What is MongoDB?
MongoDB is a high-performance, open-source NoSQL database that stores data in JSON-like documents (BSON format). It is designed for modern applications requiring scalability, flexibility, and fast read/write performance. MongoDB supports ad hoc queries, indexing, aggregation, and replication out of the box, making it a preferred choice for cloud-native, real-time, and distributed applications.
MongoDB 8, the latest major release (2024), introduces enhanced performance, operational tooling, and developer-focused features. Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (Noble Numbat) provides a reliable, up-to-date environment for deploying MongoDB 8 in production or development setups.
New Features in MongoDB 8
Enhanced Query Engine
- Improved aggregation pipeline performance
- Support for faster
$lookupand$mergeoperations - Optimization for multi-index and compound queries
Improved Sharding and Replication
- Faster chunk migration and rebalancing
- Lower latency in replica set elections
- Better visibility and metrics in sharded cluster diagnostics
Time Series Improvements
- Expanded time series support with improved compression
- Native support for rollups, gap filling, and interpolation
Vector Search Support
- Built-in support for AI-powered applications with vector indexing and similarity search
- Optimized for machine learning workloads (new in MongoDB 8)
Serverless-Oriented Enhancements
- More granular control over resource limits and quotas
- Extended support for multi-tenant workloads
Security and Compliance
- Stronger defaults for TLS, SCRAM-SHA-256, and auditing
- Extended role-based access control (RBAC) features
- Integration-ready with LDAP, Kerberos, and external key management systems (KMS)
Why Use MongoDB 8 on Ubuntu 24.04?
Ubuntu 24.04 is ideal for MongoDB 8 deployments due to:
- Long-Term Support (LTS) until 2029
- Updated system libraries and kernel for better file system and I/O performance
- Native support for systemd, AppArmor, and modern init systems
- Excellent Docker and Kubernetes compatibility
- Easy access to official MongoDB APT repositories
System Requirements
| Component | Minimum Recommended |
|---|---|
| OS | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (64-bit) |
| CPU | 2+ cores |
| RAM | 2 GB minimum (4+ GB recommended) |
| Disk | SSD preferred; disk I/O affects performance |
| File System | ext4, XFS, or ZFS |
| Architecture | x86_64 or ARM64 |
| Dependencies | libssl, curl, gnupg, libc6, etc. |
MongoDB 8 no longer supports 32-bit platforms.
Deployment Options
- Standalone Instance: For local testing or single-node apps
- Replica Set: High availability with automatic failover
- Sharded Cluster: Horizontal scalability for large datasets
- Docker Containers: Fast deployment and easy migration
- Kubernetes: Managed with MongoDB Kubernetes Operator or Helm charts
- Cloud Integration: Seamless with MongoDB Atlas, AWS, GCP, and Azure
Popular Use Cases
- E-commerce platforms with complex catalog structures
- Real-time analytics dashboards
- IoT and telemetry data ingestion (with time-series collections)
- Content management systems (CMS)
- AI/ML applications needing vector search
- Gaming apps with dynamic user profiles
- Mobile backend and synchronization services
MongoDB 8 vs Other NoSQL Databases
| Feature | MongoDB 8 | Cassandra | Redis | Couchbase | Elasticsearch |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data Model | Document (BSON) | Wide-column | Key-value, in-memory | Document (JSON) | Document (JSON) |
| Indexing | Rich, compound, TTL | Basic, secondary only | Limited (via modules) | Rich, built-in FTS | Full-text, geo, etc. |
| Scalability | Horizontal (sharding) | Horizontal (token ring) | Manual clustering | Horizontal | Horizontal |
| Vector Search Support | Yes (new) | No | No | Limited | Yes |
| Time Series Support | Yes (optimized) | Yes | No | Limited | Yes |
| ACID Transactions | Yes (multi-doc) | Limited | No | Yes | No |
| Best Use Case | General-purpose apps | Distributed write-heavy | Caching, ephemeral data | Session store, mobile | Search, analytics |
Security Best Practices
- Enable TLS/SSL with certificates for client-server encryption
- Use SCRAM-SHA-256 or LDAP for authentication
- Set strong RBAC roles with least privilege
- Enable auditing for tracking database operations
- Run MongoDB with a non-root user and restrict access with firewall/UFW
Monitoring and Management Tools
- mongostat / mongotop: Basic performance metrics
- MongoDB Compass: GUI for querying and schema exploration
- Ops Manager or Atlas UI: For cloud-native management
- Prometheus + Grafana: For custom monitoring dashboards
- logrotate + journald: For log management on Ubuntu
MongoDB 8 on Ubuntu 24.04 delivers a robust, modern database solution for developers and enterprises building high-performance, cloud-native, and AI-enabled applications. With improvements in vector search, time-series data, and query optimizations, MongoDB 8 is well-positioned to power the next generation of real-time, scalable systems.
