LAMP (lamp) CentOS 10
Long-term database hosting has supported daily CRM operations and simplifies web management
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for LAMP Stack CentOS is MySQL, Oracle, and web hosting services, which I typically use day-to-day.
A quick specific example of how I use LAMP Stack CentOS for MySQL, Oracle, or web hosting is that we're using it for CiviCRM, which is an open source CRM. MySQL is version 8.4 and we have Oracle 19.3, and we use it for our day-to-day operations. Oracle serves as a repository for subscriber information. MySQL serves the same purpose because we're migrating everything to MySQL.
I also want to add that I forgot to mention Apache and Nginx in my main use case. We're using Apache 2.4 and Nginx, though I'm not certain which version of Nginx. I'm familiar with all the system monitoring tools as well.
What is most valuable?
The best features LAMP Stack CentOS offers in my experience are its better supportability compared to Debian, Ubuntu Mint, and Oracle support is much better. In terms of MySQL support, it's much easier to use MySQL, Oracle, and Apache. Those are the three dominant features that we use.
Regarding how the supportability of LAMP Stack CentOS stands out for me, we're using Oracle with APEX, and when you install Oracle, you have your Oracle home where your repositories are located. Library support is also important. CentOS and the Red Hat flavors come with better library support for Oracle than the Debian flavors. When it comes to Debian flavors, Debian supports MySQL probably better than CentOS because more people are using it. In terms of stability with database support, libraries, and PHP, we do use PHP on the LAMP stack, but that's not really my expertise. My expertise is more on the database end.
LAMP Stack CentOS has not really impacted my organization positively. We're probably going to migrate everything over to Ubuntu 24, which is where we're headed, even though I have experience with CentOS.
What needs improvement?
I believe LAMP Stack CentOS can be improved because it doesn't have the cutting edge features that the Debian flavors do, but it has stability, which I find to be a positive aspect. However, as an organization, which is outside of my control, we're going to choose Debian. Another problem with CentOS is that there are rumors regarding stability and whether it will continue to be developed and supported. There has been talk about end of life and not getting some of the new features. Additionally, there's the issue with Oracle owning Red Hat and whether they will continue supporting CentOS with Java and other components. The supportability from outside sources is much better with other options than it is with CentOS.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS for twenty years.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
The reason I'm planning to migrate away from LAMP Stack CentOS is that Debian is open source, as is Red Hat. CentOS is basically a fork of Red Hat. We want its supportability on AWS because we're running EC2 boxes on AWS. We really want to standardize on one platform and the Debian flavors are going to be it.
What other advice do I have?
The primary advice I would give to others looking into using LAMP Stack CentOS is to consider whether it will continue to be worked on. My review rating for LAMP Stack CentOS is nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Reliable web stack has standardized deployments and supports long-term PHP applications
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for LAMP Stack CentOS is to create small arbitrary or small environments, but our main use case is hosting and maintaining web applications in a stable Linux environment.
We run primarily PHP-based applications, internal tools, APIs, admin portals, and business systems where LAMP Stack CentOS provides a reliable, well-known stack.
Something unique about our main use case is that we usually manage these applications with controlled environments, setting up virtual hosts, environment-specific configs, database backups, replication, and basic hardening on CentOS. We also use it for legacy PHP applications where moving to a newer architecture would be expensive. LAMP Stack CentOS gives us a stable and predictable platform, still allowing us to patch, monitor, and improve performance gradually.
What is most valuable?
The best features LAMP Stack CentOS offers are stability, compatibility, and simplicity. CentOS provides a reliable Linux base, Apache is very mature for web hosting, MySQL or MariaDB works well for relational data, and PHP has strong compatibility with many business and legacy applications. I would also highlight ease of maintenance, good performance for traditional web apps, extensive community knowledge, and for me, the biggest value is that it is predictable and dependable for PHP-based applications.
LAMP Stack CentOS has positively impacted us by giving us a stable, low-cost, and predictable platform for PHP-based applications. The main outcomes were improved reliability. Once a stack was properly configured, applications were very stable with fewer unexpected environment issues. Additionally, the cost was lower, as we avoided expensive managed platforms for applications that did not need a complex, cloud-native setup. We also achieved better maintenance, with backups, patching, virtual host, and database management becoming standardized. In terms of metrics, setup for a standard application environment went from several hours of manual configuration to around twenty to thirty minutes using reusable configs and scripts. We also reduced downtime during small changes because we could test Apache and PHP configuration before restarting services.
