how to check the version of mongodb

Daniel Parker

2 min read

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17-01-2025

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Knowing your MongoDB version is crucial for troubleshooting, ensuring compatibility with drivers and tools, and staying up-to-date with security patches. This guide provides several methods to check your MongoDB version, whether you're using the shell, command line, or a programming language.

Checking MongoDB Version Using the mongo Shell

The simplest way to check your MongoDB version is using the mongo shell. This method works regardless of your operating system.

Steps:

1. Launch the mongo shell: Open your terminal or command prompt and type mongo. This connects you to your local MongoDB instance. If you have multiple MongoDB instances, you might need to specify the connection string.

2. Run the db.version() command: Once connected, type db.version() and press Enter. The shell will output the version number.

3. Interpret the output: The output will look something like this: 3.6.3. This indicates MongoDB version 3.6.3.

Example:

> mongo
MongoDB shell version v4.4.6
connecting to: mongodb://127.0.0.1:27017/?compressors=disabled&gssapiServiceName=mongodb
Implicit session: session { "id" : UUID("...")}
> db.version()
3.6.3
> quit()
bye

This example shows a connection to a MongoDB 3.6.3 instance, even though the shell itself is version 4.4.6. The db.version() command shows the version of the server you're connected to.

Checking MongoDB Version from the Command Line (Without the Shell)

For those who prefer not to use the mongo shell, you can check the version using command-line tools. The exact command varies depending on your operating system.

Linux/macOS:

The mongod --version command will display the MongoDB version installed on your system.

Windows:

Open your command prompt and navigate to the MongoDB bin directory (usually located at C:\Program Files\MongoDB\Server\<version>\bin). Then, run mongod --version.

Checking MongoDB Version Programmatically

Many programming languages have drivers that allow you to interact with MongoDB. These drivers often provide methods to retrieve the server version. Here are examples for a few popular languages:

Python:

import pymongo

try:
    client = pymongo.MongoClient("mongodb://localhost:27017/")  # Replace with your connection string if needed
    server_info = client.server_info()
    version = server_info["version"]
    print(f"MongoDB Version: {version}")
    client.close()
except pymongo.errors.ConnectionFailure as e:
    print(f"Could not connect to MongoDB: {e}")

Node.js:

const { MongoClient } = require('mongodb');

const uri = "mongodb://localhost:27017/"; // Replace with your connection string if needed

async function getVersion() {
  const client = new MongoClient(uri);
  try {
    await client.connect();
    const serverStatus = await client.db().command({ serverStatus: 1 });
    console.log("MongoDB Version:", serverStatus.version);
  } finally {
    await client.close();
  }
}

getVersion();

Important Considerations:

• Multiple MongoDB Instances: If you have multiple MongoDB instances running, make sure you're connecting to the correct one. You might need to specify the port number in your connection string (e.g., mongodb://localhost:27018/).

• Network Connectivity: Ensure you have proper network connectivity to your MongoDB server.

• Firewall: Check that firewalls aren't blocking access to the MongoDB port (usually port 27017).

By using these methods, you can quickly and easily check your MongoDB version and ensure that your setup is working correctly. Remember to update to the latest stable version to benefit from performance enhancements and security fixes.