Change Standalone to WiredTiger¶

Starting in version 3.2, WiredTiger is the new default storage engine for MongoDB.

This tutorial gives an overview of changing the storage engine of a standalone MongoDB instance to WiredTiger.

Considerations¶

`mongodump` and `mongorestore`¶

This tutorial uses the mongodump and mongorestore utilities to export and import data.

Ensure that these MongoDB package components are installed and updated on your system.
Make sure you have sufficient drive space available for the mongodump export file and the data files of your new mongod instance running with WiredTiger.

MongoDB 3.0 or Greater¶

You must be using MongoDB version 3.0 or greater in order to use the WiredTiger storage engine. If using an earlier MongoDB version, you must upgrade your MongoDB version before proceeding to change your storage engine. To upgrade your MongoDB version, refer to the appropriate version of the manual.

XFS and WiredTiger¶

With the WiredTiger storage engine, using XFS for data bearing nodes is recommended on Linux. For more information, see Kernel and File Systems.

Procedure¶

1

Start the `mongod` you wish to change to WiredTiger.¶

If mongod is already running, you can skip this step.

2

Export data using `mongodump`.¶

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mongodump --out <exportDataDestination>

Specify additional options as appropriate, such as username and password if running with authorization enabled. See mongodump for available options.

3

Create a data directory for the new `mongod` running with WiredTiger.¶

Create a data directory for the new mongod instance that will run with the WiredTiger storage engine. mongod must have read and write permissions for this directory.

mongod with WiredTiger will not start with data files created with a different storage engine.

4

Start `mongod` with WiredTiger.¶

Start mongod, specifying wiredTiger as the --storageEngine and the newly created data directory for WiredTiger as the --dbpath. Specify additional options as appropriate.

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mongod --storageEngine wiredTiger --dbpath <newWiredTigerDBPath>

You can also specify the options in a configuration file. To specify the storage engine, use the storage.engine setting.

5

Upload the exported data using `mongorestore`.¶

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mongorestore <exportDataDestination>

Specify additional options as appropriate. See mongorestore for available options.

← WiredTiger Storage Engine Change Replica Set to WiredTiger →

Change Standalone to WiredTiger¶

Considerations¶

mongodump and mongorestore¶

MongoDB 3.0 or Greater¶

XFS and WiredTiger¶

Procedure¶

Start the mongod you wish to change to WiredTiger.¶

Export data using mongodump.¶

Create a data directory for the new mongod running with WiredTiger.¶

Start mongod with WiredTiger.¶

Upload the exported data using mongorestore.¶

`mongodump` and `mongorestore`¶

Start the `mongod` you wish to change to WiredTiger.¶

Export data using `mongodump`.¶

Create a data directory for the new `mongod` running with WiredTiger.¶

Start `mongod` with WiredTiger.¶

Upload the exported data using `mongorestore`.¶