Mongo shell on windows

MongoDB is a document-oriented database created by MongoDB Inc. to provide software database services. It is classified as a NoSQL database due to its document-oriented nature. Meanwhile, MongoDB documents are represented in a JSON-like structure.

It provides high scalability because of its ability to be updated on the fly without causing downtimes. MongoDB provides shell interactions via tools like Mongo and mongosh. MongoDB shell or mongosh is a superset of mongo, providing improved syntax highlighting, command history, and improved logging. Mongosh works typically like mongo, so a user doesn’t have to learn new syntax.

In this article, you will get to know how to start the MongoDB server and Windows MongoDB Shell Installation in 3 easy steps.

What is MongoDB?

MongoDB is a well-known open-source NoSQL database built on the C++ programming language. MongoDB is a document-oriented database that uses JSON-like documents and a Dynamic Schema to store information. It means that while saving your data, you won’t have to worry about the Data Structure, the number of fields, or the types of fields used to store values. JSON objects are identical to MongoDB Documents.

You can change the structure of records by simply adding new fields or deleting existing ones (which MongoDB refers to as Documents). This functionality can be used to describe Hierarchical Relationships, Store Arrays, and other more sophisticated Data Structures in MongoDB. MongoDB is being utilized to store enormous volumes of data by a number of digital companies, including Facebook, eBay, Adobe, and Google.

Key Features of MongoDB

In comparison to other traditional databases, MongoDB has a number of unique features that make it a superior choice. The following are some of these attributes:

• Index-based Document: In a MongoDB database, every field in the Document is indexed with Primary and Secondary Indices, making it easier to get data from the pool.
• Horizontal Scalability: It is possible with MongoDB’s sharding. The practice of distributing data over numerous servers is known as sharding. The Shard Key is used to partition a huge quantity of data into data chunks, which are then uniformly dispersed among Shards that span several Physical Servers.
• Schema-Less Database: This type of Database stores many sorts of documents in a single collection (the equivalent of a table). To put it another way, a single collection in the MongoDB database can hold numerous documents, each having its own set of Fields, Content, and Size. It is not required that one document be comparable to another, as is the case with Relational Databases. MongoDB provides a lot of freedom to consumers because of this capability.
• Replication: MongoDB provides high availability of data by generating several copies of the data and sending these copies to a separate Server, allowing the data to be retrieved even if one server fails

MongoDB Interface

Картинка с сайта: hevodata.com

Image Source

When you first start using MongoDB, you’ll notice how user-friendly the interface is, especially if you’re coming from a background in SQL. Instead of dealing with rigid tables, you get to work with flexible, JSON-like documents that make organizing and querying data feel intuitive. You can use tools like MongoDB Compass for a visual approach, or stick to the command line if you’re more comfortable there. Either way, you’ll find it pretty easy to dive in and start building.

Installing MongoDB

To start with, to install Windows MongoDB Shell, you need to have MongoDB installed in the first place. If you don’t already have MongoDB installed on your computer, the first section will put you through it just before moving on to the installation of the MongoDB shell. You can skip this section if you have already installed MongoDB on your system.

Before installing MongoDB, it is important to know that there are two editions: the Community Edition and the Enterprise Edition. The major difference between the Community edition(regular enough for developers) and the Enterprise edition is that it provides advanced security options(e.g, LDAP, auditing, log redaction), additional storage engines, real-time server stats, document validation, MongoDB connector for BI, schema analysis, and many more. 

Step 1: Download The Installer

• Go to the download page at https://www.mongodb.com/try/download/community
• Choose your OS and your desired MongoDB version.
• Click Download.

Step 2: Run the MongoDB Installer(a .msi file)

• Go to your ‘Downloads’ folder.
• Click on the installer.
• Follow the instructions.

After completing the installation process, you will find the MongoDB software in your C drive. To view it, go to 

C: Program FilesMongoDBServer{version}bin. 

However, you would notice the presence of any executable alongside mongo-mongod. Mongod is a daemon process that runs in the background. It handles database processes like accessing, retrieval, and updates.

If you try using MongoDB right away, you might have to specify a directory structure every time you need to use it. To avoid this, you need to specify an environment variable for MongoDB, which leads us to step 3. 

