Installing MongoDB the Right Way: AVX Support and Version Compatibility (MongoDB 8 vs 4.4.29)

1. Understanding MongoDB and AVX

Starting from MongoDB 5.0, the database requires CPUs that support the AVX (Advanced Vector Extensions) instruction set.
AVX is a CPU feature that boosts parallel processing for heavy numerical or data operations, commonly supported by modern Intel and AMD processors.

However, this creates a problem for Synology NAS users, since popular models such as Intel Celeron J4125, J4025, and N5105 do not support AVX.
As a result, attempting to run MongoDB 5 or newer will cause the container to exit immediately with the error:

Illegal instruction (core dumped)

2. How to Check If Your CPU Supports AVX

To check whether your processor supports AVX, run the following command on Ubuntu or any Linux-based system:

grep avx /proc/cpuinfo

• If the output includes “avx” or “avx2”, your CPU supports it.
• If there is no output, your CPU does not support AVX.

Examples:

AVX-supported CPU output:

flags : fpu vme de pse tsc ... avx avx2 ...

Non-AVX CPU output:

flags : fpu vme de pse tsc ... (no avx)

3. For AVX-Supported CPUs – Installing MongoDB 8

If your CPU supports AVX, you can safely use the MongoDB 8 image (mongo:8-noble), based on Ubuntu 24.04.
This version comes with modern security updates and the new Mongo shell (mongosh) by default.

Here’s a ready-to-use docker-compose.yaml configuration:

networks:
  edge:
    external: true

services:
  database-mongo8:
    image: mongo:8-noble
    container_name: database-mongo8
    user: "1000:1000"      # Typical first user on Ubuntu
    restart: unless-stopped
    command:
      - "--auth"
      - "--bind_ip_all"
      - "--wiredTigerCacheSizeGB=1"
    environment:
      TZ: Asia/Seoul
      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME: "root"
      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD: "xxx"
    volumes:
      - ./mongo-data:/data/db
      - ./mongo-config:/data/configdb
    ports:
      - "27017:27017"

    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "mongosh --quiet --eval \"db.adminCommand('ping').ok\" | grep -q 1"]
      interval: 15s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 10
      start_period: 20s

    ulimits:
      nofile:
        soft: 64000
        hard: 64000

    security_opt:
      - no-new-privileges:true
    cap_drop:
      - ALL

    logging:
      driver: json-file
      options:
        max-size: "10m"
        max-file: "5"

    networks:
      - edge

⚙️ Note:
This setup exposes port 27017 for external access.
If you don’t need public access, delete or restrict it to localhost for better security:

ports:
  - "127.0.0.1:27017:27017"

Then connect to MongoDB using:

docker exec -it database-mongo8 mongosh -u root -p

Once inside, create a new database and user:

use mydatabase
db.createUser({ user: "myuser", pwd: "mypass", roles: ["readWrite"] })

4. For Non-AVX CPUs – Installing MongoDB 4.4.29

If you’re using a Synology NAS (DS920+, DS720+, DS220+, etc.) or similar systems with Intel Celeron J-series CPUs, AVX isn’t supported.
In that case, MongoDB 4.4.29 is the latest stable version you can run without issues.

Here’s a working docker-compose.yaml for non-AVX CPUs:

services:
  database-mongo4:
    image: mongo:4.4.29
    container_name: database-mongo4
    user: "1026:100"      # Default Synology NAS user/group
    command:
      - "--auth"
      - "--bind_ip_all"
      - "--wiredTigerCacheSizeGB=1"
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - 27017:27017
    environment:
      TZ: Asia/Seoul
      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_USERNAME: "root"
      MONGO_INITDB_ROOT_PASSWORD: "xxx"
    volumes:
      - ./mongo-data:/data/db
      - ./mongo-config:/data/configdb
    healthcheck:
      test: ["CMD-SHELL", "pgrep mongod > /dev/null || exit 1"]
      interval: 30s
      timeout: 5s
      retries: 5

Since MongoDB 4 uses the legacy shell, you must connect with mongo (not mongosh):

docker exec -it database-mongo4 mongo -u root -p

You can then create databases and users as usual.

5. MongoDB 8 vs MongoDB 4.4 – Feature Comparison

In short:
MongoDB 8 offers cutting-edge performance and features,
while MongoDB 4.4 remains a reliable and realistic choice for NAS environments.

6. Post-Installation Tips

Security

• Avoid using the root account directly in applications.
• Create a dedicated application user with limited privileges.
• Remove public port exposure unless necessary.

Backup Strategy

• Use mongodump / mongorestore for backups.
• Schedule regular snapshots of /data/db to protect your data.

File Permissions

Before starting the container, ensure your directories are owned by the correct user:

sudo chown -R 1000:1000 ./mongo-data ./mongo-config

7. Choosing the Right MongoDB for Your NAS

MongoDB 8 represents the future of NoSQL databases — fast, modern, and secure.
However, on systems like Synology NAS with low-power CPUs, MongoDB 4.4 is still a powerful and stable solution.

The grep avx /proc/cpuinfo command acts like a small but decisive test:
it determines whether you’re running the latest MongoDB or the most stable version for your hardware.

Regardless of your setup, the key is sustainability.
Database design and data consistency matter far more than version numbers.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. Can I use MongoDB 5–7 on a NAS?
A1. Not reliably. Most NAS CPUs lack AVX support, and unofficial patches are unstable.

Q2. Does MongoDB 4.4 support time-series collections?
A2. Only partially. Full time-series support was added in MongoDB 5 and above.

Q3. What’s the difference between mongosh and mongo?
A3. mongosh is a modern Node.js-based CLI with richer features and better usability.

Q4. Any tips for MongoDB 4.4 performance on NAS?
A4. Keep the --wiredTigerCacheSizeGB=1 option to reduce CPU load and memory pressure.

Q5. How long will MongoDB 4.4 be supported?
A5. Official support runs through 2025, after which only community maintenance may continue.

Q6. What happens if I don’t create a user DB after installation?
A6. Only the root account exists by default. Apps will fail authentication until a user DB is created.

🔗 References

• Official MongoDB Docker Image
• MongoDB Release Notes

In summary:

• ✅ Check AVX support: grep avx /proc/cpuinfo
• 🧠 AVX CPU → Use mongo:8-noble
• 🧩 Non-AVX CPU → Use mongo:4.4.29
• 💪 MongoDB 4.4 is still powerful enough for most NAS environments.