How to Install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu: A Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu with our detailed step-by-step guide that covers everything from installation to basic commands.

Introduction to Apache Cassandra

When people think of database management systems, MySQL often comes to mind. However, with the rise of big data, NoSQL databases like Apache Cassandra have become increasingly popular. Known for its scalability and performance, Cassandra is used by tech giants such as Instagram, Uber, Facebook, and Netflix.

Understanding Apache Cassandra

Apache Cassandra is an open-source database management system based on the NoSQL model, designed for handling large volumes of structured data across multiple servers. Its architecture allows for speed, scalability, and high performance, making it a preferred choice for businesses that require reliable and efficient data management.

How Cassandra Works

Cassandra uses a peer-to-peer architecture, allowing each node to connect with others to form clusters. This massively scalable system enables easy addition of nodes, ensuring no single point of failure. If a node fails, Cassandra replicates data from healthy nodes to maintain integrity.

Cassandra Node: The primary storage unit for data.
Replication: How Cassandra duplicates data to ensure availability.
Data Center: A collection of related nodes.
Cassandra Cluster: One or more data centers grouped together.
Request: Client operations that interact with the database.
Client: The end-user device or computer accessing the data.

Installing Cassandra on Ubuntu

Installing Cassandra on Ubuntu is straightforward with the APT package manager. However, you’ll need to add its package repository first. Let’s dive into the installation process.

Step 1: Download and Install Java

Before installing Cassandra, ensure Java is installed, as it’s a prerequisite. Use SSH to access your VPS and check Java’s presence:

java -version

If Java isn’t installed, update the package list and install the default JDK:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install default-jdk -y

Step 2: Add the GPG Key

To ensure secure repository usage, add the GPG key. First, install wget if it’s not already present:

sudo apt install wget

Add the GPG key with this command:

wget -q -O - https://www.apache.org/dist/cassandra/KEYS | sudo apt-key add -

Step 3: Add the Cassandra Repository File

Add Cassandra’s repository to the system:

echo "deb http://www.apache.org/dist/cassandra/debian 40x main" | sudo tee -a /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cassandra.sources.list

Step 4: Install Cassandra

Update the repositories and install Cassandra:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt install cassandra -y

Step 5: Enable and Start Cassandra

Enable Cassandra to start on boot and manually start the service:

sudo systemctl enable cassandra
sudo systemctl start cassandra

Step 6: Verify the Installation

Check if Cassandra is running:

sudo systemctl status cassandra

Step 7: Configure Cassandra

For multiple nodes or clusters, customize the cassandra.yaml configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/cassandra/cassandra.yaml

Modify settings like cluster_name and storage_port to suit your needs, then reload Cassandra:

sudo systemctl reload cassandra
nodetool status

Getting Started with Cassandra Query Language (CQL)

Let’s explore some basic CQL commands used in Cassandra.

cqlsh

Use cqlsh to interact with Cassandra:

cqlsh

HELP

The HELP command provides descriptions of available commands:

cqlsh> HELP

SHOW

Display session information with the SHOW command:

cqlsh> SHOW VERSION

CREATE KEYSPACE

Define data replication with CREATE KEYSPACE:

cqlsh> CREATE KEYSPACE example WITH REPLICATION = { 'class' : 'SimpleStrategy', 'replication_factor' : 1 };

USE

Set the current working keyspace with the USE command:

cqlsh> USE example;

CREATE TABLE

Create a table specifying columns and data types:

cqlsh:example> CREATE TABLE users (id UUID PRIMARY KEY, name TEXT, email TEXT);

INSERT

Add data to a table using the INSERT command:

cqlsh:example> INSERT INTO users (id, name, email) VALUES (uuid(), 'Alice', 'alice@example.com');

Comparing Cassandra with Relational Databases

Apache Cassandra offers several advantages over traditional relational databases:

Scalability: Easily add resources as demand grows.
Data Storage: Supports various data structures.
Efficiency: Designed for high speed with minimal resource use.
Data Transfer: Simplifies data replication across data centers.
No Single Point of Failure: Ensures reliability and resilience.

Conclusion

Apache Cassandra is a powerful NoSQL database management system, ideal for handling large data workloads. In this guide, we’ve walked through the installation process on Ubuntu and introduced some basic CQL commands to get you started. If you’re looking for a reliable, scalable database solution, consider giving Cassandra a try.

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Jan 24, 2024 Ignas R. 6min Read Whenever users hear about database management systems, they likely immediately think about MySQL relational databases. However, such databases can fall short when presented with massive amounts of incoming structured data. That’s where NoSQL databases come in. Cassandra is one of the most popular non-relational databases out there. Such companies use it as Instagram, Uber, Facebook, and Netflix. In this Cassandra tutorial, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to install the latest version of Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu. We will also explain how the Cassandra database management system works, compare it to other NoSQL databases, and provide some common commands you can use.

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