Install MongoDB on Ubuntu with Apache and PHP

This post shows students and new users the steps to install MongoDB on Ubuntu with Apache and PHP support. MongoDB, a free open source, NoSQL, High-performance, the schema-free document-oriented database can be used to create powerful websites and applications.

If you’re going to be developing an application or a website that requires MongoDB as its backend database server, the steps below should be a great place to start to get MongoDB working with Apache and PHP.

MongoDB packages are included in Ubuntu default repositories, however, the versions in Ubuntu repositories aren’t the latest. To install the latest, you will have to install the MongoDB package repository on Ubuntu Linux, and this tutorial will show you how.

Also, for students and new users learning Linux, the easiest place to start learning is Ubuntu Linux. Ubuntu is the modern, open-source Linux operating system for desktops, servers, and other devices.

When you’re ready to get MongoDB setup on Ubuntu with Apache2 and PHP support, continue with the steps below:

How to install Apache on Ubuntu Linux

To install the Apache2 HTTP server on Ubuntu, run the commands below.

sudo apt update
sudo apt install apache2

After installing Apache2, the commands below can be used to stop, start and enable the Apache2 service to always start up with the server boots.

sudo systemctl stop apache2.service
sudo systemctl start apache2.service
sudo systemctl enable apache2.service

To test the Apache2 setup, open your browser and browse to the server hostname or IP address and you should see the Apache2 default test page as shown below.

http://localhost

How to install MongoDB on Ubuntu Linux

We have written a great tutorial on how to install and configure MongoDB on Ubuntu Linux. To read that post, click on the link below:

How to install and configure MongoDB on Ubuntu Linux

After reading the post above and installing MongoDB on Ubuntu, continue below with the setup.

How to install PHP on Ubuntu Linux

PHP 7.4 may not be available on Ubuntu default repositories. To install it, you will have to get it from third-party repositories.

Run the commands below to add the below third party repository to upgrade to PHP 7.4

sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ondrej/php

Then update and upgrade to PHP 7.4

sudo apt update

Next, run the commands below to install PHP 7.4 and related modules.

sudo apt install php7.4 libapache2-mod-php7.4 php7.4-common php7.4-cli php7.4-mongodb php-pear php7.4-dev

After installing PHP 7.2, run the commands below to open the PHP default config file for Apache2.

How to install MongoDB PHP drivers

MongoDB PHP drivers provide exceptionally thin glue between MongoDB and PHP. run the commands below to install it.

sudo pecl install mongodb

After that, run the commands below to enable the drivers

sudo bash
sudo echo "extension=mongodb.so" >> /etc/php/7.4/apache2/php.ini

Restart Apache2

sudo systemctl restart apache2.service

To verify the MongoDB PHP driver is installed and enabled, continue below.

Create a phpinfo.php file in the Apache2 root directory by running the commands below

sudo nano /var/www/html/phpinfo.php

Then type the content below and save the file.

<?php phpinfo( ); ?>

Save the file. then browse to your server hostname followed by /phpinfo.php

http://localhost/phpinfo.php

You should see the PHP default test page.

That’s it!

This post showed you how to install MongoDB on Ubuntu Linux with Apache and PHP support. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.