Step 3: Specify An Environment Variable

• Go to your system settings or type “Advanced system settings” in the search bar.
• Click ‘Environment Variables’ under ‘Advanced’.
• Click ‘New’ to create an environment variable.
• Select the ‘Path’ variable and click on ‘Edit’.
• Change the environment variable to  

C: Program FilesMongoDBServer{version}bin. Where version is the MongoDB version you downloaded.

• Click Save.

If you run the mongod command now, you would get a log error when the mongod service doesn’t find a data directory.

Step 4: Configure a Data Directory For All MongoDB Files

To configure a data directory for MongoDB, create a directory called ‘MongoDBFiles’ with subdirectories ‘/data/db’. You can do this manually or by typing the command below in the terminal.

> mkdir -p MongoDBFiles/data/db

Make sure you are in the C:/ directory before doing this.

After doing that, type mongodb –dbpath “C:/MongoDBFiles/data/db”.

This command will set the directory to store all MongoDB operations on your computer.

Step 5: Run mongo

Now that you’ve configured MongoDB, run ‘mongod’ in the terminal to confirm if it works. The server should be on port 27017(MongoDB’s default port), which you can connect to. However, to connect and use MongoDB, you have to run the mongod server first.

Step 6: Test Your Installation

To confirm your installation, run ‘mongo’ in the terminal. You should see a command shell similar to the command prompt that allows you to enter commands. Type ‘show dbs’ to see the list of existing databases.

Windows MongoDB Shell Installation

As said earlier, Mongosh works like the typical mongo predecessor, but it requires a MongoDB shell of version 4.0 or higher. Over to the Windows MongoDB Shell installation steps.

Step 1: Download the Mongosh Installer

• To begin the Windows MongoDB Shell Install process, go to the download page at https://www.mongodb.com/try/download/shell.
• Choose your OS and your desired MongoDB version.
• Click Download.

Step 2: Run the MongoDB Installer(a .msi file)

• Go to your ‘Downloads’ folder.
• Click on the installer.
• Follow the instructions.

Step 3: Connect to A MongoDB Instance

This can be done in two distinct ways:

A) Locally

You can connect to a MongoDB instance locally by running the ‘mongosh’ command. The ‘mongosh’ command will connect to the default MongoDB port – 27017. This method is also equivalent to connecting with a connection string.

> mongosh "mongodb://localhost:27017"

If you need to connect to a specific database, you will have to add the name of the database to the path.

> mongosh "mongodb://localhost:27017/hevodb"

If the connection port can be changed, your MongoDB instance is not on the default. Another way to connect to a mongodb instance is with the command-line option —port.

> mongosh —-port 28089

B) Remote

This can also be done with a connection string and command-line options.

• With the connection string:
  • Example: mongosh “mongodb://mongodb0.example.com:29058”
  • If the remote host in this case is MongoDB Atlas, copy the URL to replace it.
• With command-line options:
  • Unlike the local connection, command-line options for remote connection require the –host option. 
  • Example: mongosh –host mongodb0.example.com –port 28015

You have successfully carried out the process of Windows MongoDB Shell installation.

Real-Life Use Cases of Windows MongoDB Shell

The Windows MongoDB Shell is a powerful tool for interacting with MongoDB databases. Here are some real-life use cases where it’s commonly used:

1. Database Administration: System administrators use the MongoDB shell to monitor and manage databases. Tasks like backing up data, checking system status, or adjusting user permissions are handled directly through the shell.
2. Data Migration: When moving data between different MongoDB instances or upgrading versions, the MongoDB shell is used to export, import, and manipulate data efficiently.
3. Quick Querying and Troubleshooting: Developers use the shell to run quick queries or perform data analysis. It’s also useful for troubleshooting issues by running diagnostic commands or examining logs.
4. Automation and Scripting: MongoDB shell scripts can be written to automate repetitive tasks, like data cleanup, backups, or batch processing, helping improve productivity and reduce manual errors.
5. Application Development: During application development, developers use the shell to test queries, view documents, and interact with the database to ensure the application is working as expected.

Conclusion

MongoDB is a NoSQL database, document-oriented to be exact. It allows you to update database schemas on the fly without performing migrations like SQL databases. This provides horizontal scaling and performance benefits. This article has shown you the Windows MongoDB Shell installation process for use. In case you want to transfer data into your desired Database/destination, then Hevo Data is the right choice for you! 

