MongoDB is an open-source, distributed document database. Unlike relational SQL database systems (e.g., SQL Server, MySQL, et al.), which store data as rows in tables, MongoDB stores data as collections of documents (JSON objects). Since document data structures correspond to the native representation of data in most modern programming languages, MongoDB makes it easier for many developers to store, search, and access data. On top of that, it delivers built-in horizontal scalability and high availability features. And as an open-source, database, it can be used for free.
While MongoDB has a wide range of benefits for those who use it, it can experience slow performance and downtime if it isn’t monitored and tuned. This is why MongoDB performance monitoring and MongoDB query monitoring tools are both so important. Although you could try writing your own MongoDB monitoring script, it’s easier to use a pre-built tool.
A quality MongoDB monitoring tool will give you deep visibility into database performance and key metrics to help you troubleshoot any issues. It will also empower you to analyze performance trends and forecast your utilization behavior, so you can plan load distribution proactively. Below, we’ve chosen a few of the best MongoDB monitoring tools you can use to keep your database performing optimally.
The Top 5 MongoDB Monitoring Tools
1. SolarWinds® Database Performance Monitor
SolarWinds Database Performance Monitor (DPM) is a SaaS-based tool delivering both real-time and historical MongoDB performance data. While DPM can be used to monitor a variety of database environments, it features a template profile specifically designed for MongoDB monitoring. This helps make it easier for administrators and DevOps teams to track key MongoDB metrics whether the MongoDB environment is on-premises, in the cloud, or hybrid. As DPM gathers metrics, they’re automatically gathered in a customizable dashboard, making it easy to keep tabs on the most important information for your organization. If you don’t want to customize the dashboard, DPM’s default dashboard layout displays the core metrics most database administrators would want to keep track of right out of the box.
In addition to offering easy deployment and onboarding, DPM can also apply a best-practice scan to your MongoDB environment automatically. This means the tool can look at your configurations and settings across instances, replica sets, and your operating system and then identify opportunities for optimizations and improvements. DPM is also designed to continuously scan MongoDB’s security settings and configurations across deployments to identify any potential compliance violations or security vulnerabilities.
You can try SolarWinds DPM free for 14 days.
2. Paessler PRTG Network Monitor
Like SolarWinds DPM, Paessler PRTG is a full-service monitoring tool that delivers custom sensors that let you monitor key metrics across multiple databases, including MongoDB. For MongoDB specifically, the tool can monitor health metrics like used connections, query operations, missed connections, and more. Those metrics are then pulled down into the tool’s main dashboard and displayed using both a live-flowing log and through visualizations. Additionally, PRTG lets you set up alerts, so network administrators get notified when a sensor changes status, has a change in values or breaches a specified threshold.
PRTG is a great choice if you’re looking to monitor additional aspects of your network along with MongoDB, thanks to its robust monitoring capabilities and flexibility. It has multiple pricing packages as well as a 30-day free trial.
3. Datadog
Datadog delivers full-stack visibility into your environments. It’s a cloud-based platform already set up to monitor MongoDB right at installation without requiring additional steps or add-ons. The MongoDB-specific sensors are included with the Datadog base agent install.
Datadog is focused on simplifying the network administration process. It offers simple alerting templates and preconfigured dashboards, as well as substantial automation and detailed visualizations of the most important metrics. For MongoDB specifically, Datadog can collect dozens of metrics, run multiple service checks against the database, and report on the status of some events. As soon as you install Datadog, all these metrics will automatically populate the default dashboard, making it easy to monitor both MongoDB and the infrastructure supporting it in one place.
You can try Datadog free for 14 days.
4. Nagios
Nagios is a wide-ranging solution that includes database and application monitoring. It offers additional integrations that let you bring MongoDB monitoring into the platform. Nagios’ front end offers visual insights, helping database administrators and their teams simplify the monitoring process. Thanks to the tool’s advanced integration wizard, you can start seeing MongoDB data in your preconfigured dashboard right away, leading to near-instant insights into MongoDB performance. Nagios makes understanding performance simple by including high-level health metrics as well as both current and historical metrics for comparison.
One particularly valuable Nagios feature is its capacity planning capability. The tool uses the collected data to deliver insights into average usage to help database administrators plan for hardware upgrades and migrations affecting capacity and, in turn, performance. Nagios also allows you to monitor your infrastructure in relation to MongoDB, recording and reporting key metrics like average usage and resource consumption. With the auto-discovery feature, you can be sure any changes to your environment are detected and recorded within the tool.
You can try Nagios free for 30 days.
5. Opsview
The final tool on our list, Opsview, is another great tool. It delivers full-suite monitoring for MongoDB including monitoring across infrastructure, networks, and cloud services. Opsview monitors 29 different MongoDB metrics using queries that check the status of those metrics across your database and report them in real time on the live home screen dashboard and under the reporting section.
Opsview also offers integrations for detailed alerts connected to service desk apps so if the tool ever detects an issue, it reaches the right audience fast for troubleshooting and resolution. These alerts can be either threshold-based or conditional, and you can choose to have them sent independently or in clusters, to help avoid alert fatigue for database administrators and help desk teams.
Getting Started with MongoDB Monitoring
There’s no denying that if you use MongoDB, you need a quality MongoDB monitoring tool to maintain optimal performance. No matter the size of your dev team, we would recommend trying SolarWinds Database Performance Monitor.