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Steps to Install Metabase (With Commands)

Prerequisites

Before installing Metabase, ensure the following requirements are met:

Hardware Requirements

  • Minimum 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended for production)

  • At least 2 CPU cores

  • 20 GB free disk space

Software Requirements

  • Linux OS (Ubuntu 20.04 / 22.04 recommended)

  • Root or sudo privileges

  • Internet connectivity

Network Requirements

  • Port 3000 open (Metabase default)

  • Optional: Port 80/443 for reverse proxy (Nginx)

1. Update the System

Ensures your system packages are up to date and compatible with Docker.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

2. Install Docker

sudo apt install -y docker.io

3. Start and enable Docker:

sudo systemctl start docker 
sudo systemctl enable docker

Verify Docker:

docker --version

(Optional – avoid sudo every time)

sudo usermod -aG docker $USER 
newgrp docker

Replace $USER with your username example: 

sudo usermod -aG docker metabase

4. Install Docker Compose (Recommended)

sudo apt install -y docker-compose

Verify:

docker-compose --version

4. Create Metabase Directory

Create a directory with a name of your choice (for example, metabase).
mkdir metabase
Navigate to the new directory

Change directory into a folder named metabase that exists in your curent directory

cd metabase

5. Create docker-compose.yml

nano docker-compose.yml

Paste:

version: "3.9"


services:
  metabase:
    image: metabase/metabase:latest
    container_name: metabase
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "3000:3000"
    environment:
      MB_DB_TYPE: postgres
      MB_DB_DBNAME: metabase
      MB_DB_PORT: 5432
      MB_DB_USER: metabase
      MB_DB_PASS: strongpassword
      MB_DB_HOST: metabase-db
    depends_on:
      - metabase-db


  metabase-db:
    image: postgres:15
    container_name: metabase-db
    restart: always
    environment:
      POSTGRES_DB: metabase
      POSTGRES_USER: metabase
      POSTGRES_PASSWORD: strongpassword
    volumes:
      - ./metabase-data:/var/lib/postgresql/data

Save and exit: CTRL + O → Enter → CTRL + X

6. Start Metabase

docker-compose up -d

Check containers:

docker ps

7. Access Metabase

Open browser:

http://SERVER_IP:3000

8. Initial Metabase Setup (Web)

  • Create Admin account

  • Select language

  • Add database connection

  • Finish setup

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