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A Guide to Enable Ports 80/443 on AlmaLinux with Firewalld
At the time of deploying a web application, hosting a site, or operating a GPU server dashboard, making sure that your server is easily available via HTTP (port 80) and HTTPS (port 443) is a must. If you are utilizing AlmaLinux, one of the most stable, RHEL-compatible Linux distributions, you will likely have to set up your firewall with the help of firewalld to allow organic web traffic.
In this knowledge base, we’ll cover information about how to open ports 80 and 443 on AlmaLinux via firewalld, along with some examples, server tips, and best practices. Even if you are handling a general LAMP server or a cutting-edge GPU server like all those provided by Infinitive Host, this article is engineered to help you protect and improve your AlmaLinux environment.
Why AlmaLinux?
AlmaLinux is a powerful, community-based Linux OS engineered as a downstream clone of RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux). It’s generally utilized in web hosting environments and enterprise-level solutions, consisting of GPU hosting, because of its stability and compatibility with essential packages.
Use Case: Any company deploying a GPU dedicated server for performing deep learning tasks (utilizing Nvidia A100) on AlmaLinux has found the operating system to be protected, trustworthy, and easy to handle, mainly for firewall setup using firewalld.
Prerequisites
Before opening all ports, make sure:
- You are simply logged into your AlmaLinux server with the help of SSH as a root user or a user with sudo privileges.
- Firewalld is properly installed and successfully activated.
- The web server (Apache, NGINX, & more) is already installed or all set to be installed.
Step 1: Check if Firewalld is Running on AlmaLinux
Run the below-mentioned command to check that firewalld is active:
sudo systemctl status firewalld
If it is not running properly, start and enable it:
sudo systemctl start firewalld
sudo systemctl enable firewalld
Pro Tip: Most of the GPU hosting service providers, like Infinitive Host, pre-configure basic firewall guidelines. But if you are utilizing a personalized GPU server, always check the firewall status manually.
Step 2: Open Ports 80 & 443 in AlmaLinux Using Firewalld
Open HTTP Port (80)
sudo firewall-cmd –permanent –add-service=http
Open HTTPS Port (443)
sudo firewall-cmd –permanent –add-service=https
Reload the Firewall to Implement Changes
sudo firewall-cmd –reload
Quick Check: Run the following command to verify all changes:
sudo firewall-cmd –list-all
You should now look at http and https under services.
Step 3: Optional: Open Ports Directly by Number (If Required)
At the time of opening, by service name is cleaner; you can easily open ports by using the commands below:
sudo firewall-cmd –permanent –add-port=80/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd –permanent –add-port=443/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd –reload
This method can be helpful for personalizing services running on general web ports.
Step 4: Check Your Server
Once all ports are properly open, check your web application or GPU dashboard from a browser:
- Go to http://your-server-ip for HTTP.
- Go to https://your-server-ip for HTTPS (make sure that SSL is installed).
For example, A GPU dedicated server hosting a Jupyter notebook on AlmaLinux needs port 443 to be quickly opened for protected access. Utilizing firewalld, the data science experts were able to expose the notebook securely via HTTPS.
Why Opening Ports 80/443 Is Necessary for a GPU Server
If you are running dashboards, web applications, or APIs on a GPU server, allowing HTTP/HTTPS traffic is vital for:
- Visualizing AI model outcomes with the help of web dashboards
- Using monitoring tools such as Grafana
- Serving ML/AI APIs (for example, FastAPI or Flask apps)
Case Insight: At Infinitive Host, customers utilizing Nvidia A100 GPU servers generally open port 443 for serving machine learning inference securely over REST APIs.
AlmaLinux Firewall Zones (Advanced Tips)
By default, firewalld utilizes the public zone. You can also check it or make a change in it if required.
Check Default Zone
sudo firewall-cmd –get-default-zone
To Mention a Zone at the Time of Adding a Port:
sudo firewall-cmd –zone=public –add-service=http –permanent
sudo firewall-cmd –zone=public –add-service=https –permanent
sudo firewall-cmd –reload
This is very useful when handling many network interfaces or layered security guidelines in GPU hosting environments.
Protect Your AlmaLinux Server Beyond Ports
Opening ports is the main part of the equation. For improved security:
- Utilize Let’s Encrypt SSL for HTTPS setup.
- Disable unutilized ports and services.
- Allow fail2ban or CSF (ConfigServer Security and Firewall).
- Constantly update plans (sudo dnf update).
Additional Note: Infinitive Host provides managed services for a GPU server along with AlmaLinux, consisting of automated firewall hardening and SSL provisioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can I use UFW instead of Firewalld on AlmaLinux?
Basically, Firewalld is the default on AlmaLinux OS and is completely integrated. While UFW can be easily installed, it’s best to stick with firewalld unless you have a particular use case.
- Do I need to restart the server after opening ports?
No. A firewalld reload is more than enough to implement all the changes.
- Is it safe to open ports 80 and 443?
Yes, as long as your web server is protected and constantly updated. HTTPS (port 443) is suggested for all types of production tasks.
Final Thoughts
Opening both ports 80 and 443 on AlmaLinux with the help of firewalld is a straightforward yet necessary step for serving web traffic safely. Even if you are deploying a basic-level site or running an ML inference engine on a GPU server, adequate firewall setup guarantees accessibility and security.
The advantages of AlmaLinux go far beyond compatibility and stability—it also provides scalability and enterprise-level security for advanced infrastructure. This makes it a perfect OS for hosting everything from general websites to a GPU server running AI-based tasks on the robust Nvidia A100.
For both organizations and developers opting for managed GPU hosting or customized GPU dedicated server environments, Infinitive Host offers improved AlmaLinux deployments with pre-configured security, 24/7 support, and flexibility.