Suricata is an open-source Intrusion Detection System (IDS) that provides powerful network monitoring capabilities. It can detect and alert on malicious traffic, making it a popular choice for securing servers, including VPS servers. In this guide, we’ll walk through how to install Suricata IDS on Ubuntu 24.04.
Step 1: Update Your System
Before installing Suricata, it’s important to update your Ubuntu 24.04 server. Run the following commands in your terminal to ensure all packages are up to date:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -yStep 2: Add the Suricata PPA Repository
Suricata is not included in Ubuntu’s default repositories, so you’ll need to add the Official Suricata PPA (Personal Package Archive) to your system:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:oisf/suricata-stableOnce the repository is added, update your package list:
sudo apt updateStep 3: Install Suricata
After adding the PPA repository, you can now install Suricata with the following command:
sudo apt install suricata -yThis will install Suricata along with its dependencies on your Ubuntu 24.04 server.
Step 4: Configure Suricata
Before starting Suricata, you need to configure it. The main configuration file is located at /etc/suricata/suricata.yaml. Open it for editing:
sudo nano /etc/suricata/suricata.yamlIn this file, you can set the network interface that Suricata will monitor. Look for the af-packet section and configure the network interface (e.g., eth0 or ens33) that your server uses to connect to the internet:
af-packet:
- interface: eth0
Save and exit the file when you’re done editing.
Step 5: Start Suricata
Now that Suricata is configured, you can start the service and enable it to run at boot:
sudo systemctl start suricata
sudo systemctl enable suricata
To verify that Suricata is running, use the following command:
sudo systemctl status suricataStep 6: Enable Suricata Logs
Suricata creates detailed logs of network activity. By default, logs are stored in the /var/log/suricata/ directory. To view live alerts, you can use the following command:
tail -f /var/log/suricata/fast.logThis will show you real-time logs of detected network activity and potential threats.
Running Suricata on a VPS Server
Suricata is ideal for securing your VPS server, especially when running web services, databases, or other critical applications. By monitoring network traffic in real-time, you can detect threats early and take action to protect your VPS from attacks.
Managing a VPS with Suricata
By installing Suricata on a VPS server, you add an extra layer of security. This is especially useful for securing cloud-hosted services and sensitive data. Suricata’s ability to detect intrusion attempts helps ensure your VPS stays protected against cyber threats.
Looking for a Reliable VPS for Security?
If you’re looking for a robust VPS server to run Suricata IDS, consider using WindowsVPS. With WindowsVPS, you get reliable performance and scalability, making it easy to secure your server and manage network traffic efficiently.