A standout feature for my team is how transparent and controllable the stack is. With LAMP Stack CentOS, we can inspect almost everything directly: Apache configs, PHP settings, system logs, database logs, permissions, services, and resource usage. That makes troubleshooting easier compared to more abstract platforms. I also think more people should use SELinux properly instead of disabling it. When configured correctly, it adds an important security layer without blocking normal application behavior.
What needs improvement?
LAMP Stack CentOS can be improved in areas around modernization, automation, and long-term support. The biggest challenge is that the stack is very stable, but it can feel traditional compared to containerized or cloud-native platforms. Scaling, deployment automation, and environment consistency require extra work unless you build scripts or use tools such as Ansible. Another limitation is dependency and version management; the PHP versions, Apache modules, and database packages need to be handled carefully, especially for legacy applications. I would also mention CentOS lifecycle changes as a concern, as teams need a clear migration plan to CentOS Stream, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, or another supported Enterprise Linux option. Overall, LAMP Stack CentOS works well, but it needs good patching, monitoring, backup, automation, and security hardening to remain reliable in production.
I would add that migration guidance could be better, especially for older PHP applications. The hardest parts are usually PHP version compatibility, deprecated functions, Apache config differences, database upgrades, and SELinux permissions. A clearer migration checklist would help teams move from older CentOS LAMP Stack CentOS environments to newer supported platforms with less risk. The documentation is available, but it is often spread across Apache, PHP, MariaDB, CentOS, and SELinux resources. For teams, a more unified operational guide would be useful: installation, hardening, backups, monitoring, troubleshooting, and migration steps in one place. The main struggle is not running LAMP Stack CentOS itself; it is keeping it secure, updated, and compatible over time.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS for around six and a half years.
What other advice do I have?
Community support helps me a lot day-to-day because most LAMP Stack CentOS issues are not completely new. When I face Apache config problems, PHP module issues, MySQL tuning, permissions, SELinux, or firewall errors, there is usually documentation, forums, or Stack Overflow threads that point me in the right direction. A good example is troubleshooting SELinux and Apache permissions. The application looked fine, but Apache could not write to a specific directory. The community examples helped me identify the right SELinux context and fix it without disabling SELinux completely. This is one of the biggest benefits, as I can solve issues faster while still keeping the environment secure.
The reusable scripts helped reduce setup time because they standardized repetitive setup steps. For example, before the scripts, setting up a new PHP application required manually creating the Apache virtual host, configuring the document root, setting permissions, enabling PHP modules, creating the database, updating firewall rules, and validating the service. After scripting that process, we could provide the app name, domain, document root, and database name, and the script handled most of the setup automatically. A specific improvement was virtual host creation. Instead of manually copying and editing Apache config files, the script generated the virtual host, applied the right permissions, tested the Apache config, and restarted the service only if the validation passed. That reduced human error and made deployments faster and more consistent.
For AI capabilities, LAMP Stack CentOS is not really an AI-focused platform; it is a traditional web application stack. From a governance and security perspective, it can be strong if configured correctly. We manage security through OS patching, Apache hardening, PHP configuration, database permissions, firewall rules, SELinux, backups, and access control. For AI-related features, I would not say LAMP Stack CentOS provides native AI governance. If an application uses AI or ML models or stores AI-related data, the governance has to be implemented at the application and infrastructure level. Overall, security is solid, but AI governance depends on how the team builds and controls the application running on top of the stack.
LAMP Stack CentOS does not have native AI capabilities, so I would not evaluate it as an AI model or AI platform. For accuracy and reliability of output, it depends on the application running on top of the stack. If the PHP application is well-designed, the database queries are correct, and the server is stable, the output is very reliable. For AI-related output, accuracy would depend on the external AI service or model being integrated, not on LAMP Stack CentOS itself. LAMP Stack CentOS mainly provides the hosting, API, database, and security layer around that AI integration.
