Manual Ordering (No Sorting): You may determine the order as you wish.
> - Alphabetical Ordering: All subtrees ordered alphabetically unless otherwise specified.
> - Natural Ordering: ie. ab1, ab2, ab7, ab10, ab20.
> - Numeric Ordering: Leading zeroes are not taken into account when ordering numerically, i.e. 01, 02, 4, 04.

After a save successful appears in the notification area, a section called *Tree items* appears. Click **Add** (on the far right).

In the *Tree Items* section, click on the drop-down menu for *Tree Item Type* and select **Host**.

In the **Tree Item Value** section, choose from the *Host* drop-down menu **my remote server** and click **Create**.

Now we’ll add another branch.

Go back to the **Console** tab. On the left panel, under *Management* click **Graph Trees**. Click **Add** (on the far right).

Provide a *Name* for this new branch, in this case, *pings*.

As above, select the ordering method you prefer and click **Create**.

After a save successful appears in the notification area, a section called *Tree items* appears. Click **Add** (on the far right).

In the *Tree Items* section, click on the drop-down menu for *Tree Item Type* and select **Host**.

In **Tree Item value** section, choose the host to include (*google dns server*, in this example) and click **Create**.

Go to the **Graph** tab. Toward the top right, choose the tree view (the tree icon).

Now you can see your Tree to navigate between your graphs.

![Cacti tree view with new hosts](https://www.atlantic.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/cacti15.jpg) Cacti tree view with new hosts

> Note that we’ve added a separate host for **yahoo** in this example using the same steps as above.

.

## Manage users on Cacti

Until now, we’ve been making all of these setting changes under the admin account. You can create other accounts with restricted permissions.

Let’s create a user that just needs to monitor the data but should not make any changes in the settings.

Go to the **Console** tab and select **User Management** under *Utilities*. Click **Add** (on the far right).

Input the username and password for the new account. Do not forget to check the **Enabled** box.

In the *Realm Permissions* section below, select only the item **View Graphs**. Click **Create**.

The page will reload itself, and now a couple of tabs will appear next to the *Realm Permissions* section. Go to the *Graph permissions* tab.

You can assign permissions by Graph, Device, Graph Template or Tree.

For this example, we will restrict the user to see only data related to the *localhost* and *my remote server* hosts.

Under the *Graph Permission (by Device)* section, select **Localhost** in the *Add Host* drop-down menu and click **Add**.

Repeat the last step, selecting **my remote server** and **Add** it, too.

Finally, in the *Default Policy* drop-down menu that appears above and to the right of the hosts you added, select **Allow**. Click **Save** at the bottom of the page.

With this setup, the new account only will be able to see the graphs related to the localhost and the remote [virtual private server](https://www.atlantic.net/vps-hosting/) and will not see any other graphs.

Log out from Cacti and log in again using the new account. You will see just the graphs you enabled and the Console tab will not appear.

> Since we gave the user only **Permissions (by Device)**, initially no graphs will appear in this (Tree) view. This user can see graphs by changing the view to **Preview view** (the mountain icon in the upper right). To allow this user to see the navigation tree, assign the corresponding **Tree Permissions** (located under the *Graph Permissions* tab).

.

### Learn More

Congratulations, your Cacti basic setup is done! Please check back here for new updates, or check out our related articles below.
 .
 .