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Install Prometheus on a Linux VPS by downloading the release archive for the server’s architecture, extracting it, creating a YAML configuration, and starting ./prometheus --config.file=prometheus.yml. A practical single-VPS setup keeps Prometheus on port 9090, runs Node Exporter on port 9100 for host metrics, and adds both endpoints under scrape_configs. Verify the installation in the Prometheus UI, the /metrics endpoint, and the Targets page before exposing anything beyond a trusted network.
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What you are installing
Prometheus is a monitoring server that stores time-series data gathered by periodically scraping HTTP metrics endpoints. The server process is configured with YAML rather than a graphical wizard. On a small Linux VPS, the usual arrangement is:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Component | Role | Default port in this setup |
|---|---|---|
| Prometheus server | Scrapes targets, stores time-series data, and provides the expression browser and web interface | 9090 |
| Node Exporter | Exposes Linux host metrics such as CPU time and available filesystem space | 9100 |
Prometheus scrapes the exporter over HTTP. It does not require Node Exporter to be installed on the same machine, although using localhost is the simplest starting point for one VPS. The Prometheus Authors’ Node Exporter documentation describes it as “a single static binary that you can install via tarball.”
Before you begin
- A Linux VPS with shell access and permission to install and run long-lived processes.
- The correct Prometheus and Node Exporter release archives for the VPS operating-system and CPU architecture.
- A plan for where Prometheus will keep its time-series database. By default, it uses its data path unless you change that behavior with startup flags.
- A trusted network path for the web interface. Port 9090 should not be left openly reachable from the public internet without access controls.
- Firewall rules that allow only the traffic you actually need. If Prometheus and Node Exporter run on the same VPS, Node Exporter normally needs to be reachable only locally.
Check the architecture before downloading:
uname -mUse the result to choose the matching archive on the official Prometheus downloads page. Do the same for the Node Exporter release. Avoid copying an archive built for a different architecture; the binary may fail immediately or be unusable on the VPS.
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Choose how to run Prometheus
The tarball workflow below follows the upstream distribution model. Other choices affect how you operate the installation after the first launch.
| Decision | Option 1 | Option 2 | When to choose |
|---|---|---|---|
| How to obtain the binary | Upstream release tarball | Operating-system package | Use the tarball when you want the release supplied by the Prometheus project and a predictable directory layout. A package can fit an existing distribution update process, but its version and paths are controlled by that distribution. |
| Process management | Start the binary manually | Run it as a system service | Manual execution is useful for a first validation. A service manager is the safer operational choice for automatic startup and restart on a production VPS. |
| Web access | Local-only access | Protected reverse-proxy access | Keep the interface local while testing. If remote operators need it, put it behind a reverse proxy with authentication and network restrictions. |
| Target inventory | static_configs |
file_sd_configs |
Static targets are straightforward for one or a few stable VPS instances. File-based discovery is better for a changing fleet because Prometheus watches the target file and updates the list when it changes. |
| Monitoring scope | Prometheus on one VPS | Centralized Prometheus server | A local server is simple for a single host. A centralized server is more appropriate when one Prometheus instance must scrape multiple VPS instances. |
Install Prometheus from the release archive
1. Download and extract the matching release
Open the official Prometheus downloads page, select the current Prometheus release for your VPS architecture, and download the Linux archive. After the archive is on the VPS, extract it and enter the extracted directory:
tar -xzf prometheus-*.tar.gz
cd prometheus-*The wildcard is convenient when the directory contains only the archive you just downloaded. If it matches more than one file, use the exact filename shown by ls instead. The extracted directory contains the Prometheus executable and the files needed for the basic configuration.
2. Create the first configuration
Create prometheus.yml in the extracted directory. This minimal configuration scrapes Prometheus itself every 15 seconds:
global:
scrape_interval: 15s
scrape_configs:
- job_name: prometheus
static_configs:
- targets: ["localhost:9090"]global.scrape_interval controls how often targets are scraped unless a job overrides it. The scrape_configs section is where scrape jobs belong. Each job has a name and one or more target definitions; static_configs is the simplest form for a fixed list.
Keep YAML indentation exact. A misplaced space can prevent Prometheus from loading the file. Save the file, then run the binary from the directory containing it:
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./prometheus --config.file=prometheus.ymlPrometheus starts its web interface on port 9090 in this basic arrangement and begins scraping the local target. The time-series database is written to Prometheus’s data path unless you change it with the available startup flags. If you start the process in an interactive shell, closing that shell normally ends the process; use your distribution’s service manager for a persistent production service.
