VictoriaMetrics/docs/Quick-Start.md

---
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title: Quick start
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# Quick start

## How to install

VictoriaMetrics is distributed in two forms:
* [Single-server-VictoriaMetrics](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/) - all-in-one
  binary, which is very easy to use and maintain.
  Single-server-VictoriaMetrics perfectly scales vertically and easily handles millions of metrics/s;
* [VictoriaMetrics Cluster](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/) - set of components
  for building horizontally scalable clusters.

Single-server-VictoriaMetrics VictoriaMetrics is available as:

* [Managed VictoriaMetrics at AWS](https://aws.amazon.com/marketplace/pp/prodview-4tbfq5icmbmyc)
* [Docker images](https://hub.docker.com/r/victoriametrics/victoria-metrics/)
* [Helm Charts](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/helm-charts#list-of-charts)
* [Binary releases](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases/latest)
* [Ansible Roles](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/ansible-playbooks)
* [Source code](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics).
  See [How to build from sources](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#how-to-build-from-sources)
* [VictoriaMetrics on Linode](https://www.linode.com/marketplace/apps/victoriametrics/victoriametrics/)
* [VictoriaMetrics on DigitalOcean](https://marketplace.digitalocean.com/apps/victoriametrics-single)

Just download VictoriaMetrics and follow
[these instructions](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#how-to-start-victoriametrics).
Then read [Prometheus setup](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#prometheus-setup)
and [Grafana setup](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#grafana-setup) docs.

VictoriaMetrics is developed at a fast pace, so it is recommended periodically checking the [CHANGELOG](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/changelog/) and performing [regular upgrades](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#how-to-upgrade-victoriametrics).


### Starting VictoriaMetrics Single Node via Docker {anchor="starting-vm-single-via-docker"}

The following commands download the latest available
[Docker image of VictoriaMetrics](https://hub.docker.com/r/victoriametrics/victoria-metrics)
and start it at port 8428, while storing the ingested data at `victoria-metrics-data` subdirectory
under the current directory:


```sh
docker pull victoriametrics/victoria-metrics:latest
docker run -it --rm -v `pwd`/victoria-metrics-data:/victoria-metrics-data -p 8428:8428 victoriametrics/victoria-metrics:latest
```


Open <a href="http://localhost:8428">http://localhost:8428</a> in web browser
and read [these docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#operation).

There is also [VictoriaMetrics cluster](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/)
- horizontally scalable installation, which scales to multiple nodes.

### Starting VictoriaMetrics Cluster via Docker {anchor="starting-vm-cluster-via-docker"}

The following commands clone the latest available
[VictoriaMetrics repository](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics)
and start the docker container via 'make docker-cluster-up'. Further customization is possible by editing
the [docker-compose-cluster.yml](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/blob/master/deployment/docker/docker-compose-cluster.yml)
file.


```sh
git clone https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics && cd VictoriaMetrics
make docker-cluster-up
```


See more details [here](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/tree/master/deployment/docker#readme).

* [Cluster setup](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#cluster-setup)


### Starting VictoriaMetrics Single Node from a Binary {anchor="starting-vm-single-from-a-binary"}

1. Download the correct binary for your OS and architecture from [GitHub](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases). 
For Enterprise binaries see [this link](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/enterprise/#binary-releases).

2. Extract the archive to /usr/local/bin by running:
```sh
sudo tar -xvf <victoriametrics-archive> -C /usr/local/bin
```
Replace `<victoriametrics-archive>` with the path to the archive you downloaded in step 1.

3. Create a VictoriaMetrics user on the system:

```sh
sudo useradd -s /usr/sbin/nologin victoriametrics
```

4. Create a folder for storing VictoriaMetrics data:

```sh
mkdir -p /var/lib/victoria-metrics && chown -R victoriametrics:victoriametrics /var/lib/victoria-metrics
```

5. Create a Linux Service by running the following:

```sh
cat <<END >/etc/systemd/system/victoriametrics.service
[Unit]
Description=VictoriaMetrics service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=victoriametrics
Group=victoriametrics
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/victoria-metrics-prod -storageDataPath=/var/lib/victoria-metrics -retentionPeriod=90d -selfScrapeInterval=10s
SyslogIdentifier=victoriametrics
Restart=always

PrivateTmp=yes
ProtectHome=yes
NoNewPrivileges=yes

ProtectSystem=full

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
END
```

Extra [command-line flags](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#list-of-command-line-flags) can be added to `ExecStart` line.

If you want to deploy VictoriaMetrics Single Node as a Windows Service review the [running as a Windows service docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#running-as-windows-service).

> Please note, `victoriametrics` service is listening on `:8428` for HTTP connections (see `-httpListenAddr` flag).

