Best Guide To Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04 – OrcaCore

In this comprehensive guide on the Orcacore website, we aim to provide you with a detailed walkthrough on How To Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04. Netdata is a powerful, open-source, real-time performance monitoring tool designed for Linux systems. It’s invaluable for diagnosing anomalies and slowdowns, offering insightful analysis, detailed metrics, and visually appealing dashboards. Netdata covers a wide range of system parameters, including RAM usage, CPU utilization, IP address information, network performance across various bandwidths, interrupt activity, entropy levels, and disk I/O.

Furthermore, Netdata enables monitoring of crucial services like Nginx, provides IP networking insights, monitors internal Netdata operations, and even integrates with MySQL for database performance tracking.

Netdata boasts cross-platform compatibility, capable of being installed on virtually any Linux distribution. It automatically detects and collects hundreds of metrics in real-time, presenting them through intuitive and fully functional visualizations. Its ability to monitor system health in real-time, combined with its flexibility and ease of integration with a vast array of metrics, makes it an indispensable tool for system administrators and developers alike. Let’s explore How To Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04.

Steps To Install and Configure Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04

Before proceeding with the installation, it’s recommended that you log in to your server as a non-root user with sudo privileges and configure a basic firewall. If you haven’t already done so, you can refer to our guide on Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 20.04 for detailed instructions.

This guide focuses on installing Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04 using an automated script called the kickstart script. Let’s dive in!

1. Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04

Firstly, you can view information about the Netdata package available in your system’s repositories. Execute the following command:

apt show netdata

The output will resemble the following:

Package: netdata
Version: 1.22.4+dfsg-1
Priority: optional
Section: universe/utils
Origin: Ubuntu
Maintainer: Ubuntu Developers <ubuntu-devel-discuss@lists.ubuntu.com>
Original-Maintainer: Dimitris Papastamos <dimitris@papastamos.gr>
Bugs: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+filebug
Installed-Size: 7,832 kB
Depends: libcap2 (>= 2.10), libgcc-s1 (>= 3.0), liblz4-1, libpcre2-8-0, libprotobuf17, libssl1.1 (>= 1.1.0), libsystemd0, zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4), adduser, lsb-base (>= 4.1+Debian11ubuntu1)
Recommends: python3
Suggests: python3-netdata
Breaks: netdata-webapi (<< 1.22.1+ds-3)
Replaces: netdata-webapi (<< 1.22.1+ds-3)
Homepage: https://www.netdata.cloud/
Task: ubuntu-server
Download-Size: 1,552 kB
APT-Manual-Installed: no
APT-Sources: http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal/universe amd64 Packages
Description: Real-time performance monitoring
  Netdata is a system for distributed real-time performance and health monitoring.
  It provides unparalleled insights, in real-time, of everything happening on the
  system it runs (including applications such as web and database servers), using
  highly interactive web dashboards.

The output displays valuable Netdata information, including the current version, source, installation size, and a concise description of the package. This helps confirm that the package is available and provides a brief overview of its functionality.

2. Run the kickstart Script on Ubuntu 20.04

To install Netdata, the simplest method is to utilize the provided kickstart script. Execute the following command in your terminal:

bash <(curl -Ss https://my-netdata.io/kickstart.sh)

This command downloads and executes the kickstart script, which automates the entire installation process. Follow the on-screen prompts and provide any necessary confirmations.

Once the installation is complete, proceed to the next step to ensure Netdata is properly started and enabled.

Start and Enable Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04

After installation, it’s crucial to start the Netdata service and enable it to launch automatically upon system boot. Use the following commands to achieve this:

sudo systemctl start netdata
sudo systemctl enable netdata

These commands initiate the Netdata service and configure it to start automatically whenever the system is restarted.

To verify that the Netdata service is running correctly on your Ubuntu 20.04 system, execute the following command:

sudo systemctl status netdata

The output should indicate that the service is active and running, similar to the following:

● netdata.service - Netdata real-time performance monitoring
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/netdata.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Tue 2023-10-27 10:00:00 UTC; 10s ago
       Docs: https://docs.netdata.cloud/
   Main PID: 1234 (netdata)
      Tasks: 25 (limit: 2289)
     Memory: 24.5M
     CGroup: /system.slice/netdata.service
             └─1234 /opt/netdata/usr/sbin/netdata -D

Oct 27 10:00:00 ubuntu2004 systemd[1]: Started Netdata real-time performance monitoring.