3. Open the interface safely
For a local check on the VPS, use:
curl http://localhost:9090/metricsFrom an administrator workstation, use http://<vps-address>:9090 only through a trusted network path or a protected reverse proxy. The Prometheus security guidance assumes that only trusted users can change command-line arguments, configuration files, and rule files. Treat access to the interface and to the directory containing prometheus.yml as administrative access, not as a public status page.
Add Linux host metrics with Node Exporter
1. Download and run Node Exporter
Download the Node Exporter release that matches the VPS architecture, extract its tarball, and run the single static binary. The standard example listens on port 9100:
tar -xzf node_exporter-*.tar.gz
cd node_exporter-*
./node_exporterIn a second shell on the VPS, confirm that it is serving metrics:
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curl http://localhost:9100/metricsThe response should contain Prometheus-formatted samples. The Node Exporter documentation specifically uses metrics including node_cpu_seconds_total and node_filesystem_avail_bytes as examples of Linux host data.
2. Add the exporter as a scrape job
Edit prometheus.yml and add a second job under scrape_configs:
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global:
scrape_interval: 15s
scrape_configs:
- job_name: prometheus
static_configs:
- targets: ["localhost:9090"]
- job_name: node
static_configs:
- targets: ["localhost:9100"]The target address is the address Prometheus must contact, not the address a browser uses to reach the Prometheus UI. Here, both processes are on the same VPS, so localhost is appropriate. If the exporter runs on another VPS, replace it with that host’s reachable address and protect the exporter port with firewall rules.
3. Apply the configuration
After saving the file, restart Prometheus so it reads the new job. Where your deployment uses the documented configuration-reload mechanism, you can reload instead; a restart is the unambiguous option for a manually launched process. Watch the Prometheus process output for configuration errors before moving on.
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Verify every layer of the installation
Check Prometheus’s own metrics endpoint
Visit http://localhost:9090/metrics on the VPS. A response confirms that the Prometheus HTTP endpoint is running, but it does not prove that every configured target is healthy.
Check target health
Open http://localhost:9090/targets, or use the Status → Target health page in the web interface. You should see both the prometheus and node jobs with an UP state. The Targets page is the authoritative first check for scrape connectivity because it shows the last scrape result and any error returned by a target.
Run metric queries
In the expression browser, query these names one at a time:
up— confirms whether a scrape target is currently reachable; a value of 1 means the target is up.node_cpu_seconds_total— checks that Node Exporter is exposing CPU time series.node_filesystem_avail_bytes— checks that filesystem-availability metrics are present.
A successful query proves more than an open port: Prometheus has parsed the response and stored samples for that target.
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Troubleshoot a target marked DOWN
| What you observe | What to check | Typical correction |
|---|---|---|
Node Exporter’s /metrics endpoint refuses the connection |
Whether the exporter process is running and listening on port 9100 | Start Node Exporter and repeat curl http://localhost:9100/metrics. |
| The endpoint works locally, but Prometheus reports a scrape error | The target address in prometheus.yml, YAML indentation, and whether Prometheus was restarted or reloaded |
Correct the targets value, fix the YAML, then apply the configuration. |
| Prometheus cannot reach a remote exporter | Firewall rules, the exporter bind address, and routing between the two VPS instances | Allow only the required source and destination, and use an address reachable from the Prometheus server. |
| The UI itself is unreachable | Whether Prometheus is running, which address it is bound to, and whether port 9090 is filtered | Check the process output locally first; expose the interface only through a trusted path or protected proxy. |
The target is UP, but expected series are missing |
Whether you queried the correct metric name and whether the exporter response contains the series | Inspect the exporter’s /metrics output, then query the exact series name in Prometheus. |
Start troubleshooting from the target’s own endpoint and move outward: exporter process, local HTTP response, Prometheus target address, firewall, and finally the Prometheus UI. This order distinguishes a dead exporter from a configuration or network problem.
Secure a Prometheus deployment on a public VPS
Keep administrative interfaces private
Port 9090 exposes query and configuration-related operational information. Bind access locally while you are testing, or allow it only from a trusted management network. If remote access is required, place Prometheus behind a reverse proxy that provides authentication and restricts the proxy at the network layer. Do not treat an obscure URL as a security control.
