What is the default database path for MongoDB?

Question

I got an error about dbpath (/data/db/) does not exist, but /etc/mongodb.conf named it dbpath = /var/lib/mongodb. So, which is the default dbpath for MongoDB?

Stennie · Answer 1 · 2014-07-31T21:56:26.197

The default dbpath for mongodb is /data/db.

There is no default config file, so you will either need to specify this when starting mongod with:

 mongod --config /etc/mongodb.conf

.. or use a packaged install of MongoDB (such as for Redhat or Debian/Ubuntu) which will include a config file path in the service definition.

Note: to check the dbpath and command-line options for a running mongod, connect via the mongo shell and run:

db.serverCmdLineOpts()

In particular, if a custom dbpath is set it will be the value of:

db.serverCmdLineOpts().parsed.dbpath           // MongoDB 2.4 and older
db.serverCmdLineOpts().parsed.storage.dbPath   // MongoDB 2.6+

To get the path to the database from the mongo shell is, as of 2.6.1: db.serverCmdLineOpts().parsed.storage.dbPath — Marius, Jul 31 '14 at 20:45

score 23 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 05 '12 at 01:40

23

I have version 2.0.7 installed on Ubuntu and it defaulted to /var/lib/mongodb/ and that is also what was placed into my /etc/mongodb.conf file.

answered Oct 05 '12 at 01:40

HeatfanJohn

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why the book `mongodb:the definitive guide` said that it defaulted to `/data/db`? I don't know why . – holys Oct 05 '12 at 01:54
This could be a factor of how the distribution package was built. I installed my copy using `apt-get`. How did you install your copy? Are you still getting the error about dbpath not existing? – HeatfanJohn Oct 05 '12 at 01:59

score 15 · Answer 3 · edited Aug 07 '16 at 18:34

15

For a Windows machine start the mongod process by specifying the dbpath:

mongod --dbpath \mongodb\data

Reference: Manage mongod Processes

edited Aug 07 '16 at 18:34

Peter Mortensen

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answered Jul 10 '14 at 02:53

Abhi

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This answer also applicable to Linux – Ng Sek Long Mar 04 '18 at 10:47

score 10 · Answer 4 · answered Oct 05 '12 at 07:11

10

I depends on the version and the distro.

For example the default download pre-2.2 from the MongoDB site uses: /data/db but the Ubuntu install at one point used to use: var/lib/mongodb.

I think these have been standardised now so that 2.2+ will only use data/db whether it comes from direct download on the site or from the repos.

answered Oct 05 '12 at 07:11

Sammaye

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The difference in the distros is based on the packaging & service definition. Start `mongod` without any parameters and you will get a default dbpath of `/data/db` (the only hardcoded default). – Stennie Oct 05 '12 at 07:22
2

I am using Debain and the default went to var/lib/mongodb as well – Vass Jan 04 '15 at 22:57

Wernfried Domscheit · Answer 5 · 2022-02-13T09:08:43.923

The dbPath in Mongo can be confusing. If you don't specify the dbPath at all (neither as command line parameter nor in mongod.conf file) then it defaults to

/data/db on Linux and macOS
\data\db on Windows (on current drive)

However, the default mongod.conf files which comes along the installation uses these ones:

Platform	Package Manager	Default `storage.dbPath`
RHEL / CentOS and Amazon	yum	`/var/lib/mongo`
SUSE	zypper	`/var/lib/mongo`
Ubuntu and Debian	apt	`/var/lib/mongodb`
macOS	brew	`/usr/local/var/mongodb`
Windows	MSI	`C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\{release}\data\`

So, you must carefully check what you are using.

See Run-time Database Configuration

The default `mongo` docker image also defaults to `/data/db` as it is started without configuration file by default. — Simon A. Eugster, May 24 '22 at 09:23

The Red Pea · Answer 6 · 2019-05-05T16:36:56.403

The Windows x64 installer shows the a path in the installer UI/wizard.

You can confirm which path it used later, by opening your mongod.cfg file. My mongod.cfg was located here C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\4.0\bin\mongod.cfg (change for your version of MongoDB!

When I opened my mongd.cfg I found this line, showing the default db path:

dbPath: C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\4.0\data

However, this caused an error when trying to run mongod, which was still expecting to find C:\data\db:

2019-05-05T09:32:36.084-0700 I STORAGE [initandlisten] exception in initAndListen: NonExistentPath: Data directory C:\data\db\ not found., terminating

You could pass mongod a --dbpath=... parameter. In my case:

mongod --dbpath="C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\4.0\data"

What is the default database path for MongoDB?

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