MongoDB Overview

MongoDB is a document-oriented database built using C++ that provides scalable, high-performance storage for web applications. It represents data in BSON format (binary JSON), which allows for flexible data structures and supports complex data types.

Unlike traditional relational databases, MongoDB offers a flexible schema approach while providing a powerful query language similar to relational database SQL operations.

Key Features

• Document-based storage: Data is stored as documents in BSON format, allowing flexible schemas
• Indexing support: Create indexes on any field for faster query performance
• Horizontal scaling: Supports sharding to distribute data across multiple nodes
• Rich query language: JSON-style query expressions support embedded objects and arrays
• MapReduce: Built-in support for batch processing and data aggregation
• GridFS: Native solution for storing large files
• Server-side scripting: Execute JavaScript functions directly on the server
• Multi-language support: Compatible with Ruby, Python, Java, C++, PHP, C#, and more

Installation Steps

MongoDB runs on both Windows and Linux systems. The general installation process includes:

1. Downloading the appropriate installasion package
2. Extracting files to a custom directory
3. Creating a data directory for database storage
4. Configuring environment variables (optional but recommended)
5. Starting the database server

Windows Installation

Step 1: Download

Obtain the Windows installer from the official MongoDB download center. Choose the version compatible with your Windows edition (Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit and later recommended).

Step 2: Installation

Run the installer with default settings, or select "Custom" to specify your installation directory.

Create a data directory for MongoDB to store data base files. This directory must be created manually after installation. Place it at the root of a drive:

mkdir D:\mongodb_data\db

Step 3: Environment Variables

Add the MongoDB bin directory to your system PATH:

1. Right-click My Computer → Properties → Advenced System Settings → Environment Variables
2. Edit the Path variable in System variables
3. Add the bin path (e.g., D:\MongoDB\bin)

Step 4: Starting MongoDB

Start the database server using the mongod command:

mongod --dbpath D:\mongodb_data\db

Upon successful startup, you should see:

waiting for connections on port 27017

Verify the server is running by accessing http://localhost:27017/ in your browser. The response should indicate MongoDB is running on the native driver port.

Linux Installation

Step 1: Download

Download the Linux tarball from the official MongoDB website:

wget https://fastdl.mongodb.org/linux/mongodb-linux-x86_64-amazon-3.4.4.tgz

Step 2: Extract and Setup

Extract the downloaded archive and move it to your preferred location:

tar -zxvf mongodb-linux-x86_64-3.4.4.tgz
mv mongodb-linux-x86_64-3.4.4 ~/mongodb

Create the data directory at the root level (default location MongoDB expects):

sudo mkdir -p /data/db

Step 3: Environment Configuration

Add MongoDB binaries to your PATH by editing ~/.bashrc:

export PATH=~/mongodb/bin:$PATH

Apply the changes:

source ~/.bashrc

Step 4: Starting MongoDB

Launch the MongoDB server:

./mongod

The server will use /data/db as the default data directory. To specify a custom path:

./mongod --dbpath /custom/path/to/data

Successful startup displays:

waiting for connections on port 27017

Connecting to MongoDB

Open a new terminal and launch the MongoDB shell:

./mongo

Test basic operations:

> 2 + 4
6
> db.users.insert({"name": "john", "country": "USA"})
WriteResult({ "nInserted" : 1 })
> db.users.insert({"name": "alice", "age": 25})
WriteResult({ "nInserted" : 1 })
> db.users.find()
{ "_id" : ObjectId("5912821b01ac84a44d1b59d4"), "name" : "john", "country" : "USA" }
{ "_id" : ObjectId("591270a7c9d90290d6e4dd41"), "name" : "alice", "age" : 25 }

Remote connections work similarly—access the server by navigating to http://<server-ip>:27017/ from any machine.