How to Install Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9

What is Jenkins?

Jenkins is a widely used open-source automation server that supports continuous integration (CI) and continuous delivery (CD) workflows. It automates tasks like building, testing, and deploying applications, allowing development teams to streamline their software delivery pipelines.

Jenkins is written in Java and supports over 1,800 plugins to integrate with various tools across the software development lifecycle.

Why Use Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9?

Rocky Linux 9 is a stable, RHEL-compatible operating system that serves as a robust and secure foundation for enterprise infrastructure. It is particularly suitable for CI/CD servers like Jenkins because of its long-term support and compatibility with DevOps tools.

Key benefits of Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9:

Enterprise-grade stability and binary compatibility with RHEL 9
Native systemd support for service control
Compatible with OpenJDK 17+, required by newer Jenkins versions
Seamless integration with dnf, SELinux, firewalld, and Cockpit
Supported by the official Jenkins YUM repository for easy upgrades and maintenance

Main Features of Jenkins

Feature	Description
Pipeline Automation	Create build, test, and deploy pipelines using the Jenkinsfile (Groovy)
Extensible Plugin System	1,800+ plugins for version control, testing, notification, and deployment
Web Dashboard	Full-featured web UI for job management, logs, and configuration
Distributed Builds	Run jobs on multiple agents across different environments
Source Control Support	Git, GitHub, GitLab, Bitbucket, Subversion
Security Integration	LDAP, OAuth, SAML, and local authentication with fine-grained access control

Common Use Cases

Automating code builds, static analysis, and unit testing
Triggering deployments to test, staging, or production environments
Integrating with container tools (Docker, Podman) and Kubernetes clusters
Running infrastructure-as-code jobs with Ansible, Terraform, or Packer
Managing CI/CD for microservices, monoliths, or hybrid systems

Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9: System Integration

Java Runtime: Jenkins requires Java 17 or newer, available via EPEL/Remi or Adoptium
Systemd Service: Jenkins runs as a system service (jenkins.service) managed via systemctl
Default Port: Web interface is accessible on port 8080
Data Directory: Jenkins stores data, configs, and job history in /var/lib/jenkins
Log Files: Logs are typically stored in /var/log/jenkins/ for debugging and auditing

Security Best Practices

Use HTTPS via reverse proxy (e.g., Apache or Nginx) or native TLS support
Configure role-based access control (RBAC) using the Matrix Authorization plugin
Enable firewalld to allow only necessary ports
Integrate with enterprise identity providers via LDAP or OAuth2
Disable anonymous access and enforce credential rotation policies
Set up SELinux in enforcing mode and apply correct file contexts for Jenkins directories

Performance Optimization Tips

Use SSD storage for Jenkins data to reduce build latency
Run Jenkins agents on separate hosts to distribute workloads
Configure parallel stages in declarative pipelines for efficiency
Tune Java heap size if handling large projects or frequent builds
Offload logs and artifacts to cloud or NAS for better performance and backup

Deploying Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9 offers a powerful combination of enterprise-grade automation and operating system stability. It is an ideal setup for organizations that need secure, maintainable, and long-term CI/CD infrastructure.

Whether you’re managing small projects or orchestrating hundreds of pipelines across teams, Jenkins on Rocky Linux 9 provides the flexibility, integration, and performance needed for modern DevOps environments.

Step 1: Deploy a Rocky Linux 9 Server on Shape.Host

Before installation, you’ll need a clean server:

Go to https://shape.host and log in.

Click “Create”, then choose “Instance”.

Pick your preferred data center.

Shape.host instance form with the data center location selector highlighted.

Choose Rocky Linux 9 (64-bit) as the operating system.

Select a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.

Shape.host instance form with the operating system image selector highlighted.

Click “Create Instance”.

Shape.host instance form with the Create Instance button highlighted.

After deployment, find your server’s IP address under the Resources section.

Shape.host Resources dashboard with the server IP address highlighted.

Step 2: Connect to Your Server

From Linux/macOS:

ssh root@your_server_ip

On Windows, connect using PuTTY.

Step 3: Update Your System

dnf update

This ensures all packages are up to date.

Terminal showing DNF/YUM package management commands and output.

Step 4: Install Java (OpenJDK 17)

dnf install java-17-openjdk

Jenkins requires Java. This installs version 17, which is supported by Jenkins.

Check the installed version:

java -version

Terminal showing java commands or output during Install Java (OpenJDK 17).

Step 5: Add Jenkins Repository and GPG Key

Download and store the Jenkins repository key:

curl -fsSL https://pkg.jenkins.io/redhat-stable/jenkins.io-2023.key | tee /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-jenkins.io > /dev/null

Create the Jenkins YUM repo file:

cat <<EOF > /etc/yum.repos.d/jenkins.repo
[jenkins]
name=Jenkins-stable
baseurl=https://pkg.jenkins.io/redhat-stable
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-jenkins.io
EOF

name=Jenkins-stable baseurl=https://pkg.jenkins.io/redhat-stable gpgcheck=1 gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-jenkins.io EOF

Terminal showing curl commands or output during Add Jenkins Repository and GPG Key.

Step 6: Install Jenkins

dnf install jenkins

Step 7: Start and Enable Jenkins Service

systemctl enable --now jenkins

This starts Jenkins and sets it to launch at boot.

Check its status:

systemctl status jenkins

You should see active (running).

Terminal showing systemd service management commands or output.

Step 8: Install and Configure Firewall (UFW)

Unmask and install UFW:

dnf install ufw
systemctl enable --now ufw

Allow traffic for Jenkins and SSH:

ufw allow 8080
ufw allow 22/tcp

Enable UFW and check the status:

ufw enable
ufw status

Step 9: Retrieve Jenkins Admin Password

To complete the web setup, copy the admin password from this file:

cat /var/lib/jenkins/secrets/initialAdminPassword

Terminal showing cat commands or output during Retrieve Jenkins Admin Password.

Step 10: Access Jenkins Web UI

Open a browser and go to:

http://your-server-ip:8080

Paste the admin password, install suggested plugins, and finish the setup.

Jenkins initial unlock screen requesting the administrator password.

Install suggested plugins

Jenkins Getting Started screen showing plugin installation progress.

Create admin user

Jenkins setup form for creating the first administrator.

Confirm Jenkins URL

Proceed to the dashboard

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Start your Jenkins deployment now at https://shape.host