How to Install HashiCorp Vault: A Step-by-Step Guide

HashiCorp Vault is an open-source tool designed to securely store and access secrets such as API keys, passwords, and certificates. Installing Vault helps in centralizing and safeguarding sensitive information across systems. This tutorial will provide a comprehensive step-by-step guide to installing HashiCorp Vault on your server.

Prerequisites

• A server with a Linux-based operating system, preferably Ubuntu.
• Basic command-line knowledge.
• Sudo or root access to the server.
• An internet connection to download necessary installation files.

Step 1: Update System Packages

Before installing Vault, ensure your system packages are up-to-date. Execute the following command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

Step 2: Download and Install Vault

Visit the official HashiCorp Vault (Official site) page to find the latest release version. Alternatively, use the command below to download it directly:

wget https://releases.hashicorp.com/vault/[version]/vault_[version]_linux_amd64.zip

Replace [version] with the specific version number you wish to install. After downloading, unzip the files:

unzip vault_[version]_linux_amd64.zip

Move the Vault binary to the /usr/local/bin directory:

sudo mv vault /usr/local/bin/

Step 3: Verify Installation

Verify that Vault is installed correctly by checking its version:

vault -v

This command should display the currently installed version of Vault.

Step 4: Configure Vault Server

Create a configuration directory for Vault to store configuration files:

sudo mkdir /etc/vault.d

Create a basic configuration file using a text editor:

sudo nano /etc/vault.d/vault.hcl

In this file, add the following basic configuration:

backend "file" {
  path = "/var/lib/vault/data"
}

listener "tcp" {
  address     = "127.0.0.1:8200"
  tls_disable = 1
}

Step 5: Start Vault Server

Add a systemd service file to manage the Vault process:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/vault.service

Add the following service configuration:

[Unit]
Description="HashiCorp Vault - A tool for managing secrets"
Documentation=https://www.vaultproject.io/docs/

[Service]
Environment=VAULT_ADDR=http://127.0.0.1:8200
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/vault server -config=/etc/vault.d/vault.hcl
ExecReload=/bin/kill --signal HUP $MAINPID
KillMode=process
Restart=on-failure

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Enable and start the Vault service:

sudo systemctl enable vault
sudo systemctl start vault

Troubleshooting

• Ensure no other service is using the default 8200 port.
• Check Vault logs for error messages: journalctl -u vault.service
• Ensure the Vault binary has execution permissions.

Summary Checklist

• Update system packages.
• Download and unzip Vault binaries.
• Move the binary to /usr/local/bin.
• Create and edit a configuration file.
• Set up Vault as a systemd service.
• Enable and start the Vault service.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured HashiCorp Vault on your server. You can explore more features and configurations by referring to the official documentation.

For more guides on managing infrastructure and security tools, check out our comprehensive guide on Creating Terraform Configurations with Ease.