6. Start and enable the service by running the following command:

```sh 
sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl enable --now victoriametrics.service
```

7. Check that service started successfully: 

```sh
sudo systemctl status victoriametrics.service
```

8. After VictoriaMetrics is in `Running` state, verify [vmui](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#vmui) is working 
by going to `http://<ip_or_hostname>:8428/vmui`.


### Starting VictoriaMetrics Cluster from Binaries {anchor="starting-vm-cluster-from-binaries"}

VictoriaMetrics cluster consists of [3 components](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#architecture-overview).
It is recommended to run these components in the same private network (for [security reasons](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#security)),
but on the separate physical nodes for the best performance.

On all nodes you will need to do the following:

1. Download the correct binary for your OS and architecture with `-cluster` suffix from [GitHub](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/releases).
For Enterprise binaries see [this link](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/enterprise/#binary-releases).

2. Extract the archive to /usr/local/bin by running:

```sh
sudo tar -xvf <victoriametrics-archive> -C /usr/local/bin
```

Replace `<victoriametrics-archive>` with the path to the archive you downloaded in step 1

3. Create a user account for VictoriaMetrics:

```sh
sudo useradd -s /usr/sbin/nologin victoriametrics
```

See recommendations for installing each type of [cluster component](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#architecture-overview) below.

##### Installing vmstorage

1. Create a folder for storing `vmstorage` data:

`mkdir -p /var/lib/vmstorage && chown -R victoriametrics:victoriametrics /var/lib/vmstorage`

2. Create a Linux Service for `vmstorage` service by running the following command:

```sh
cat <<END >/etc/systemd/system/vmstorage.service
[Unit]
Description=VictoriaMetrics vmstorage service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=victoriametrics
Group=victoriametrics
Restart=always
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/vmstorage-prod -retentionPeriod=90d -storageDataPath=/var/lib/vmstorage

PrivateTmp=yes
NoNewPrivileges=yes
ProtectSystem=full

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
END
```

Extra [command-line flags](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#list-of-command-line-flags-for-vmstorage)
for vmstorage can be added to `ExecStart` line.

> Please note, `vmstorage` service is listening on `:8400` for vminsert connections (see `-vminsertAddr` flag),
> on `:8401` for vmselect connections (see `--vmselectAddr` flag) and on `:8482` for HTTP connections (see `-httpListenAddr` flag).

3. Start and Enable `vmstorage`:

```sh
sudo systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl enable --now vmstorage
```

4. Check that service started successfully:

```sh
sudo systemctl status vmstorage
```

5. After `vmstorage` is in `Running` state, confirm the service is healthy by visiting `http://<ip_or_hostname>:8482/-/healthy` link.
It should say "VictoriaMetrics is Healthy".

##### Installing vminsert

1. Create a Linux Service for `vminsert` by running the following command:

```sh
cat << END >/etc/systemd/system/vminsert.service
[Unit]
Description=VictoriaMetrics vminsert service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=victoriametrics
Group=victoriametrics
Restart=always
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/vminsert-prod -storageNode=<list of vmstorages>

PrivateTmp=yes
NoNewPrivileges=yes
ProtectSystem=full

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
END
```

Replace `<list of vmstorages>` with addresses of previously configured `vmstorage` services. 
To specify multiple addresses you can repeat the flag multiple times, or separate addresses with commas
in one flag. See more details in `-storageNode` flag description [here](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#list-of-command-line-flags-for-vminsert).

> Please note, `vminsert` service is listening on `:8480` for HTTP connections (see `-httpListenAddr` flag).

2. Start and Enable `vminsert`:

```sh
sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl enable --now vminsert.service
```

3. Check that service started successfully:

```sh
sudo systemctl status vminsert.service
```

4. After `vminsert` is in `Running` state, confirm the service is healthy by visiting `http://<ip_or_hostname>:8480/-/healthy` link.
It should say "VictoriaMetrics is Healthy"

##### Installing vmselect

1. Create a folder to store temporary cache:

```sh
sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/vmselect-cache && sudo chown -R victoriametrics:victoriametrics /var/lib/vmselect-cache
```

2. Add a Linux Service for `vmselect` by running

```bash
cat << END >/etc/systemd/system/vmselect.service
[Unit]
Description=VictoriaMetrics vmselect service
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=simple
User=victoriametrics
Group=victoriametrics
Restart=always
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/vmselect-prod -storageNode=<list of vmstorages> -cacheDataPath=/var/lib/vmselect-cache

PrivateTmp=yes
NoNewPrivileges=yes

ProtectSystem=full

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
END
```

Replace `<list of vmstorages>` with addresses of previously configured `vmstorage` services.
To specify multiple addresses you can repeat the flag multiple times, or separate addresses with commas
in one flag. See more details in `-storageNode` flag description [here](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#list-of-command-line-flags-for-vminsert).

> Please note, `vmselect` service is listening on `:8481` for HTTP connections (see `-httpListenAddr` flag).

