Apache Cassandra is a powerful open-source NoSQL database designed for scalability, fault tolerance, and high availability. It is widely used in distributed environments to manage large amounts of data efficiently. In this guide, we will walk you through the steps to install Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu 22.04. For better performance and scalability, we recommend hosting Cassandra on a WindowsVPS server. A VPS server provides dedicated resources and ensures reliable database management.

Step 1: Update Your VPS Server

Before installing Apache Cassandra, ensure your VPS server is up to date. Use the following commands to update the system:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

By hosting your database on a WindowsVPS, you benefit from better resource management and the ability to scale as your data grows, ensuring optimal performance for Apache Cassandra.

Step 2: Add the Apache Cassandra Repository

Cassandra is not available in the default Ubuntu repositories, so you will need to add the official Apache Cassandra repository. First, install the required dependencies:

sudo apt install apt-transport-https ca-certificates -y

Next, import the GPG key for the Cassandra repository:

curl https://downloads.apache.org/cassandra/KEYS | sudo apt-key add -

Then, add the Apache Cassandra repository to your system:

echo "deb https://downloads.apache.org/cassandra/debian 40x main" | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cassandra.list

Step 3: Install Apache Cassandra

After adding the repository, install Apache Cassandra by running the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install cassandra -y

Step 4: Start and Enable the Cassandra Service

Once Cassandra is installed, start the service and enable it to run at boot:

sudo systemctl start cassandra
sudo systemctl enable cassandra

You can check the status of the Cassandra service with this command:

sudo systemctl status cassandra

Step 5: Verify the Installation

To verify that Cassandra is running correctly, connect to the Cassandra command-line interface (CLI) using the cqlsh tool:

cqlsh

Once in the Cassandra shell, run the following query to check the cluster name and version:

SELECT cluster_name, release_version FROM system.local;

If the installation is successful, you should see the cluster name and release version displayed.

Step 6: Configure Apache Cassandra

Cassandra’s default configuration works well for basic setups, but you can modify the configuration files in the /etc/cassandra/ directory to suit your specific needs. For example, you can adjust the cluster name, set up multiple nodes, or tweak memory usage. After making any changes, restart the Cassandra service:

sudo systemctl restart cassandra

Step 7: Create a Keyspace and Table

In Cassandra, a keyspace is similar to a database. To create a keyspace, open the cqlsh shell and run the following command:

CREATE KEYSPACE mykeyspace WITH replication = {'class': 'SimpleStrategy', 'replication_factor': 1};

Switch to your new keyspace:

USE mykeyspace;

Create a table within the keyspace:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id UUID PRIMARY KEY,
    name text,
    age int
);

Step 8: Insert Data and Query the Table

Insert some data into the table:

INSERT INTO users (id, name, age) VALUES (uuid(), 'Alice', 25);

Query the table to see the inserted data:

SELECT * FROM users;

The result should display the data you just inserted.

Step 9: Optimize Your VPS Server for Cassandra

Hosting Apache Cassandra on a WindowsVPS ensures that your database runs efficiently with dedicated resources, including CPU, RAM, and storage. A VPS server allows you to handle large-scale databases, distribute workloads, and maintain high availability. As your data grows, you can easily scale your infrastructure to meet increasing demands.

Conclusion

Installing Apache Cassandra on Ubuntu 22.04 provides a robust solution for managing distributed data in high-performance environments. By deploying Cassandra on a WindowsVPS, you gain improved performance, scalability, and control over your database infrastructure, making it ideal for modern applications requiring fault tolerance and high availability.

For more information about VPS hosting and optimizing your Apache Cassandra setup, visit WindowsVPS today.