Ubuntu 24.04’s stability, long-term support, and compatibility with containers, cloud platforms, and security best practices make it an ideal foundation for running MongoDB in both development and production.
Step 1: Create a Cloud VPS on Shape.Host
Go to https://shape.host and log in.
Click the Create button.
Select Instance as the server type.
Choose a server location close to your users.
Select Ubuntu 24.04 (64-bit) as the operating system.
Pick a plan with at least 2 CPUs, 4 GB RAM, and 20 GB SSD.
Click Create Instance to deploy.
Once it’s ready, find your instance IP in the Resources tab.
Step 2: Connect to Your Server
Linux/macOS:
Open a terminal and run:
ssh root@your_server_ip
Windows:
Use PuTTY, enter your server IP, and connect as root.
Step 3: Update System Packages
apt update && apt upgrade -y
Refreshes package lists and updates all installed packages to the latest versions.
Step 4: Install Required Dependencies
apt install curl apt-transport-https gnupg
These tools are needed to securely add the MongoDB repository to your system.
Step 5: Add the MongoDB GPG Key
curl -fsSL https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-8.0.asc | gpg -o /usr/share/keyrings/mongodb-server-8.0.gpg --dearmor
Adds the official MongoDB 8 GPG key so that Ubuntu trusts the packages.
Step 6: Add the MongoDB Repository
echo "deb [ arch=amd64,arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/mongodb-server-8.0.gpg ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu noble/mongodb-org/8.0 multiverse" | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-8.0.list
Registers the MongoDB repository for Ubuntu 24.04 (Noble).
Step 7: Update Package List Again
apt-get update
Includes the MongoDB repository in your system’s package list.
Step 8: Install MongoDB 8
apt-get install mongodb-org
Installs the latest stable version of MongoDB 8 and all related services.
Step 9: Start the MongoDB Service
systemctl start mongod
Starts the MongoDB server.
Step 10: Enable MongoDB at Boot
systemctl enable mongod
Ensures MongoDB starts automatically whenever the system boots.
Step 11: Check MongoDB Status
systemctl status mongod
Shows whether MongoDB is active and running.
Step 12: Stop or Restart MongoDB (Optional)
You can stop MongoDB with:
systemctl stop mongod
Or restart it with:
systemctl restart mongod
Another way to stop the service:
service mongod stop
Step 13: Uninstall MongoDB (Optional Cleanup)
If you want to remove MongoDB completely:
apt-get purge mongodb-org*
rm -r /var/log/mongodb
rm -r /var/lib/mongodb
This removes MongoDB packages and deletes logs and database files.
You installed and started MongoDB 8 on Ubuntu 24.04, with the ability to manage the service and even remove it cleanly if needed.
This installation was tested and works perfectly on a Shape.Host Cloud VPS. You get:
- Instant server creation
- Full root access
- Secure, high-speed infrastructure
Learn more at https://shape.host