My advice is to use LAMP Stack CentOS when you need a stable, proven, and cost-effective platform for PHP-based applications, but I would not treat it as a simple plug-and-play platform. Plan for security: keep CentOS patched and harden Apache and PHP. Also, plan for automation: use scripts or Ansible for setup, backups, deployment, and configuration. Monitor Apache logs, PHP errors, database performance, disk usage, and uptime. Additionally, consider the migration strategy, because CentOS lifecycle changes matter. Overall, LAMP Stack CentOS is a great choice for traditional web apps, but the team needs discipline around maintenance, security, and long-term support.
LAMP Stack CentOS is still a very dependable option for traditional PHP applications, internal tools, and legacy systems. Its biggest strength is also its biggest risk. It is simple and familiar, so teams sometimes underestimate the need for patching, monitoring, backups, and security hardening. If it is managed properly, it can be stable, cost-effective, and easy to support. For new products, I would also evaluate more modern alternatives or a migration path to supported Enterprise Linux distributions. I would give this product a rating of eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Efficient deployments have simplified managing ecommerce templates, logs, and PHP compatibility
What is our primary use case?
My organization uses LAMP Stack CentOS primarily for building e-commerce site enterprise solutions for clients, and I set up templates for developers to continue their work. I create machines from AWS and on-premises environments wherever the company allows. I create operating system machines with storage, networking, subnets, routes, and all necessary infrastructure. Then I deploy applications using LAMP Stack CentOS with PHP, Apache, MySQL, and related components.
While setting up LAMP Stack CentOS for developers, I face challenges with our on-premise server environment. In /var/www/html, I create folder structures and give ownership to developers for their project folders. They sometimes interfere with other directories, leading to improper deployments or incorrect web pages. Using CentOS, I set up permissions with chmod, usermod, and other tools to allow users to modify only their own directories. Challenges include virtual host editing in etc/sites-enabled, where I set up ports, enable site features, and manage cookies and caches.
LAMP Stack CentOS plays a key role in log analysis in /var/www/logs, where I analyze Apache logs to review live logs, access logs, error logs, and address daily issues. I face challenges fine-tuning databases when connecting from one server to another. Another use case is that I do not need to code everything from scratch since I can pull from templates like Cisco.
I do not have experience with pricing, setup costs, and licensing regarding LAMP Stack CentOS, as my leader managed cost and pricing while I focused on deployment and setup.
What is most valuable?
The best features of LAMP Stack CentOS are the easy debugging and the availability of tools from which I can pull templates. I only need to code the back-end, as I have an e-commerce template for the front-end. Apache allows me to edit the virtual host file for deployment, deploy SSL, and easily place my build into /var/www/html while ensuring proper privileges and attaching my domain for deployment.
I rely most on the easy debugging feature of LAMP Stack CentOS because I am a CLI-focused user who uses the terminal more than the GUI. For log analysis or debugging during deployment, I pull new developments from GitHub, back up the old build, and replace it with the newer one, followed by restarting NGINX or Apache to ensure proper functioning. I do not face extra challenges regarding security or deployment processes. Daily, I run live log commands and examine logs stored in a central location, making it easy to identify and rectify issues, which I have become adept at after two-plus years of experience.
I prefer the simple deployment feature of LAMP Stack CentOS most because if I have a CentOS server with full specifications for resource utilization, it is very easy to use. I pull projects from sources like Magento, set up the required PHP version, enable PHP modules, and set up databases where I configure a file for database entries including port, host, username, and password. Subsequently, I run applications using Apache or NGINX.
LAMP Stack CentOS has positively impacted my organization significantly, especially for a client with an e-commerce platform selling bikes and cars. Easy deployment allows me to implement small changes within minutes, and resolving log issues is straightforward, which means my clients are pleased with the simplicity and effectiveness of the tool.
What needs improvement?
An area for improvement I can think of is the setup and installation process, which can be challenging. Making it easier by breaking it down into chunks or transitioning from a monolithic architecture to microservices could enhance the installation experience.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS for two years, setting up the LAMP stack in the CentOS and Linux environments.
What was our ROI?
I have not seen a return on investment regarding LAMP Stack CentOS, and I cannot share any relevant metrics about time or money saved or the need for fewer employees.
What other advice do I have?
