How do I start Mongo DB from Windows?

Learn how do i start mongo db from windows? with practical examples, diagrams, and best practices. Covers mongodb, connection, windows-7-x64 development techniques with visual explanations.
Tags:
Categories:

How to Start MongoDB on Windows (64-bit)

MongoDB logo with a stylized database icon, representing database management on Windows.

A comprehensive guide to installing and running MongoDB Community Edition on Windows 7 (64-bit) and later versions, including setting up as a Windows Service.

Starting MongoDB on a Windows system, especially for development or testing purposes, is a common task. This article will guide you through the process of setting up and running MongoDB Community Edition on Windows 7 (64-bit) and newer versions. We'll cover everything from initial setup to running MongoDB as a background service, ensuring your database is always available when you need it.

Prerequisites and Installation

Before you can start MongoDB, you need to ensure it's properly installed and configured on your system. This involves downloading the correct version and setting up the necessary data and log directories.

1. Download MongoDB Community Edition

Visit the official MongoDB Download Center. Select the 'Community Server' tab, choose your Windows version (e.g., 64-bit), and download the MSI package. Run the installer and follow the prompts. It's recommended to perform a 'Custom' installation to specify the installation directory, typically C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\.

2. Create Data and Log Directories

MongoDB requires specific directories to store its data and log files. By default, it looks for \data\db and \data\log relative to the root of the drive. Create these directories, for example: C:\data\db and C:\data\log. You can choose different locations, but you'll need to specify them when starting mongod.

Adding the MongoDB bin directory to your system's PATH environment variable allows you to run mongod and mongo commands from any directory in the command prompt. The bin directory is usually located at C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\bin.

Starting MongoDB Manually

The simplest way to start MongoDB is by running the mongod.exe executable directly from the command prompt. This is useful for quick tests or when you want to see the server output directly.

C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\bin\mongod.exe --dbpath C:\data\db --logpath C:\data\log\mongod.log --install --serviceName MongoDB

Starting MongoDB with specified data and log paths

If you added MongoDB to your system PATH, you can simply run mongod --dbpath C:\data\db --logpath C:\data\log\mongod.log from any command prompt. The --dbpath argument specifies where MongoDB will store its data files, and --logpath specifies the log file location. If these directories don't exist, mongod will typically create them, but it's good practice to create them beforehand.

flowchart TD
    A[Open Command Prompt] --> B{Navigate to MongoDB bin or use PATH};
    B --> C[Execute mongod.exe with --dbpath and --logpath];
    C --> D{MongoDB Server Starts};
    D --> E[Check for "waiting for connections" in output];
    E --> F[Open New Command Prompt for Mongo Shell];
    F --> G[Type 'mongo' to connect];
    G --> H[MongoDB Ready];

Manual MongoDB Startup Process

Running MongoDB as a Windows Service

For production environments or continuous development, it's highly recommended to run MongoDB as a Windows Service. This ensures MongoDB starts automatically when your system boots up and runs in the background without needing an open command prompt.

1. Create a Configuration File

Create a configuration file (e.g., C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\mongod.cfg) to define MongoDB's settings. This file will be used when installing the service.

2. Install the MongoDB Service

Open an Administrator Command Prompt and use the mongod.exe command with the --install and --config options to install the service. The --serviceName option allows you to specify a custom name for the service.

3. Start the MongoDB Service

Once installed, you can start the service using the net start command or through the Windows Services Manager.

systemLog:
    destination: file
    path: C:\data\log\mongod.log
storage:
    dbPath: C:\data\db
# You can add more configurations here, e.g., port, bindIp

Example mongod.cfg configuration file

C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\bin\mongod.exe --config "C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\mongod.cfg" --install --serviceName MongoDB

net start MongoDB

Installing and starting MongoDB as a Windows Service

Verifying MongoDB Status

After starting MongoDB, whether manually or as a service, it's crucial to verify that it's running correctly and accepting connections.

mongo

Connecting to MongoDB using the mongo shell

If MongoDB is running, the mongo shell will connect to the default test database. You should see a prompt like >. If you encounter connection errors, check the mongod.log file for details.