How to Install Moodle on AlmaLinux 9

Moodle on AlmaLinux 9 – Scalable E-Learning on a Secure Enterprise Linux Foundation

Moodle (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a powerful, open-source learning management system (LMS) used by educational institutions, corporations, and training providers worldwide. When deployed on AlmaLinux 9, Moodle benefits from an enterprise-grade operating system that offers long-term support, binary compatibility with RHEL 9, and a hardened server environment suitable for production-grade e-learning platforms.

Why Use AlmaLinux 9 for Moodle?

AlmaLinux 9 is a natural fit for Moodle in enterprise and educational settings due to:

Binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 9, ensuring stability and supportability
Long-term support (until 2032), ideal for academic or training environments with multi-year plans
Linux Kernel 5.14, which supports modern hardware and virtualization
SELinux (enforcing) and system hardening tools to enhance LMS security
Systemd and DNF package management, streamlining service orchestration and dependency resolution
EPEL and Remi repositories, providing up-to-date PHP and database packages required by Moodle

These features make AlmaLinux 9 highly suitable for deploying secure, performant, and scalable Moodle environments.

Moodle Architecture on AlmaLinux 9

Moodle uses a traditional web application stack (LAMP or LEMP), which maps efficiently onto AlmaLinux 9:

Web Server: Apache HTTPD or NGINX, both available in AlmaLinux repositories
PHP Runtime: Moodle supports PHP 8.0–8.2; Remi repository provides compatible versions with extensions
Database Backend: PostgreSQL or MariaDB (recommended); Moodle requires transactional support
Moodle Application: PHP-based modular framework with theming, plugins, and API capabilities
File Storage: Local disk, NFS, or object storage (e.g., S3-compatible) for course materials and user uploads

Moodle’s modularity allows easy customization and expansion through hundreds of plugins for attendance, grading, analytics, and communication.

Key Features of Moodle on AlmaLinux 9

Feature	Description
Course Management	Creation and organization of classes, modules, assignments, quizzes
User Roles & Access	Fine-grained control over student, teacher, and admin permissions
Mobile-Friendly	Responsive UI and support for Moodle mobile app
Plugin Ecosystem	Extendable with over 1,700 community-contributed plugins
Scalable Deployment	Supports clustered deployments and external storage/database separation
Multilingual Support	100+ languages with built-in language packs
RESTful APIs & LTI	Integration with external systems like SIS, CRM, CMS, or external LMSs
Reporting and Logs	Built-in analytics, audit trails, and SCORM/xAPI tracking

Use Cases and Industry Applications

Moodle on AlmaLinux 9 is ideal for:

Universities and schools seeking a customizable, open-source LMS
Corporate training departments implementing employee upskilling platforms
Certification organizations needing secure exam and grading workflows
Non-profits and NGOs providing global education access at low cost
Government agencies delivering internal training and compliance programs

Moodle’s flexibility and extensive REST/webhook support also make it viable for integration into complex educational technology ecosystems.

Performance and Scalability

Moodle can be scaled vertically or horizontally, and AlmaLinux 9 supports key performance techniques:

Optimization Area	Details
Opcode Caching	Use PHP OPcache for faster script execution
Database Tuning	Optimize PostgreSQL/MariaDB buffer pool, slow query log, indexes
Object Caching	Integrate Redis or Memcached for session and application caching
Static File Offloading	Serve static files via NGINX or CDN
Load Balancing	Use HAProxy or NGINX in front of multiple Moodle web nodes

Rocky Linux 9’s predictable performance and compatibility with cloud-native tools allow Moodle to operate efficiently in both on-prem and hybrid deployments.

Security Considerations

AlmaLinux 9 provides a hardened base for Moodle, supporting:

Security Feature	Relevance to Moodle
SELinux	Enforces least-privilege access control for web and PHP services
HTTPS	Moodle requires TLS for login and API security
FirewallD	Control access to HTTP(S), DB, Redis, and SMTP ports
Fail2Ban	Protect against brute-force login attempts
Auditd / OpenSCAP	Monitor file/system changes, validate against compliance profiles
Secure PHP settings	`disable_functions`, `expose_php`, and `session.cookie_secure` hardening

With strong OS-level defenses, Moodle on AlmaLinux 9 can meet data protection requirements in education and healthcare sectors (e.g., FERPA, GDPR, HIPAA).

Comparison with Other LMS Platforms

Feature	Moodle	Canvas LMS	Blackboard	Google Classroom
Open-source	✅ Yes	Partially (core only)	❌ Proprietary	❌ Proprietary
Self-hostable	✅ Full control	✅ (Limited via Docker)	❌ Hosted only	❌ Hosted only
Plugin Ecosystem	1,700+	Limited	Limited	Very limited
SCORM/xAPI Compliance	✅ Full	❌ Partial	✅ Yes	❌ No
Mobile Support	✅ Native apps	✅	✅	✅
Enterprise Readiness	✅ Proven	✅ Growing	✅ Legacy dominant	❌ Classroom-focused

Moodle provides the greatest flexibility and ownership, especially for institutions that need control over data, features, and deployment models.

Running Moodle on AlmaLinux 9 delivers a secure, stable, and scalable learning management system well-suited for institutional and corporate learning. With RHEL compatibility, extended support, and integration flexibility, this stack enables complete control over content, performance, and privacy—while benefiting from a global open-source community and ecosystem.

Step 1: Set Up a Server Instance on Shape.Host

Before starting, you need a clean AlmaLinux 9 VPS. Shape.Host offers flexible cloud VPS hosting that is ideal for deploying educational platforms like Moodle.