3. Start and Enable `vmselect`:

```sh
sudo systemctl daemon-reload && sudo systemctl enable --now vmselect.service
```

4. Make sure the `vmselect` service is running:

```sh
sudo systemctl status vmselect.service
```

5. After `vmselect` is in `Running` state, confirm the service is healthy by visiting `http://<ip_or_hostname>:8481/select/0/vmui` link.
It should open [vmui](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#vmui) page.

## Write data

There are two main models in monitoring for data collection: 
[push](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/keyconcepts/#push-model) 
and [pull](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/keyconcepts/#pull-model). 
Both are used in modern monitoring and both are supported by VictoriaMetrics.

See more details on [writing data here](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/keyconcepts/#write-data).


## Query data

VictoriaMetrics provides an 
[HTTP API](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#prometheus-querying-api-usage)
for serving read queries. The API is used in various integrations such as
[Grafana](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#grafana-setup).
The same API is also used by
[VMUI](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#vmui) - graphical User Interface
for querying and visualizing metrics.

[MetricsQL](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/metricsql/) - is the query language for executing read queries
in VictoriaMetrics. MetricsQL is a [PromQL](https://prometheus.io/docs/prometheus/latest/querying/basics) 
-like query language with a powerful set of functions and features for working specifically with time series data.

See more details on [querying data here](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/keyconcepts/#query-data)


## Alerting

It is not possible to physically trace all changes on graphs all the time, that is why alerting exists.
In [vmalert](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmalert/) it is possible to create a set of conditions
based on PromQL and MetricsQL queries that will send a notification when such conditions are met.

## Data migration

Migrating data from other TSDBs to VictoriaMetrics is as simple as importing data via any of
[supported formats](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/keyconcepts/#push-model).

The migration might get easier when using [vmctl](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmctl/) - VictoriaMetrics
command line tool. It supports the following databases for migration to VictoriaMetrics:
* [Prometheus using snapshot API](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmctl/#migrating-data-from-prometheus);
* [Thanos](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmctl/#migrating-data-from-thanos);
* [InfluxDB](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmctl/#migrating-data-from-influxdb-1x);
* [OpenTSDB](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmctl/#migrating-data-from-opentsdb);
* [Migrate data between VictoriaMetrics single and cluster versions](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/vmctl/#migrating-data-from-victoriametrics).

## Productionization

When going to production with VictoriaMetrics we recommend following the recommendations.

### Monitoring

Each VictoriaMetrics component emits its own metrics with various details regarding performance
and health state. Docs for the components also contain a `Monitoring` section with an explanation
of what and how should be monitored. For example,
[Single-server-VictoriaMetrics Monitoring](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#monitoring).

VictoriaMetric team prepared a list of [Grafana dashboards](https://grafana.com/orgs/victoriametrics/dashboards)
for the main components. Each dashboard contains a lot of useful information and tips. It is recommended
to have these dashboards installed and up to date.

Using the [recommended alerting rules](https://github.com/VictoriaMetrics/VictoriaMetrics/tree/master/deployment/docker#alerts)
versions would also help to identify and notify about issues with the system.

The rule of thumb is to have a separate installation of VictoriaMetrics or any other monitoring system
to monitor the production installation of VictoriaMetrics. This would make monitoring independent and
will help identify problems with the main monitoring installation.

See more details in the article [VictoriaMetrics Monitoring](https://victoriametrics.com/blog/victoriametrics-monitoring/).

### Capacity planning

See capacity planning sections in [docs](https://docs.victoriametrics.com) for
[Single-server-VictoriaMetrics](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#capacity-planning)
and [VictoriaMetrics Cluster](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#capacity-planning).

Capacity planning isn't possible without [monitoring](#monitoring), so consider configuring it first.
Understanding resource usage and performance of VictoriaMetrics also requires knowing the tech terms
[active series](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/faq/#what-is-an-active-time-series),
[churn rate](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/faq/#what-is-high-churn-rate),
[cardinality](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/faq/#what-is-high-cardinality),
[slow inserts](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/faq/#what-is-a-slow-insert).
All of them are present in [Grafana dashboards](https://grafana.com/orgs/victoriametrics/dashboards).


### Data safety

It is recommended to read [Replication and data safety](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#replication-and-data-safety),
[Why replication doesn’t save from disaster?](https://valyala.medium.com/speeding-up-backups-for-big-time-series-databases-533c1a927883)
and [backups](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#backups).


### Configuring limits

To avoid excessive resource usage or performance degradation limits must be in place:
* [Resource usage limits](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/faq/#how-to-set-a-memory-limit-for-victoriametrics-components);
* [Cardinality limiter](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/single-server-victoriametrics/#cardinality-limiter).

### Security recommendations

* [Security recommendations for single-node VictoriaMetrics](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/#security)
* [Security recommendations for cluster version of VictoriaMetrics](https://docs.victoriametrics.com/cluster-victoriametrics/#security)