For a complete view of business performance, consolidating data from diverse sources like Marketing, Sales, and CRM is essential. Hevo Data simplifies this process by automating data integration, transformation, and loading to your preferred destination. Sign up for a 14-day free trial and experience the feature-rich Hevo suite firsthand. You can also have a look at the unbeatable pricing that will help you choose the right plan for your business needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

MongoDB Shell mongosh is the modern command-line interface for interacting with MongoDB databases. This guide walks you through installing mongosh on Mac, Ubuntu, CentOS, or Windows.

macOS#

Homebrew#

1. Install Homebrew (if not already installed):

   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Install MongoDB Shell:

   brew install mongosh

3. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version

Using Manual Download#

1. Download the MongoDB Shell package from the MongoDB Download Center

   • Select your macOS version
   • Choose «tgz» as the package format

2. Extract the downloaded archive:

   tar -zxvf mongosh-*-darwin-x64.tgz

3. Move the binary to a directory in your PATH:

   sudo cp mongosh-*-darwin-x64/bin/mongosh /usr/local/bin/

4. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version

Troubleshooting on macOS#

• If you see «command not found» after installation:

  export PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin

• For permission issues:

  sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/mongosh

Ubuntu#

apt#

1. Import MongoDB GPG key:

   wget -qO- https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-7.0.asc | sudo apt-key add -

   If that doesn’t work, try:

   wget -qO- https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-7.0.asc | sudo tee /etc/apt/trusted.gpg.d/mongodb.asc

2. Add MongoDB repository:

   echo "deb [ arch=amd64,arm64 ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs)/mongodb-org/7.0 multiverse" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-7.0.list

3. Update package index:

   sudo apt update

4. Install MongoDB Shell:

   sudo apt install -y mongodb-mongosh

5. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version

Manual Download#

1. Download the MongoDB Shell package:

   wget https://downloads.mongodb.com/compass/mongodb-mongosh_2.1.1_amd64.deb

   Note: Replace the version number with the latest available

2. Install the package:

   sudo dpkg -i mongodb-mongosh_2.1.1_amd64.deb

3. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version

Troubleshooting on Ubuntu#

• If you encounter dependency issues:

  sudo apt --fix-broken install

• For repository key issues:

  sudo apt-key adv --keyserver hkp://keyserver.ubuntu.com:80 --recv 656408E390CFB1F5

CentOS#

yum/dnf#

1. Create MongoDB repository file:

   sudo tee /etc/yum.repos.d/mongodb-org-7.0.repo << EOF
   [mongodb-org-7.0]
   name=MongoDB Repository
   baseurl=https://repo.mongodb.org/yum/redhat/\$releasever/mongodb-org/7.0/x86_64/
   gpgcheck=1
   enabled=1
   gpgkey=https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-7.0.asc
   EOF

2. Install MongoDB Shell:

   # For CentOS 8+
   sudo dnf install -y mongodb-mongosh
   
   # For CentOS 7
   sudo yum install -y mongodb-mongosh

3. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version

Manual Download#

1. Download the MongoDB Shell package:

   # For CentOS 8+
   wget https://downloads.mongodb.com/compass/mongodb-mongosh-2.1.1.el8.x86_64.rpm
   
   # For CentOS 7
   wget https://downloads.mongodb.com/compass/mongodb-mongosh-2.1.1.el7.x86_64.rpm

   Note: Replace the version number with the latest available

2. Install the package:

   # For CentOS 8+
   sudo dnf install -y ./mongodb-mongosh-2.1.1.el8.x86_64.rpm
   
   # For CentOS 7
   sudo yum install -y ./mongodb-mongosh-2.1.1.el7.x86_64.rpm

3. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version

Troubleshooting on CentOS#

• If repository issues occur:

  sudo yum clean all
  sudo yum makecache

• For SELinux-related issues:

  sudo setenforce 0  # Temporarily disable SELinux

Windows#

Using MSI Installer#

1. Download the MSI installer from the MongoDB Download Center

   • Select Windows as your platform
   • Choose «msi» as the package format

2. Run the installer:

   • Double-click the downloaded MSI file
   • Follow the installation wizard
   • Select the «Complete» installation type
   • Complete the installation

3. Verify installation by opening Command Prompt and typing:

   mongosh --version


Chocolatey#

1. Install Chocolatey (if not already installed), in PowerShell (Admin):

   Set-ExecutionPolicy Bypass -Scope Process -Force
   [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [System.Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol -bor 3072
   iex ((New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://community.chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))

