Step-by-Step Guide: Setting Up ETCD Service on Ubuntu and Getting Started

Hey there! ??

I’m Harsh Shah, a cloud enthusiast, AWS-certified cloud developer, and someone who’s diving deeper into all things tech. This is my very first blog (yay! ??), and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned.

Why ETCD? Well, because it’s a cool tool for managing distributed systems, and I love geeking out over stuff like that. So, stick around as I walk you through setting it up on Ubuntu. Let’s make this fun and informative!

Ready to roll? Let’s get started! ??

Now before we setup the service let's try to understand.

Why ETCD? The Secret Sauce of Distributed Systems

Imagine you run a group of coffee shops (or servers ???). Each one needs to know what special drinks are available, how many beans are in stock, and when the next shipment is arriving. Now, imagine trying to share this info through sticky notes — messy, chaotic, and a recipe for disaster. That’s where ETCD comes to the rescue! ??

ETCD is like the ultimate group chat for your servers, keeping everyone on the same page without drama. It stores and manages critical configuration data so that your distributed systems can work in perfect harmony.

Where ETCD Shines ??

? Kubernetes: ETCD is the brain behind Kubernetes, storing cluster state and configuration data. Without it, Kubernetes would be wandering around aimlessly like a lost tourist. ??

? Service Discovery: It helps services find each other in large, dynamic environments. Think of it as a dating app for microservices! ??

? Configuration Management: Need to update a setting for your entire system? One update in ETCD, and bam! your whole system is in sync.

? Distributed Locks: Prevent those awkward double-booking situations in high-concurrency environments by managing access efficiently.

So whether you’re building a cloud-native application, managing a Kubernetes cluster, or just a geek who loves cool tech — ETCD is your new best friend. Ready to learn how to set it up on Ubuntu? Let’s dive in! ??

Alright, enough talk—let’s get our hands dirty! ??

It’s time to set up ETCD on Ubuntu and see this powerhouse in action. I’ll guide you step-by-step, so grab your terminal and let’s get started! ??

Step 1: Download the ETCD Binary

$ wget https://github.com/etcd-io/etcd/releases/download/v3.5.17/etcd-v3.5.17-linux-amd64.tar.gz        

This command downloads the ETCD release v3.5.17 tarball from the official GitHub repository. Ensure you are downloading the latest stable version by checking the official ETCD releases.

Step 2: Extract the Archive

$ tar -xvzf etcd-v3.5.17-linux-amd64.tar.gz        

Step 3: Move ETCD Binaries to System Path

$ sudo mv etcd-v3.5.17-linux-amd64/etcd /usr/local/bin/
$ sudo mv etcd-v3.5.17-linux-amd64/etcdctl /usr/local/bin/        

Step 4: Create a SystemD Service for ETCD

$ sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/etcd.service        

Opens the Nano text editor to create and edit a new systemd service file for ETCD. Copy below service file configuration code and save it.

Systemd will manage ETCD as a service, making it easier to start, stop, and enable ETCD during boot.

Sample Service File Configuration:

[Unit]
Description=ETCD Key-Value Store
After=network.target

[Service]
Type=notify
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/etcd
Restart=always
User=root
Group=root

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target        

Step 5: Reload Systemd Daemon

$ sudo systemctl daemon-reload        

Reloads systemd manager configuration to recognize the new etcd.service file. This step is necessary whenever a new or updated service file is added.

Step 6: Enable ETCD Service at Boot

$ sudo systemctl enable etcd        

Enables the ETCD service to automatically start on system boot. This is a crucial step to ensure ETCD is always running after reboots.

Step 7: Start ETCD Service

$ sudo systemctl start etcd        

Starts the ETCD service immediately. You won’t have to manually start it after this, thanks to the enable command.

Step 8: Check ETCD Service Status

$ sudo systemctl status etcd        

Displays the current status of the ETCD service, showing whether it is running and any potential issues.

Sample Output:

● etcd.service - ETCD Key-Value Store
   Loaded: loaded (/etc/systemd/system/etcd.service; enabled)
   Active: active (running) since [timestamp]        

?? Setup Complete!

Congrats! You’ve successfully set up ETCD on Ubuntu. Your ETCD service is now up and running ??. Let’s test it out!

$ etcdctl put mykey "Hello ETCD!"
$ etcdctl get mykey
$ etcdctl get "" --prefix --keys-only
$ etcdctl del mykey        

Quick and clean testing—you’re good to go! ??

Hope you had a blast setting up ETCD with me! ?? I’ve got tons of cool, advanced stuff coming your way, so buckle up and stay tuned for more! ?? Got questions or feedback? Drop them in the comments or DM me—let’s keep the convo going!