How to Install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu Linux

Install JAVA

Apache Cassandra requires Java to run; you must install Java on your Ubuntu system before installing Cassandra. OpenJDK 8, a free version of Java, works well with Cassandra and is convenient to set up, preparing your Ubuntu system for the next step.

OpenJDK 8, an open-source version of Oracle Java, works well with Apache Cassandra, which is why this tutorial uses OpenJDK 8.

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, we can now proceed to install Apache Cassandra.

Installing Apache Cassandra

Apache Cassandra installation on Ubuntu Linux requires Java. Adding Apache Cassandra’s official package source is the most convenient way to install and update the database. This official package source simplifies Cassandra installation and updates, a more convenient alternative to manually installing with a .DEB file.

If you prefer not to install Cassandra from its .DEB file manually, then add Cassandra’s official package repository to make installing and updating it more convenient.

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 is a file that 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 should do it!

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

That’s how you know Cassandra is installed and running.

cqlsh

You should 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.