Create a VPS:

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

Click “Create” from the dashboard.

Choose “Instance” as your resource type.

Select a server location (data center) near your audience (e.g., Germany, Netherlands, or USA).

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

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

Click “Create Instance” and wait for it to provision.

Copy the IP address from the Resources section.

Connect via SSH

On Linux/macOS:

ssh root@your_server_ip

On Windows (with PuTTY):

Download PuTTY.
Enter your instance’s IP in the Host Name field.
Use port 22, select SSH, then click Open and log in as root.

Step 2: Install Apache, MariaDB, PHP, and Required Extensions

1. Update system packages:

dnf update

2. Enable EPEL repository:

dnf install epel-release

3. Install required software:

dnf install httpd mariadb-server php php-mysqlnd php-gd php-xml php-mbstring php-intl \
php-soap php-zip php-json php-ctype php-curl php-opcache php-iconv php-fileinfo \
php-exif php-pdo php-tokenizer php-bcmath php-sodium php-pecl-apcu unzip wget git

4. Enable and start Apache and MariaDB:

systemctl enable --now httpd mariadb

Step 3: Configure Firewall

1. Start and enable the firewall:

systemctl unmask firewalld
systemctl enable firewalld
systemctl start firewalld

2. Open required ports:

firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=http
firewall-cmd --permanent --add-service=https
firewall-cmd --reload

Step 4: Configure the Database for Moodle

1. Secure MariaDB:

mysql_secure_installation

2. Log in to MariaDB:

mysql -u root -p

Inside MariaDB, create the database and user:

CREATE DATABASE moodle DEFAULT CHARACTER SET utf8mb4 COLLATE utf8mb4_unicode_ci;
CREATE USER moodleuser@localhost IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPassword';
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON moodle.* TO moodleuser@localhost;
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;
EXIT;

Step 5: Download and Set Up Moodle

1. Navigate to web root:

cd /var/www/

2. Clone the Moodle stable branch:

git clone -b MOODLE_403_STABLE git://git.moodle.org/moodle.git

3. Set permissions:

chown -R apache:apache moodle
chmod -R 755 moodle

4. Create Moodle data directory:

mkdir /var/www/moodledata
chown -R apache:apache /var/www/moodledata
chmod -R 755 /var/www/moodledata

Step 6: Create Apache Virtual Host

Create a config file for Moodle:

nano /etc/httpd/conf.d/moodle.conf

Paste the following:

<VirtualHost *:80>
    ServerAdmin admin@example.com
    DocumentRoot /var/www/moodle
    ServerName your-domain.com

    <Directory /var/www/moodle>
        Options Indexes FollowSymLinks MultiViews
        AllowOverride All
        Require all granted
    </Directory>

    ErrorLog /var/log/httpd/moodle_error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/moodle_access.log combined
</VirtualHost>

Step 7: Adjust PHP Settings

Edit the PHP configuration:

nano /etc/php.ini

Update these values as needed for Moodle (minimum requirement):

max_input_vars = 5000

Step 8: Restart Apache

systemctl restart httpd

Step 9: Complete Moodle Installation via Web Interface

Visit:

http://your-server-ip/

Then follow the web installer:

Sure! Here’s a complete and concise guide based on all your uploaded Moodle web installation screenshots:

Moodle Web Installation Guide

This guide walks you through the full Moodle web installer, from language selection to admin dashboard access.

1. Choose Installation Language

Select the default language for the installation and site interface.
➡️ Click Next

2. Confirm Paths

Web address: Auto-filled (can be adjusted if needed)
Moodle directory: Location of Moodle core files (e.g. /var/www/moodle)
Data directory: Must be writable and not web-accessible (e.g. /var/www/moodledata)
➡️ Click Next

3. Select Database Driver

Choose your database type. For MariaDB or MySQL, use:

MariaDB (native/mariadb)
➡️ Click Next

4. Database Settings

Fill in database connection details:

Host: localhost
Name: moodle
User: moodleuser
Password: your password
Optional: table prefix (mdl_)
➡️ Click Next

5. Accept License

Review the GNU GPL v3 license terms.
➡️ Click Continue

6. Server Environment Check

Moodle checks PHP version, extensions, and database.

✅ All requirements should be OK
⚠️ https warning is optional (you can fix later)
➡️ Click Continue

7. Install Plugins

Moodle installs core plugins, including authentication factors.

All should complete with Success
➡️ Click Continue

8. Create Admin Account

Set up the main administrator account:

Username, password, name, email, timezone, etc.
Password must be strong (uppercase, lowercase, digit, special character)
➡️ Click Update profile

9. Site Configuration

Fill in initial site details:

Site name & short name
Time zone & registration options
Support contact email
➡️ Click Save changes

10. Site Registration (Optional)

Choose whether to register with moodle.org:

Fill out name, language, email, and country
Agree to the privacy terms
➡️ Click Register your site or Skip

11. Registration Confirmation

You’ll see a message:

“Site registration confirmed.”
➡️ Click Continue

12. Admin Dashboard

Welcome to your Moodle dashboard!

View your calendar, timeline, and site navigation
Ready to create courses, manage users, and configure your platform

You’ve successfully installed Moodle on AlmaLinux 9, with Apache, MariaDB, and PHP. This setup provides a robust and scalable learning platform.

Deploy your e-learning solution confidently with Shape.Host Cloud VPS—performance-driven hosting built for education and enterprise.

Start now at https://shape.host.

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