How to Install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu Linux

Install JAVA

Installing 💿 OpenJDK 8 on Ubuntu is the first step because Apache Cassandra requires Java to run properly. You need to update your package list, install the Java Development Kit using the terminal, and verify the installation before moving on to the main database setup.

To install OpenJDK 8, run the commands below:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-8-jdk

To verify if OpenJDK is installed and running, run the commands below:

java -version

It should print out the lines similar to the ones below:

openjdk version "1.8.0_191"
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_191-8u191-b12-2ubuntu0.18.04.1-b12)
OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.191-b12, mixed mode)

With Java successfully installed, proceed to install Apache Cassandra.

Installing Apache Cassandra

Installing Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu Linux is easiest when you add the official project repository to your system rather than managing individual files manually. This method lets you get the database set up and receive future updates straight through the standard package manager.

Add Cassandra's official package repository to handle installations and updates more easily than managing .DEB files manually.

The Apache Cassandra repository and its key install by running commands. The first command imports the repository's GPG key. The second command adds the Apache Cassandra repository to a new file named cassandra.sources.list, which lists software sources for your system.

wget -q -O - https://www.apache.org/dist/cassandra/KEYS | sudo apt-key add -
sudo sh -c 'echo "deb http://www.apache.org/dist/cassandra/debian 311x main" > /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cassandra.sources.list'

After the steps above, run the commands below to install them.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install cassandra

That completes the installation.

To verify if Cassandra is correctly installed, run the commands below:

nodetool status

You should see a similar screen print as the one below:

Status=Up/Down
|/ State=Normal/Leaving/Joining/Moving
--  Address    Load       Tokens       Owns (effective)  Host ID                               Rack
UN  127.0.0.1  103.68 KiB  256          100.0%            bbdd9509-523a-45ac-a03f-64c478515de9  rack1

This confirms Cassandra is installed and running.

Use the command-line utility cqlsh to interact with Cassandra through CQL (Cassandra Query Language) cqlsh

cqlsh

Log on to the CQL terminal screen.

Connected to Test Cluster at 127.0.0.1:9042.

Use HELP for help. cqlsh>

Conclusion:

• Apache Cassandra offers a powerful, scalable NoSQL database solution suitable for handling vast amounts of data.
• The installation process on Ubuntu 20.04 or 18.04 is straightforward, requiring only a few command-line entries.
• By utilizing OpenJDK 8, you can effectively support Cassandra's operations with minimal setup hassle.
• Once installed, Apache Cassandra provides high availability and eliminates single points of failure.
• Users can easily manage and interact with the database using CQL through the cqlsh utility.
• As a free and open-source system, Apache Cassandra is a cost-effective choice for businesses looking to implement a robust database without incurring licensing fees.
• For further exploration and resources, the Apache Cassandra homepage is a valuable reference.