MongoDB doesn’t start after changing the data directory

configurationmongodb

I have installed a mongodb instance using yum.. Now everything works fine. I started the service using service mongod start. It works well. Then I changed the data directory and log path in the configuration file. I restarted the server again and I started the service. But I get the below error:

Restarting mongod (via systemctl):  Job for mongod.service failed. See 'systemctl status mongod.service' and 'journalctl -xn' for details.
                                                           [FAILED]

When I give systemctl status mongod.service I get the below:

 Loaded: loaded (/etc/rc.d/init.d/mongod)
   Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Wed 2015-03-18 11:35:56 IST; 22s ago
  Process: 10672 ExecStop=/etc/rc.d/init.d/mongod stop (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
  Process: 10841 ExecStart=/etc/rc.d/init.d/mongod start (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
 Main PID: 10509 (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)

Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: Starting SYSV: Mongo is a scalable, document-oriented database....
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost runuser[10850]: pam_unix(runuser:session): session opened for user mongod by (uid=0)
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost runuser[10850]: pam_unix(runuser:session): session closed for user mongod
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost mongod[10841]: Starting mongod: [FAILED]
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: mongod.service: control process exited, code=exited status=1
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: Failed to start SYSV: Mongo is a scalable, document-oriented database..
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: Unit mongod.service entered failed state.

When I give journalctl -xn I get the below:

-- Logs begin at Wed 2015-03-18 08:56:56 IST, end at Wed 2015-03-18 11:35:56 IST. --
Mar 18 11:30:01 localhost systemd[1]: Starting Session 20 of user root.
-- Subject: Unit session-20.scope has begun with start-up
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
-- 
-- Unit session-20.scope has begun starting up.
Mar 18 11:30:01 localhost systemd[1]: Started Session 20 of user root.
-- Subject: Unit session-20.scope has finished start-up
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
-- 
-- Unit session-20.scope has finished starting up.
-- 
-- The start-up result is done.
Mar 18 11:30:01 localhost CROND[10712]: (root) CMD (/usr/lib64/sa/sa1 1 1)
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: Starting SYSV: Mongo is a scalable, document-oriented database....
-- Subject: Unit mongod.service has begun with start-up
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel
-- 
-- Unit mongod.service has begun starting up.
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost runuser[10850]: pam_unix(runuser:session): session opened for user mongod by (uid=0)
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost runuser[10850]: pam_unix(runuser:session): session closed for user mongod
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost mongod[10841]: Starting mongod: [FAILED]
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: mongod.service: control process exited, code=exited status=1
Mar 18 11:35:56 localhost systemd[1]: Failed to start SYSV: Mongo is a scalable, document-oriented database..
-- Subject: Unit mongod.service has failed
-- Defined-By: systemd
-- Support: http://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/systemd-devel

Can anyone help me to fix this? Thanks!!!

P.S.:
The data directory I have created has the all permissions for the user. But again if I change the data directory to default (/var/lib/mongodb) it works fine.

Best Answer

I ran into a similar issue and found it to be a misconfigured mongod.conf file in my case. It could also be the permissions on the new directory are not set properly. chown -R mongod:mongod <directory name> was how I ensured access (and of course the chmod 600 <dir> as well). Lastly, run an ls -Z to ensure the context is correct. I just compared to the default directory which worked for me.

If this is not resolved already, please show the contents of your log file as well. There may be some clues there.

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