One specific example where LAMP Stack CentOS saved time is when I was deploying a build with compatibility issues related to PHP versions. The earlier build was on version 8.2, while the new one required a lower version of PHP. After several hours trying out different configurations, I installed a compatible version of PHP on the same CentOS server, confirmed with the developer, and successfully switched versions.
I do not see any pain points or features in LAMP Stack CentOS that need improvement.
Regarding the governance and security of LAMP Stack CentOS, security measures are already in place, such as the ability to block ports and IPs. However, some Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing points need daily resolution, addressing concerns such as port vulnerability and version mismatches.
The accuracy and reliability of output from LAMP Stack CentOS depend greatly on the training of the models used. If the models are well-trained, they yield accurate results and can be reliable. I would rate this review a nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Bundled web stack has simplified secure payment workflows but still needs smoother upgrades
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for LAMP Stack CentOS is to serve our payment gateway using the PHP engine for our payment gateway service. Since CentOS provides open-source facilities, we use the CentOS Linux environment, and the Apache and PHP stack help us maintain this infrastructure.
A specific example of how I use LAMP Stack CentOS in our payment gateway service is that we are using the OTP method, and recently, we have been readying our OTP system in CentOS LAMP Stack CentOS. Previously, it was running on RHEL with raw PHP, but we are moving to LAMP Stack CentOS for our PCI DSS requirement. Here we are using PHP as a back-end system, and as an infrastructure and security engineer, I take care of the Apache part as well. Since CentOS is a Linux system, we maintain every project directory ACL accordingly.
My main use case serves the OTP, and the stack I am using is basically for security purposes. As we are a payment gateway, we must meet the PCI DSS requirement. When we use PHP and Apache separately, the patching would be critical. However, when I am using LAMP Stack CentOS, the patching system is more reliable.
What is most valuable?
The best feature that LAMP Stack CentOS offers in my experience is that I am getting the bundle where Apache, MySQL, and PHP come together.
When I say bundle, I mean the convenience of having Apache, MySQL, and PHP all together in one package, and it is easy to maintain. It is also easy to provide support. When I am using LAMP Stack CentOS, I need minimum resources. When I am using Apache, MySQL, and PHP separately, then I need a DBA, I need a PHP expert, and I need an infrastructure engineer to manage Apache and its ACL as well. However, when I am using LAMP Stack CentOS, the resources I need decrease as well.
LAMP Stack CentOS has impacted my organization positively because we are using F5 for load balancing. When I am using the F5 load balancer and LAMP Stack CentOS in parallel, I got a benefit. When I manage or take downtime from node A, then I can provide my production service from node B as well because the full bundle persists in node B. The best use case from LAMP Stack CentOS is that this hosting is dynamic, and there is the relational database as well.
What needs improvement?
Regarding how LAMP Stack CentOS can be improved, I would add a few points. Over the two decades of optimizations, the relational integrity that MariaDB and MySQL handle for complex data relationships and transactional integrity is perfect. The cost efficiency is also excellent.
LAMP Stack CentOS's scalability is good so far, but there are some challenges as well. As we enter the agentic AI, achieving stability in LAMP Stack CentOS depends entirely on managing traditional web infrastructure. I manage the web infrastructure easily via LAMP Stack CentOS. However, when I try agentic AI, instability does not mean server uptime. I mean execution predictability and preventing logical failure. Therefore, AI in LAMP Stack CentOS becomes unstable and exhibits special behavior.
LAMP Stack CentOS is stable in my experience; however, sometimes when more traffic comes and hits, it fluctuates. When we need to upgrade, there are some difficulties in LAMP Stack CentOS. Suppose I need to use MySQL 8 in my production environment but my LAMP Stack CentOS is outdated. At that time I need to upgrade the full stack to maintain it. If I use Apache, MySQL, and PHP separately, my DBA can normally upgrade MySQL, and my developer can upgrade PHP. However, when I use LAMP Stack CentOS, the whole team combination is needed, and then we can upgrade the full stack. This is the challenge so far.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS for more than five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
LAMP Stack CentOS is stable in my experience; however, sometimes when more traffic comes and hits, it fluctuates. When we need to upgrade, there are some difficulties in LAMP Stack CentOS. Suppose I need to use MySQL 8 in my production environment but my LAMP Stack CentOS is outdated. At that time I need to upgrade the full stack to maintain it. If I use Apache, MySQL, and PHP separately, my DBA can normally upgrade MySQL, and my developer can upgrade PHP. However, when I use LAMP Stack CentOS, the whole team combination is needed, and then we can upgrade the full stack. This is the challenge so far.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
LAMP Stack CentOS's scalability is good so far, but there are some challenges as well. As we enter the agentic AI, achieving stability in LAMP Stack CentOS depends entirely on managing traditional web infrastructure. I manage the web infrastructure easily via LAMP Stack CentOS. However, when I try agentic AI, instability does not mean server uptime. I mean execution predictability and preventing logical failure. Therefore, AI in LAMP Stack CentOS becomes unstable and exhibits special behavior.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support for LAMP Stack CentOS, if I have ever needed it, is community support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
Before LAMP Stack CentOS, I was using the RHEL system as a Linux distro, and my back end was configured by Java. The front end was using React.
