Server Operating System

Any operating system (Linux, Windows, Mac, Android) flavor and version of your choice will work. We decided to go with CentOS for no specific reason.

1. You can download CentOS image of your choice from: https://www.centos.org/download/
2. Install CentOS. There are various places hosting CentOS install instructions one such place is https://www.tecmint.com/centos-7-installation/
3. Take a note of the userID and Password you created during CentOS installation. You will be needing and using it frequently.
4. Preparing OS for Messaging Interface and Automation Interface after installation:

Note: if your login doesn't have sudo privilleges you can google or check this out https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-create-a-sudo-user-on-centos-quickstart

By default CentOS firewall is running and enabled. You can check with following command in terminal window of CentOS

$sudo systemctl status firewalld

Open two ports 8080 for communication will be used by Automation Interface (OpenHab service) and 1883 will be used by Messaging Interface( mosquitto service) by default. In case you decide to use any other ports than default you need to repeat following steps for those ports also.

$sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http

$sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http

$sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=8080/tcp

$sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=1883/tcp

Doublecheck by following commands:

$sudo firewall-cmd --list-ports

$sudo firewall-cmd --list-service

5. > Next - Messaging Interface