How to install Prometheus on Ubuntu

Installing Prometheus on Ubuntu from the distribution package gives a managed metrics server with a systemd unit, default configuration, and security updates through APT. It fits hosts where Prometheus should run as a local service instead of a manually unpacked upstream tarball.

The Ubuntu package supplies the server binary, promtool, a default config file, and prometheus.service. The packaged service runs as the prometheus user, so normal service control and later package upgrades stay aligned with Ubuntu's layout.

A completed install should show valid configuration, an active prometheus service, and a local 200 OK response from /-/ready on port 9090. Keep the web port limited to localhost, a trusted monitoring network, or an authenticated reverse proxy instead of exposing the expression browser directly to the internet.

1. Open a terminal with sudo privileges.
2. Refresh the package index.

   $ sudo apt update

3. Install the Prometheus package.

   $ sudo apt install prometheus

   The package installs /usr/bin/prometheus, /usr/bin/promtool, /etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml, /etc/default/prometheus, and prometheus.service. Use the upstream tarball only when the host needs a release that the Ubuntu package does not provide.

4. Validate the packaged configuration.

   $ sudo promtool check config /etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml
   Checking /etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml
    SUCCESS: /etc/prometheus/prometheus.yml is valid prometheus config file syntax

   Related: How to test Prometheus configuration

5. Enable and start the Prometheus service.

   $ sudo systemctl enable --now prometheus

   Related: How to manage the Prometheus service with systemctl

6. Confirm the service is active.

   $ systemctl is-active prometheus
   active

   If the service is not active, inspect sudo journalctl -u prometheus before changing scrape configuration or firewall rules.
   Related: How to manage the Prometheus service with systemctl

7. Check the installed Prometheus binary.

   $ prometheus --version
   prometheus, version 2.53.5+ds1 (branch: debian/sid, revision: 2.53.5+ds1-3)
     build user:       team+pkg-go@tracker.debian.org
     build date:       20251231-19:01:34
     go version:       go1.25.0
     platform:         linux/amd64
     tags:             unknown

   The exact version and platform line depend on the Ubuntu release and CPU architecture.

8. Check the local readiness endpoint.

   $ curl --include http://127.0.0.1:9090/-/ready
   HTTP/1.1 200 OK
   Content-Length: 28
   Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
   
   Prometheus Server is Ready.

   A 200 OK response confirms the web listener is running locally on port 9090. Open firewall access only for trusted clients or put Prometheus behind an authenticated reverse proxy before remote browser access.