Install MongoDB Community

MongoDB stores JSON documents (BSON), suited for Node.js APIs, analytics, or structured caches. On a HolyCloud Linux VPS running Ubuntu/Debian, installation uses the official MongoDB Inc. repository — this guide covers installation, minimal configuration, authentication, and firewall.

Prerequisites

• HolyCloud VPS Ubuntu 22.04/24.04 (guide tested on Ubuntu; Debian requires the matching repository)
• At least 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended in production)
• sudo access
• HolyCloud snapshot before exposing port 27017
• WiredTiger is the default engine (included)

Tip: Bind mongod to 127.0.0.1 unless you explicitly need remote access filtered by IP.

Step 1: Dependencies and GPG key

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y gnupg curl ca-certificates

Import MongoDB 7.0 key (check MongoDB documentation for the current version):

curl -fsSL https://pgp.mongodb.com/server-7.0.asc | \
  sudo gpg -o /usr/share/keyrings/mongodb-server-7.0.gpg --dearmor

Step 2: APT repository

Ubuntu 22.04 (jammy):

echo "deb [ signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/mongodb-server-7.0.gpg ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu jammy/mongodb-org/7.0 multiverse" | \
  sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-7.0.list

Ubuntu 24.04 (noble) — replace jammy with noble if the 7.0 repository supports it; otherwise use the series documented for your version.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y mongodb-org

Installed packages:

dpkg -l | grep mongodb-org

Step 3: Start and service

sudo systemctl enable --now mongod
sudo systemctl status mongod

Log file:

sudo tail -30 /var/log/mongodb/mongod.log

Step 4: Basic configuration

sudo cp /etc/mongod.conf /etc/mongod.conf.bak.$(date +%F)
sudo nano /etc/mongod.conf

Recommended excerpt for a web/API VPS:

storage:
  dbPath: /var/lib/mongodb
systemLog:
  destination: file
  logAppend: true
  path: /var/log/mongodb/mongod.log
net:
  port: 27017
  bindIp: 127.0.0.1
processManagement:
  timeZoneInfo: /usr/share/zoneinfo

sudo systemctl restart mongod
sudo ss -tlnp | grep 27017

Step 5: Enable authentication

Local connection without auth (first time):

mongosh

In mongosh:

db.getSiblingDB('admin').createUser({
  user: 'adminMongo',
  pwd: 'MotDePasseFortIci!',
  roles: [ { role: 'root', db: 'admin' } ]
})
db.getSiblingDB('monapp').createUser({
  user: 'appUser',
  pwd: 'MotDePasseAppIci!',
  roles: [ { role: 'readWrite', db: 'monapp' } ]
})
exit

Enable security in /etc/mongod.conf:

security:
  authorization: enabled

sudo systemctl restart mongod
mongosh -u adminMongo -p --authenticationDatabase admin

Step 6: Firewall and remote access (optional)

By default, do not open 27017 to the Internet. If a remote app must connect:

sudo ufw allow from IP_APP_AUTORISEE to any port 27017 proto tcp

In mongod.conf, add the VPS local IP or 0.0.0.0 only with a strict firewall:

net:
  bindIp: 127.0.0.1,10.0.0.2

Step 7: Logical backup

mongodump --uri="mongodb://appUser:[email protected]:27017/monapp" --out=/var/backups/mongo-$(date +%F)
tar -czf /var/backups/mongo-$(date +%F).tar.gz /var/backups/mongo-$(date +%F)

Test restore:

mongorestore --uri="mongodb://appUser:[email protected]:27017" --drop /var/backups/mongo-$(date +%F)/monapp

Verification

systemctl is-active mongod
mongosh --eval 'db.runCommand({ connectionStatus: 1 })' -u appUser -p --authenticationDatabase monapp
sudo ss -tlnp | grep 27017

bindIp must reflect your policy (often 127.0.0.1 only).

HolyCloud support

• apt cannot find the package: wrong Ubuntu series in the .list file
• mongod crashes on start: dbPath permissions, disk space df -h, log /var/log/mongodb/mongod.log
• Auth failed: user created before authorization: enabled — recreate via localhost
• HolyCloud support: mongod --version, log excerpt, RAM free -h