How was the initial setup?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for LAMP Stack CentOS is that it is open source, so we are not using any kind of license till now.
What about the implementation team?
Before choosing LAMP Stack CentOS, I evaluated other options, actually using XAMPP in a Windows environment.
What was our ROI?
I have seen a return on investment from using LAMP Stack CentOS for the SME type of businesses and the security concern type of business. I share my recommendations with others using LAMP Stack CentOS as well. I also share with them that when the environment is Windows, XAMPP is used as well. I prefer LAMP, XAMPP, or WAMP as well because I always suggest it.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for LAMP Stack CentOS is that it is open source, so we are not using any kind of license till now.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before choosing LAMP Stack CentOS, I evaluated other options, actually using XAMPP in a Windows environment.
What other advice do I have?
On a scale of one to ten, I would rate LAMP Stack CentOS a seven. I give it a seven out of ten because there are some drawbacks as well. It is 100% open source. However, it is the legacy application maintenance for older enterprise software that actually supports this. For chat or live streaming, when we are using LAMP Stack CentOS, it does not provide us the full feature. At that time we are using Node.js. For handling millions of simulations, NGINX provides us a better feel instead of Apache. These scenarios lead me to provide a seven out of ten.
Regarding LAMP Stack CentOS's AI capabilities, I think it is made to be more secured. As we enter the AI area, implementing input sanitization gateways and output validation layers to be monitored in the core model of LAMP Stack CentOS is necessary. Another risk is the unauthorized multi-agent orchestration. If an anonymous agent interacts with each other without restricted permission, a breach in one agent compromises the entire environment. Security needs may deploy a universal data plane outside of the application layer or should enforce centralized governance, authentication, and access control for all agentic traffic.
I find that some of our other organizations use LAMP Stack CentOS as well.
Legacy ecommerce has run smoothly and supports high daily traffic without code changes
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for LAMP Stack CentOS involves client applications that are based on this stack because they have a legacy system that already runs in old versions of PHP.
One specific example of how I use LAMP Stack CentOS to support my legacy system is that we have an e-commerce client that uses PHP 5, and it runs alongside Apache for running the sale of services for their clients. It supports almost 100,000 requests per day in a smooth way.
What is most valuable?
The best features LAMP Stack CentOS offers include the integration between the items of the stack, such as Apache and PHP, and also the facility to configure.
When I mention the integration between the items in the stack, I mean how Apache, PHP, and MySQL work together out of the box. I think the integration between the components of the stack is very good, and the process to configure it is very smooth from the user perspective.
LAMP Stack CentOS has positively impacted my organization by allowing me to better serve clients with PHP in a smooth way, so I don't need to request anything else from my clients to run their applications.
It has helped me save time, reduce costs, and improve performance for my clients, as it allows me to work with legacy PHP applications without any modifications. We don't need to spend time migrating the existing systems of my clients, and this saves costs for them.
What needs improvement?
If I had to pick one area that could be better, I think having a wizard to configure it in a more user-friendly way on macOS could be a good feature.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS for about 10 years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
LAMP Stack CentOS is stable.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The scalability of LAMP Stack CentOS works very well because I have already tested systems with many parallel requests, and it worked very well.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used the MEAN stack in the past, and I am already using both solutions because I think there are scenarios depending on what technologies the client uses.
How was the initial setup?
