Setting up authentication in MongoDB and creating a superuser account

In this recipe, we will look at how to create a superuser account in MongoDB and force MongoDB to use authentication.

Getting ready

You need a standard MongoDB installation.

How to do it...

1. Assuming you already have mongod running, connect to the mongod instance using the mongo shell and switch to the admin database:

use admin

2. Create a superuser account:

db.createUser( 
  {
    user: "superadmin",
    pwd: "supasecret",
    roles: [{role: "root", db: "admin"}]
  }
)

3. You should see an output similar to this:

Successfully added user: {        
"user" : "superadmin",
        "roles" : [
                {
                        "role" : "root",
                        "db" : "admin"
                }
        ]
}

4. Restart the mongod instance with auth enabled:

mongod --dbpath /data/db --auth

5. Connect to the mongod instance and attempt any regular operation:

show dbs

6. You should see an output similar to this:

2017-10-12T11:21:09.966+0000 E QUERY...