Install a NATS server on Debian/Ubuntu

Introduction

This tutorial teaches you how to install a NATS server directly on Debian-based linux (not via Docker).

Overview

The installation consists of multiple steps each of which will be explained in detail. Those steps are as follows:

1. Create a user with name nats who belongs to the group nats.
2. Download the latest NATS release build.
3. Unzip the folder and copy it to /usr/bin.
4. Add NATS to systemd.
5. Run the NATS server and confirm it is working.
6. Enable it, so it can run at startup.

Step 1: Create the user nats

In order to add a user, we will use the useradd command, like so.

sudo useradd -s /bin/bash -d /home/nats/ -m -G sudo nats

To add a password for the user (not really needed, just a standard practice):

sudo passwd nats

Step 2: Download NATS

As per the documentation, one can download NATS by using the following shell command.

curl -L https://github.com/nats-io/nats-server/releases/download/v2.10.22/nats-server-v2.10.22-linux-amd64.zip -o nats-server.zip

Note that you may want to change the version of NATS if there are newer releases.

Step 3: Add NATS to /usr/bin

This step is straightforward. First, open the file explorer and unzip NATS.

Now copy the unzipped folder to /usr/bin

sudo cp nats-server/nats-server-v2.10.22-linux-amd64/nats-server /usr/bin

Step 4: Add NATS to systemd

This one is a little tricky, but this guide simplifies it for you.

1. Create /etc/nats-server.conf. No need to add content to it, since it is only there for customization and overriding the default behavior.

2. Create /etc/systemd/system/nats.service and add the following content to it.
   

[Unit]
Description=NATS Server
After=network-online.target ntp.service

[Service]
PrivateTmp=true
Type=simple
ExecStart=/usr/bin/nats-server -c /etc/nats-server.conf
ExecReload=/bin/kill -s HUP $MAINPID
ExecStop=/bin/kill -s SIGINT $MAINPID
User=nats
Group=nats
# The nats-server uses SIGUSR2 to trigger using Lame Duck Mode (LDM) shutdown
KillSignal=SIGUSR2
# You might want to adjust TimeoutStopSec too.

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

1. Save and exit.

Windows Subsystem for Linux

For WSL users, please make sure the user nats has the access permission on /usr/bin/nats-server. Here is how:
Change the user to nats.

su - nats

Then add read and execute permissions to that folder.

sudo chmod +rx /usr/bin/nats-server

Step 5: Run the NATS server

This one is easy. We reload the daemon and then run NATS.

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

sudo systemctl start nats

To confirm that it is running, run systemctl status nats, and you should get that it is active.

Step 6: Enable NATS

To enable NATS which would run it at startup, simply run the command below:

sudo systemctl enable nats

Conclusion

This simple tutorial ensures that the installation of NATS on Debian-based linux is smooth and easy. Let me know below if you have any questions or inquiries about it.

Happy building!