How to Install RabbitMQ: Step-by-Step Guide

To install RabbitMQ, first install erlang as it is a prerequisite. Then install RabbitMQ using your system's package manager or official installer. For example, on Ubuntu, run sudo apt-get install rabbitmq-server after adding the RabbitMQ repository.

Syntax

Installing RabbitMQ involves two main parts: installing Erlang and then RabbitMQ itself. Erlang is the language RabbitMQ is built on, so it must be installed first.

Common commands for installation:

• sudo apt-get install erlang - installs Erlang on Debian/Ubuntu
• sudo apt-get install rabbitmq-server - installs RabbitMQ server
• brew install rabbitmq - installs RabbitMQ on macOS using Homebrew

bash

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y erlang
sudo apt-get install -y rabbitmq-server

Example

This example shows how to install RabbitMQ on Ubuntu Linux. It updates package lists, installs Erlang, then installs RabbitMQ server, and finally starts the RabbitMQ service.

bash

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y erlang
sudo apt-get install -y rabbitmq-server
sudo systemctl start rabbitmq-server
sudo systemctl enable rabbitmq-server
sudo systemctl status rabbitmq-server

Output

● rabbitmq-server.service - RabbitMQ broker
   Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/rabbitmq-server.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
   Active: active (running) since ...
     Docs: https://rabbitmq.com/documentation.html
 Main PID: 1234 (beam.smp)
    Tasks: 52 (limit: 4915)
   Memory: 45.0M
   CGroup: /system.slice/rabbitmq-server.service
           ├─1234 /usr/lib/erlang/erts-12.0.3/bin/beam.smp -W w -A 64 -P 1048576 ...
           └─1250 erl_child_setup 1024

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when installing RabbitMQ include:

• Not installing Erlang first, which causes RabbitMQ to fail.
• Using outdated package repositories that do not have the latest RabbitMQ version.
• Not starting or enabling the RabbitMQ service after installation.
• Firewall blocking RabbitMQ ports (default 5672 and 15672).

Always check service status and firewall settings after installation.

bash

sudo apt-get install rabbitmq-server
# This may fail if Erlang is missing

# Correct way:
sudo apt-get install -y erlang
sudo apt-get install -y rabbitmq-server

Quick Reference

Summary tips for installing RabbitMQ:

• Install Erlang before RabbitMQ.
• Use official RabbitMQ repositories for latest versions.
• Start and enable RabbitMQ service after installation.
• Open firewall ports 5672 (AMQP) and 15672 (management UI) if needed.
• Check service status with systemctl status rabbitmq-server.

Key Takeaways

Always install Erlang before installing RabbitMQ.

Use your system's package manager or official installers for best results.

Start and enable the RabbitMQ service after installation.

Check firewall settings to allow RabbitMQ ports.

Verify installation by checking the RabbitMQ service status.