I did not purchase LAMP Stack CentOS through the AWS Marketplace. I am using it on an EC2 instance with a Docker container.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that I think it is pretty good. It is very easy to configure this and the costs are just fine for me.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Enterprise web apps have gained secure, predictable hosting and have reduced operational effort
What is our primary use case?
Our primary use case for LAMP Stack CentOS is the hosting of enterprise-grade monolithic web applications and corporate backend systems that require a highly strict Red Hat-based operating environment. For example, we use it to run internal inventory tracking tools and legacy client portals where the core application depends on an Apache web server frontend and a localized or clustered MySQL/MariaDB database and PHP business logic processing.
What is most valuable?
The standout feature of LAMP Stack CentOS in my experience is the rock-solid enterprise-grade architecture inherent to the Red Hat ecosystem distributions. The DNF, formerly YUM, the package manager, handles enterprise repositories cleanly. The security defaults, particularly the inclusion of SELinux, provide a drastically smaller attack surface for public-facing Apache servers as compared to other distributions.
There are several other features of LAMP Stack CentOS that stand out as the most valuable in my daily work. The lifecycle management and predictable behavior of configuration files are particularly noteworthy. The standard layout inside the /etc/httpd/conf means that administrators coming from an enterprise Red Hat or Fedora background can seamlessly navigate and maintain the stack without any friction.
LAMP Stack CentOS has positively impacted my organization by providing a standard, zero-license, licensing-free gateway into the Red Hat enterprise ecosystem. It allows us to build and host heavy web backends with enterprise levels of security and predictability without incurring the massive subscription overhead costs of commercial enterprise Linux systems licenses.
What needs improvement?
The bigger area for improvement for LAMP Stack CentOS is overall ecosystem lifecycle predictability. Since CentOS pivoted to the CentOS Stream rolling model, it serves as a midstream delivery platform rather than a static downstream clone. This makes it trickier to use for hyper-conservative production web stacks that cannot risk upstream package updates occasionally shifting beneath them.
The documentation for LAMP Stack CentOS can be improved. The technical details are sometimes missing and technical errors sometimes lack any documented details. The default native app stream repositories often include older or hyper-conservative versions of PHP. To get modern, performant PHP versions such as 8.2 or 8.3 for LAMP Stack CentOS, you almost always have to rely on third-party repositories such as Remi or EPEL. It would be much better if newer or fully supported PHP versions were more aggressively maintained in the core stream.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have managed, migrated, and maintained LAMP Stack CentOS environments on CentOS variants, including the legacy CentOS 7, 8, and the newer CentOS Stream for over four to five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
By combining the stability of the CentOS base with the tuned MariaDB instance in our experience with LAMP Stack CentOS, we were able to migrate a client away from an unoptimized legacy hosting setup and achieve a massive boost in their internal application stability. The server experienced virtually zero random OS-level crashes, which translates directly to higher operational uptime and fewer emergency weekend and support tickets for our team.
What other advice do I have?
I always immediately configure and tune the SELinux, which is Security-Enhanced Linux, policies in relation to my main use case with LAMP Stack CentOS. Out of the box, SELinux will block Apache HTTPD from making network connections or writing to specific directories. Instead of completely disabling it, which is a major security flaw, we explicitly write policies such as `setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect_db` to allow secure communication with the database while keeping the OS fully hardened.
I chose a rating of eight out of ten for LAMP Stack CentOS because while the underlying technology and security and Apache/MariaDB components are phenomenal, the recent structural shifts to CentOS Stream require the DevOps team to put in extra effort to manage pipeline stability compared to the past.
The advice I would give to others looking into using LAMP Stack CentOS would be to be more careful about the security and to be more careful about the pricing model because there are enterprise versions that are available for free on AWS, and there are some marketplace offerings that you have to buy. Keep an eye on the pricing models. Configuration with respect to the best practices is the key point of using LAMP Stack CentOS.
Rapid website deployments have built client trust with fast staging and production switches
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for LAMP Stack CentOS is to install on servers and then deploy web applications, such as Django or Node.js or a website on WordPress.
A recent project where I used LAMP Stack CentOS was when we needed to deploy e-commerce stores, so we used LAMP Stack CentOS for that.
My main use cases for LAMP Stack CentOS are primarily for websites only, as I have only installed it for websites.
What is most valuable?
