Failed to start MongoDB server

Hi everyone, I hope I got the right section right. Let me introduce myself, I am Francesco and I have a problem with MongoDB community edition.

I have a virtual machine with Debian 12 operating system, which I run Omada Controller by TP-Link.

In doing a generic upgrade via sudo apt-get upgrade command, my version of MongoDB upgraded from 7 to 8 and so far so good, the Omada controller restarted and so far so good.

I had to physically shut down the server to perform the maintenance (I did the shutdown by properly stopping the virtual machines and then the server). Once I turned the server back on, MongoDB server no longer starts even though the parameters are still the same.

I tried re-installing the Omada package, once it tries to start I get Failed to start MongoDB server.

I tried reinstalling MongoDB but to no avail (permanently deleting the DB and reinstalling it).

Below is the log that comes out when it returns Failed to start Mongo DB server:

{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T07:22:55.163+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_sec":1746163375,"ts_usec":163577,"thread":"581:0x7fe8e4d996c0","session_name":"WT_SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"verbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot min: 9, snapshot max: 9 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta checkpoint timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 417"}}}

This is what I get when I type the following command:

tail -f /var/log/mongodb/mongod.log

{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:50:02.674+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746193802,"ts_usec":674657,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 11, snapshot max: 11 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:51:03.340+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746193863,"ts_usec":340394,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 12, snapshot max: 12 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:52:03.692+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746193923,"ts_usec":692773,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 13, snapshot max: 13 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:53:04.216+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746193984,"ts_usec":216254,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 14, snapshot max: 14 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:54:04.596+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746194044,"ts_usec":596391,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 15, snapshot max: 15 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:55:05.051+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746194105,"ts_usec":51684,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_S                                                                                                                                   ESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ver                                                                                                                                   bose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot min                                                                                                                                   : 16, snapshot max: 16 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta checkp                                                                                                                                   oint timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:56:05.457+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746194165,"ts_usec":457790,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 17, snapshot max: 17 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:57:05.794+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746194225,"ts_usec":793983,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 18, snapshot max: 18 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:58:06.156+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746194286,"ts_usec":156005,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 19, snapshot max: 19 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T15:59:06.487+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22                                                                                                                                   430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_se                                                                                                                                   c":1746194346,"ts_usec":487012,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_                                                                                                                                   SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"ve                                                                                                                                   rbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot mi                                                                                                                                   n: 20, snapshot max: 20 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta check                                                                                                                                   point timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:00:07.066+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"WTCHKPT",  "id":22430,   "ctx":"Checkpointer","msg":"WiredTiger message","attr":{"message":{"ts_sec":1746194407,"ts_usec":66383,"thread":"572:0x7fddf04466c0","session_name":"WT_SESSION.checkpoint","category":"WT_VERB_CHECKPOINT_PROGRESS","category_id":7,"verbose_level":"DEBUG_1","verbose_level_id":1,"msg":"saving checkpoint snapshot min: 21, snapshot max: 21 snapshot count: 0, oldest timestamp: (0, 0) , meta checkpoint timestamp: (0, 0) base write gen: 1824"}}}

I tried to repair the database with the command:
mongod --repair
This result:
mongod --repair

