In the recent guide, we implemented how to install MongoDB on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish distribution. MongoDB, a popular NoSQL database, offers flexible and scalable solutions for modern applications. Enabling remote access on MongoDB allows you to access your database from external sources, enabling collaboration, monitoring, and administration.

In this article, we will guide you through the process of enabling remote access on MongoDB using Ubuntu 22.04, ensuring secure and efficient management of your database.

Step 1: Update and Install MongoDB:

The first step is to ensure that your Ubuntu 22.04 system is up to date. Press ‘Ctrl+Alt+t’ to open the terminal window:

$ sudo apt update

Step 2: Configure MongoDB for Remote Access:

To enable remote access to the MongoDB database, open the configuration file for MongoDB ‘/etc/mongd.conf’ using nano or another source code editor:

$ sudo nano /etc/mongod.conf

Locate the bindIp directive:

Now, change its value from 127.0.0.1 to 0.0.0.0 to allow all IPv4 and IPv6 addresses. It means this step allows MongoDB to accept connections from any IP address. Press ‘Ctrl+O’ or ‘Ctrl+S’ to save changes and close the file using ‘Ctrl+x’.

Restart MongoDB to apply the changes:

$ sudo systemctl restart mongod

Step 3: Set Up Firewall Rules

To ensure the security of your MongoDB server, it’s essential to configure your firewall to allow incoming connections on the MongoDB port (default is 27017). Follow these steps:

Check the status of the Uncomplicated Firewall (UFW) by running:

$ sudo ufw status

If the firewall is inactive, enable it:

$ sudo ufw enable

Allow incoming connections on the MongoDB port:

$ sudo ufw allow 27017

Step 4: Configure MongoDB User Authentication

To secure the MongoDB database, it is crucial to set up user authentication. Follow these steps to create a user and grant remote access privileges:

Access the MongoDB shell by typing:

$ mongosh

Switch to the database administration:

>use admin

Create an administrative user with a username and password:

db.createUser({ user: "username_admin", pwd: "password", roles: [{ role: "root", db: "admin" }] })

Exit the MongoDB shell:

> exit

Step 5: Restart MongoDB with Authentication Enabled

Now that you have configured user authentication, restart MongoDB and enforce the authentication process:

$ sudo nano /etc/mongod.conf

Locate the line with the word ‘#security’ and add the following code:

security:

  authorization: enabled

Save and close the file.

Restart MongoDB to apply the changes:

$ sudo systemctl restart mongod

Step 6: Test Remote Access

To verify that remote access is functioning correctly, follow these steps:

On a remote machine, open the terminal and execute this command:

$ mongo --host your_server_ip --port 27017 -u admin_username -p

Replace ‘your_server_ip’ with the IP address of your Ubuntu 22.04 server and ‘admin_username’ with the administrative username you created earlier.

Enter the password when prompted.

If you successfully connect, you have enabled remote access to your MongoDB server.

Conclusion

Enabling remote access on MongoDB with Ubuntu 22.04 opens up different possibilities for managing and collaborating on your database. By following the above step-by-step guide, you can securely configure your MongoDB server, allowing remote connections, setting up user authentication, and strengthening the overall security of your database. With these steps, you’ll be well on your way to leveraging the full potential of MongoDB for your applications.