3. Setting Up A MongoDB Database

Create a MongoDB Database on Atlas

This tutorial is a variation of the instructions in the Deploy a Free Cluster tutorial.

To start, navigate to the atlas website and log in.

When you log in you may be asked to Create an Organization.  If so, press the Create an Organization button.

On the Create Organization page, enter your name for the organization name and press Next.

On the following page press Create Organization.

After creating an organization, you will be directed to the Projects page.  Press the New Project button in the upper right corner.

Enter messages in the project name field and press Next.

On the following page press Create Project.

Next, you should see a screen that looks like the screenshot below.

If not, choose the default organization, then the default project, then Overview.

Once on the Overview page click the + Create button.

On the Deploy your cluster page do the following:

  1. Select the Free cluster type
  2. Leave Cluster0 as the Name
  3. Select AWS as the Provider
  4. Select N. Virginia for the Region
  5. Uncheck Automate security setup
  6. Uncheck Preload sample dataset

Next, click the button labelled Create Deployment.

On the Connect to Cluster0 page do the following:

  1. In the section labelled Add a connection IP address, select Allow Access from Anywhere then click the button labelled Add IP Address.
  2. In the section labelled Create a database user, add a username, password (use only alpha-numeric characters for password) and then press the button labelled Create Database User.  Save the username and password – you’ll need these later.

Then, press the button labelled Choose a connection method.

On the next Connect to Cluster0 screen, press the button labelled Drivers.

In section 1, select Driver Node.js and Version 6.7 or later.

Then copy the connection string found in section 3 and paste it somewhere that is easy to get to.  We’ll use it down below.

Alas, click the button labelled Done.

Test the Cluster With Compass

Open the Compass app and press the button labelled Add new connection.

Enter the connection string in the URI input found in the New Connection box, then replace <db_password> in the connection string with your database password.

Enter a name for the connection in the Name field then press the button labelled Save & Connect.

Compass will briefly display a dialog box indicating if a connection was successfully made or not.  If not, try to resolve the issue or seek assistance from your instructor.