2. Install MongoDB Shell:

   choco install mongodb-shell


3. Verify installation:

   mongosh --version


Troubleshooting on Windows#

• If ‘mongosh’ command isn’t recognized:
  1. Open Environment Variables (search «environment variables» in Start menu)
  2. Under System variables, edit PATH
  3. Add the bin directory (usually C:\Program Files\mongosh\bin)
  4. Restart Command Prompt

Connecting to a MongoDB Server#

After installing mongosh, connect to a MongoDB server with:

mongosh "mongodb://hostname:27017"

Or with authentication:

mongosh "mongodb://username:password@hostname:27017/database"

For MongoDB Atlas:

mongosh "mongodb+srv://username:password@cluster.mongodb.net/database"

Using MongoDB Shell Configuration File#

You can create a mongosh configuration file to customize your experience:

1. Create a .mongoshrc.js file:

   • On macOS/Linux: ~/.mongoshrc.js
   • On Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.mongoshrc.js

2. Add custom configurations, for example:

   // Custom prompt
   prompt = () => {
     return `${db.getName()} > `;
   };
   
   // Custom helper function
   function countDocs(collection) {
     return db[collection].countDocuments();
   }

For more information, visit the official MongoDB Shell documentation.

Introduction

Installing the MongoDB Shell (mongosh) is the first step many developers take towards interacting with MongoDB, a popular NoSQL database. Mongosh allows you to create, read, update, and delete data within your MongoDB instance, as well as manage the database configuration. In this guide, we will walk through the installation process for mongosh on Windows, Mac, and Ubuntu systems, covering different installation methods and tips for a smooth setup.

Prerequisites

Before installing mongosh, ensure that you have the following:

• Network connectivity to download mongosh from the internet.
• Administrative access to your computer (especially for Windows).
• Basic knowledge of terminal (or command prompt) commands.

Installing on Windows

Using the MongoDB Installer Package

To install mongosh on Windows:

1. Visit the official MongoDB download page for mongosh.
2. Select the latest version and download the Windows (.msi) installer.
3. Run the installer and follow the instructions to install mongosh on your system.
4. Once installed, you can open mongosh by searching for it in the Start menu, or by running mongosh in the Command Prompt.

Installing via Chocolatey

If you prefer package managers, you can install mongosh using Chocolatey:

choco install mongodb-shell
  

After the installation completes, run mongosh in Command Prompt to confirm the installation.

Installing on Mac

Using the MongoDB Installer Package

For Mac users:

1. Go to the mongosh download page and download the macOS (.pkg) installer.
2. Open the downloaded package and follow the installer’s instructions.
3. Once installed, open a terminal and run mongosh to start the MongoDB shell.

Installing via Homebrew

You can also use Homebrew by running:

brew install mongodb/brew/mongodb-community-shell
 

This will install mongosh as well as the necessary dependencies. To launch, type mongosh in your terminal.

Installing on Ubuntu

Using the Official MongoDB Repository

To install on Ubuntu:

Step 1: Import the MongoDB public key:

wget -qO - https://www.mongodb.org/static/pgp/server-5.0.asc | sudo apt-key add -

Step 2: Add the MongoDB repository:

echo "deb [ arch=amd64,arm64 ] https://repo.mongodb.org/apt/ubuntu $(lsb_release -cs)/mongodb-org/5.0 multiverse" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/mongodb-org-5.0.list
  

Step 3: Update the local package database:

sudo apt-get update
  

Step 4: Install mongosh:

sudo apt-get install -y mongodb-mongosh
  

Finally, verify the installation by running mongosh in your terminal.

Verifying Your Installation

Regardless of the operating system, once mongosh is installed, you can verify it by running:

mongosh --version
  

This command should return the version of mongosh that is currently installed on your system. It ensures that mongosh has been installed correctly and that it’s accessible from the terminal or command line.

Connecting to a MongoDB Database

After installing mongosh, you can connect to your MongoDB database with the following command:

mongosh "mongodb://localhost:27017/mydb"
  

Replace “localhost:27017” with the address of your MongoDB server and “mydb” with the name of the database you want to interact with.

Conclusion

With mongosh installed, you are now ready to explore and manage your MongoDB databases across any of these platforms. Installation is just the beginning, now dive into the world of MongoDB operations and queries to take full advantage of your database system.