The best features that LAMP Stack CentOS offers include the inclusion of Apache, MySQL or MariaDB, and PHP, making it easy to install them with the YUM package manager on CentOS quickly. Installation takes around ten minutes, and then you can configure it.
A particular standout part of the process for me is that it is acceptable to do it bundled together, or you can also install every package individually, such as PHP, MySQL, and Apache. You can also install different versions if a different PHP version is required for a website.
For the features of LAMP Stack CentOS, I appreciate that we can set up a staging website.
Staging sites have helped my workflow by ensuring that everything is deployed correctly, as we can deploy it on a staging site with the use of the sites-available configuration in Apache. This helps significantly.
LAMP Stack CentOS has positively impacted my organization by helping to cater to client requests immediately because it does not require much time.
LAMP Stack CentOS builds client trust that we can get our projects live in no time and builds credibility for the organization. It has done this for my organizations in the past, as they believe that the engineers can deploy the website in minutes. They do not know what is behind the scenes, but we know it takes no time.
When I say LAMP Stack CentOS builds credibility and helps us deploy websites in minutes, a rough number on time saved includes a client wanting to see if their code is working after making changes to the previous website. We spun up the configuration with the sites-available folder on a subdomain, allowing us to show the client their staging site in minutes. With the configuration in sites-available and using Apache CTL config to enable the sites-available, they could see their staging site. The staging site was acceptable to them, so we just changed the configuration of Apache CTL to make the staging site production and the previous production site go down, which really built a strong relationship with the clients.
What needs improvement?
I believe LAMP Stack CentOS could be improved by focusing on security enforcement, which would be beneficial.
I would appreciate specific security improvements for LAMP Stack CentOS, such as enforcing some security modules like mod_ssl that we need to configure.
There are no other improvements needed for LAMP Stack CentOS that I have not mentioned.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS for around one year only, not longer than that.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The performance of LAMP Stack CentOS when handling high-traffic websites or demanding workloads might require us to set up some load balancing.
What other advice do I have?
My advice to others looking into using LAMP Stack CentOS is that they should be quite aware of the Apache CTL config and the sites-available httpd.conf config, because it is quite customizable, but they should have strong knowledge of that.
Regarding LAMP Stack CentOS's capabilities, I think the security is sound, but we need to enable modules and do the configurations. It provides tools and CLI tools to configure most of the things, so it is quite governable and beneficial.
In terms of LAMP Stack CentOS's capabilities, the accuracy and reliability of output are quite reliable, as all the config CTLs help to check the syntax. I am not certain if it uses AI, but the config CTL is very strong, and the syntax check is beneficial. If the code is correct, everything goes well.
I rate this product nine out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Reliable hosting stack has supported long-term PHP website and application development
What is our primary use case?
My main use case for LAMP Stack CentOS is hosting websites and different PHP-based applications. A specific example of an application I have hosted using LAMP Stack CentOS is WordPress and Laravel frameworks.
What is most valuable?
In my opinion, the best features LAMP Stack CentOS offers include a reliable and predictable solution for hosting PHP applications. The stability of the solutions and the CentOS and Red Hat release policy make it predictable for me, which ensures that I always have a tested and stable version in the official repositories.
LAMP Stack CentOS has impacted my organization positively as it was the main stack for the development and hosting of the developed solutions for some of the companies. This impacted my teams and business outcomes as the whole business was based on the ability to release PHP-based applications, so it is basically one of the core services for the business.
What needs improvement?
LAMP Stack CentOS can be improved by tracking the CVEs and releasing fixes as fast as possible. The release cycle of CentOS packages and Red Hat packages sometimes is a bit slow, so I do not always have the latest releases or I experience a delay for related releases, the same applies to CVE fixes.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using LAMP Stack CentOS throughout my career, so I have been using it for 10 years for sure.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
LAMP Stack CentOS has great reliability and documentation.
What other advice do I have?
I have not used the AI capabilities of LAMP Stack CentOS, so I cannot comment on its accuracy and reliability of output. My advice for others looking into using LAMP Stack CentOS is to feel free to use it if you have a lot of experience with Red Hat-based distributions and need a reliable solution for hosting PHP solutions without overwhelming issues with licensing or anything else, as it is a good reliable solution for a PM base. I gave this product a rating of 8.