Configure Firewall For Netdata

This guide assumes that you have already enabled the UFW firewall on your Ubuntu 20.04 system. By default, Netdata listens on port 19999. Therefore, it’s essential to open this port in your firewall to allow access to the Netdata dashboard.

To open port 19999, execute the following command:

sudo ufw allow 19999/tcp

This command adds a rule to the firewall, permitting TCP traffic on port 19999.

To apply the new firewall rule, reload the firewall using the following command:

sudo ufw reload

Reloading the firewall ensures that the changes take effect immediately.

3. Access Netdata Dashboard

With Netdata installed, started, and the firewall configured, you can now access the Netdata dashboard through your web browser. Simply enter your server’s IP address followed by the port number 19999:

http://YOUR_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS:19999

Replace YOUR_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS with the actual IP address of your Ubuntu 20.04 server.

Upon accessing the URL in your browser, you will be presented with the Netdata dashboard, providing a comprehensive overview of your system’s performance.

Netdata’s low-latency visualizations enable users to quickly identify any anomalies by comparing them with historical metrics. Its dedicated database is designed to be lightweight and efficient, requiring minimal resources. It continuously collects, stores, and processes data, allowing you to visualize it in high-resolution, with low latency, followed by data streaming and archival.

Conclusion

You have successfully learned How To Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04 and configure Netdata on your Ubuntu 20.04 system. By leveraging Netdata, you gain real-time system monitoring with detailed performance insights, enabling you to effectively track CPU, memory, disk, and network usage, ensuring optimal system health and facilitating efficient troubleshooting.

We hope you enjoy using Netdata!

Alternative Solutions for Installing Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04

While the kickstart script offers a convenient way to install Netdata, alternative methods exist that might be preferable depending on your specific needs or preferences. Here are two alternative solutions:

1. Installing Netdata from the Official Netdata Repository

This method involves adding the official Netdata repository to your system’s package manager. This ensures that you receive the latest updates and security patches directly from the Netdata team.

Steps:

1. Add the Netdata repository:

   sudo apt-key adv --keyserver keyserver.ubuntu.com --recv-keys A2FC80E85D4E97A3
   echo "deb https://pkg.netdata.cloud/debian stable main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/netdata.list

2. Update the package lists:

   sudo apt update

3. Install Netdata:

   sudo apt install netdata

4. Start and enable Netdata:

   sudo systemctl start netdata
   sudo systemctl enable netdata

This method provides a more controlled and reliable installation process, as it leverages the standard package management system. You can then follow the same firewall configuration and dashboard access steps as outlined in the original guide. This is a good method for How To Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04.

2. Installing Netdata using Docker

Docker provides a containerized environment for running applications, isolating them from the host system. This can be a convenient way to install and manage Netdata, especially if you’re already using Docker for other services.

Steps:

1. Install Docker (if not already installed): Refer to the official Docker documentation for instructions on installing Docker on Ubuntu 20.04.

2. Run the Netdata Docker container:

   docker run -d --name=netdata 
   --restart unless-stopped 
   -v netdataconfig:/etc/netdata 
   -v netdatalib:/var/lib/netdata 
   -v netdatacache:/var/cache/netdata 
   -p 19999:19999 
   --cap-add SYS_PTRACE 
   --cap-add SYS_ADMIN 
   netdata/netdata

   This command pulls the Netdata Docker image from Docker Hub, creates a container named netdata, and maps port 19999 on the host to port 19999 in the container. It also mounts volumes for configuration, library, and cache data, and grants necessary capabilities for system monitoring.

3. Access the Netdata dashboard:

   Open your web browser and navigate to http://YOUR_SERVER_IP_ADDRESS:19999.

Using Docker simplifies the installation process and provides a consistent environment for running Netdata. It also allows you to easily manage and update Netdata without affecting the host system.

In conclusion, while the kickstart script is a quick and easy way to install Netdata, the alternative methods of using the official repository or Docker offer different advantages in terms of control, reliability, and isolation. Choosing the best method depends on your specific needs and preferences. Understanding How To Install Netdata on Ubuntu 20.04 with these alternative methods provides flexibility in your approach.