{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.315+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":23                                                                                                                                   285,   "ctx":"main","msg":"Automatically disabling TLS 1.0, to force-enable TLS                                                                                                                                    1.0 specify --sslDisabledProtocols 'none'"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.321+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":59                                                                                                                                   45603, "ctx":"main","msg":"Multi threading initialized"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.322+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"NETWORK",  "id":46                                                                                                                                   48601, "ctx":"main","msg":"Implicit TCP FastOpen unavailable. If TCP FastOpen is                                                                                                                                    required, set at least one of the related parameters","attr":{"relatedParameter                                                                                                                                   s":["tcpFastOpenServer","tcpFastOpenClient","tcpFastOpenQueueSize"]}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.322+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"NETWORK",  "id":49                                                                                                                                   15701, "ctx":"main","msg":"Initialized wire specification","attr":{"spec":{"inco                                                                                                                                   mingExternalClient":{"minWireVersion":0,"maxWireVersion":25},"incomingInternalCl                                                                                                                                   ient":{"minWireVersion":0,"maxWireVersion":25},"outgoing":{"minWireVersion":6,"m                                                                                                                                   axWireVersion":25},"isInternalClient":true}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.332+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"TENANT_M", "id":70                                                                                                                                   91600, "ctx":"main","msg":"Starting TenantMigrationAccessBlockerRegistry"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.334+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":46                                                                                                                                   15611, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"MongoDB starting","attr":{"pid":5569,"port":                                                                                                                                   27017,"dbPath":"/data/db","architecture":"64-bit","host":"omada"}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.334+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":23                                                                                                                                   403,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Build Info","attr":{"buildInfo":{"version":"                                                                                                                                   8.0.8","gitVersion":"7f52660c14217ed2c8d3240f823a2291a4fe6abd","openSSLVersion":                                                                                                                                   "OpenSSL 3.0.15 3 Sep 2024","modules":[],"allocator":"tcmalloc-google","environm                                                                                                                                   ent":{"distmod":"debian12","distarch":"x86_64","target_arch":"x86_64"}}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.334+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":51                                                                                                                                   765,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Operating System","attr":{"os":{"name":"PRET                                                                                                                                   TY_NAME=\"Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)\"","version":"Kernel 6.1.0-34-amd64"}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.334+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":21                                                                                                                                   951,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Options set by command line","attr":{"option                                                                                                                                   s":{"repair":true}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"E",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":20                                                                                                                                   557,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"DBException in initAndListen, terminating","                                                                                                                                   attr":{"error":"NonExistentPath: Data directory /data/db not found. Create the m                                                                                                                                   issing directory or specify another path using (1) the --dbpath command line opt                                                                                                                                   ion, or (2) by adding the 'storage.dbPath' option in the configuration file."}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"REPL",     "id":47                                                                                                                                   84900, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Stepping down the ReplicationCoordinator for                                                                                                                                    shutdown","attr":{"waitTimeMillis":15000}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"REPL",     "id":47                                                                                                                                   94602, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Attempting to enter quiesce mode"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"-",        "id":63                                                                                                                                   71601, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the FLE Crud thread pool"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"COMMAND",  "id":47                                                                                                                                   84901, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the MirrorMaestro"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"SHARDING", "id":47                                                                                                                                   84902, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the WaitForMajorityService"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"NETWORK",  "id":47                                                                                                                                   84905, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the global connection pool"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":47                                                                                                                                   84906, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the FlowControlTicketholder"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"-",        "id":20                                                                                                                                   520,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Stopping further Flow Control ticket acquisi                                                                                                                                   tions."}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"NETWORK",  "id":47                                                                                                                                   84918, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the ReplicaSetMonitor"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"SHARDING", "id":47                                                                                                                                   84921, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the MigrationUtilExecutor"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"ASIO",     "id":22                                                                                                                                   582,   "ctx":"MigrationUtil-TaskExecutor","msg":"Killing all outstanding egress                                                                                                                                    activity."}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":47                                                                                                                                   84928, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the TTL monitor"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":62                                                                                                                                   78511, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down the Change Stream Expired Pre-                                                                                                                                   images Remover"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":47                                                                                                                                   84929, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Acquiring the global lock for shutdown"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"-",        "id":47                                                                                                                                   84931, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Dropping the scope cache for shutdown"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":20                                                                                                                                   565,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Now exiting"}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":84                                                                                                                                   23404, "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"mongod shutdown complete","attr":{"Summary o                                                                                                                                   f time elapsed":{"Statistics":{"Enter terminal shutdown":"0 ms","Step down the r                                                                                                                                   eplication coordinator for shutdown":"0 ms","Time spent in quiesce mode":"0 ms",                                                                                                                                   "Shut down FLE Crud subsystem":"0 ms","Shut down MirrorMaestro":"0 ms","Shut dow                                                                                                                                   n WaitForMajorityService":"0 ms","Shut down the global connection pool":"0 ms","                                                                                                                                   Shut down the flow control ticket holder":"0 ms","Shut down the replica set moni                                                                                                                                   tor":"0 ms","Shut down the migration util executor":"0 ms","Shut down the TTL mo                                                                                                                                   nitor":"0 ms","Shut down expired pre-images and documents removers":"0 ms","Wait                                                                                                                                    for the oplog cap maintainer thread to stop":"0 ms","Shut down full-time data c                                                                                                                                   apture":"0 ms","Shut down online certificate status protocol manager":"0 ms","sh                                                                                                                                   utdownTask total elapsed time":"0 ms"}}}}
{"t":{"$date":"2025-05-02T16:09:26.335+02:00"},"s":"I",  "c":"CONTROL",  "id":23                                                                                                                                   138,   "ctx":"initandlisten","msg":"Shutting down","attr":{"exitCode":100}}

Can I help me?

Did you find a way to fix it? I’m having the same issue.

Read the log message, esp. the error: "s":"E". It even provides the solution:

“error”: “NonExistentPath: Data directory /data/db not found. Create the missing directory or specify another path using (1) the --dbpath command line option, or (2) by adding the ‘storage.dbPath’ option in the configuration file.”