Protect Node Exporter
Node Exporter reveals host-level information. When it runs on the same VPS as Prometheus, a local target of localhost:9100 avoids making port 9100 public. For remote scraping, permit only the Prometheus server to reach the exporter and avoid a firewall rule that opens the port to every internet address.
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The official security guidance assumes that only trusted users can change Prometheus command-line arguments, configuration files, and rule files. Apply that principle to the account running the process and to the extracted directories: ordinary users should not be able to replace the binary or edit prometheus.yml. A service definition should run with the minimum permissions needed to read its configuration and write its data path.
Keep releases current
The Prometheus Authors’ security guidance lists a seven-day target for security fixes for Prometheus and listed exporters. Treat that as an operational deadline: monitor upstream security announcements, schedule updates, replace both server and exporter binaries when required, and verify the Targets page after each update. Test the configuration before restarting so a malformed file does not leave monitoring offline.
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For a small, stable installation, add each host to a separate static job or to one job with several static targets. As the fleet changes, editing the main YAML file for every host becomes error-prone. Prometheus supports file_sd_configs for this case.
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With file-based service discovery, the main configuration points to a targets.json file. Prometheus watches that file and automatically updates the scrape target list when the file changes, so adding or removing a VPS does not require editing the primary configuration for every change. Keep the discovery file writable only by the controlled process that manages inventory, and validate a change by checking the Targets page for the expected UP state.
A centralized Prometheus server can scrape Node Exporter instances on multiple VPSs. Each exporter must be reachable from the central server, and every exporter port should be restricted to that scraper’s network path. A local Prometheus instance remains useful when each VPS must retain its own short-term monitoring view or when network separation makes central scraping inappropriate.
Make the installation reliable after the first test
Use a service manager for automatic startup
The manual command proves that the binaries and configuration work, but it ties availability to a shell session. For a production VPS, run Prometheus and Node Exporter under the operating system’s service manager so they start at boot, restart after a process failure, and write logs where your normal administration tools can inspect them. Keep the exact command-line arguments from your validated manual launch, including --config.file=prometheus.yml for Prometheus and the intended data-path settings.
Separate configuration, binaries, and data
Keep the YAML configuration and downloaded release directories organized so an upgrade can replace binaries without accidentally deleting the time-series database. Record which data path the running process uses, especially if you later move it to larger storage. A full filesystem can stop new samples from being written even though the web interface still answers.
Validate before every reload or upgrade
Check the YAML indentation and target addresses before applying a change. After a restart or reload, verify all three layers again: Prometheus’s /metrics, Node Exporter’s /metrics, and the Targets page. Then run up and one Node Exporter metric query so a syntactically valid but functionally incorrect target does not go unnoticed.
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Single VPS, local metrics
Use the two-job configuration shown above when Prometheus and Node Exporter share one machine. It minimizes firewall exposure and gives you immediate visibility into both the monitoring server and the Linux host.
Remote exporter scraped by a central server
Run Node Exporter on each monitored VPS and list each exporter’s reachable address under the central Prometheus server’s scrape configuration. The exporter port must be reachable from the central server, not necessarily from an administrator’s browser. Restrict the firewall to that source and keep Prometheus’s own port protected separately.
Changing fleet
Use file_sd_configs and a managed targets.json inventory when VPS instances are frequently added, removed, or replaced. This keeps target changes out of the primary YAML and lets Prometheus notice updates automatically.
Quick Recap
Installation checklist
- Architecture checked with
uname -m. - Matching Prometheus release archive downloaded and extracted.
prometheus.ymlcontains a 15-second global scrape interval and a Prometheus job targetinglocalhost:9090.- Prometheus started with
./prometheus --config.file=prometheus.yml. - Prometheus responds at
http://localhost:9090/metrics. - Matching Node Exporter archive extracted and the exporter listening on port 9100.
curl http://localhost:9100/metricsreturns metric samples.- A
nodejob targetinglocalhost:9100was added underscrape_configs. - The Prometheus process was restarted or reloaded after the edit.
- The Targets page shows both jobs as
UP. - Queries for
up,node_cpu_seconds_total, andnode_filesystem_avail_bytesreturn data. - Ports 9090 and 9100 are restricted, and only trusted users can change binaries, configuration, startup arguments, or rule files.
- Prometheus and Node Exporter are placed under a persistent service arrangement and kept within the seven-day security-fix target described by the Prometheus Authors.
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