How to Install DynamoDB Local on Ubuntu 25.10 (Complete Guide)

What you will read?

1 Update the System

2 Install Java

3 Create a Directory for DynamoDB

4 Download DynamoDB Local

5 Run DynamoDB Local

6 Verify DynamoDB is Running

7 Install AWS CLI (if not installed)

8 Create a Test Table

9 Run DynamoDB as a Background Service

Amazon DynamoDB is a fully managed NoSQL database that provides fast and predictable performance with seamless scalability. It’s ideal for applications requiring low-latency access to large volumes of data. While AWS offers DynamoDB as a cloud service, you can also run DynamoDB locally on Ubuntu 25.10 for development and testing.

Update the System

Before anything else, make sure your system is up to date:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y Install Java DynamoDB Local requires Java to run. Install OpenJDK with:

sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk -y Verify the installation:

java -version You should see output confirming Java 17 or higher is installed.

Create a Directory for DynamoDB

Create a folder to store DynamoDB Local files and switch into it:

mkdir ~/dynamodb cd ~/dynamodb Download DynamoDB Local Use wget to download the latest version of DynamoDB Local directly from Amazon:

wget https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/dynamodb-local/dynamodb_local_latest.tar.gz Extract the archive:

tar -xvzf dynamodb_local_latest.tar.gz Run DynamoDB Local Start the DynamoDB Local server using Java:

java -Djava.library.path=./DynamoDBLocal_lib -jar DynamoDBLocal.jar -sharedDb This runs DynamoDB on port 8000 by default. You can now connect to it using the AWS CLI or SDKs.

Verify DynamoDB is Running

Open another terminal and test the connection with the AWS CLI:

aws dynamodb list-tables --endpoint-url http://localhost:8000 If DynamoDB is running correctly, you’ll see an empty table list ([]) since no tables have been created yet.

Install AWS CLI (if not installed)

If you don’t already have AWS CLI, install it with:

sudo apt install awscli -y Then configure it:

aws configure You can enter placeholder credentials (they’re not required for local mode).

Create a Test Table

Now let’s create a test table to ensure everything works:

aws dynamodb create-table \ --table-name Users \ --attribute-definitions AttributeName=UserID,AttributeType=S \ --key-schema AttributeName=UserID,KeyType=HASH \ --provisioned-throughput ReadCapacityUnits=5,WriteCapacityUnits=5 \ --endpoint-url http://localhost:8000 Check that the table was created:

aws dynamodb list-tables --endpoint-url http://localhost:8000 Run DynamoDB as a Background Service If you want DynamoDB to run automatically at boot or as a background process, create a systemd service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/dynamodb.service Add the following configuration:

[Unit] Description=DynamoDB Local After=network.target [Service] ExecStart=/usr/bin/java -Djava.library.path=/home/ubuntu/dynamodb/DynamoDBLocal_lib -jar /home/ubuntu/dynamodb/DynamoDBLocal.jar -sharedDb Restart=always User=ubuntu [Install] WantedBy=multi-user.target Save the file, then enable and start the service:

sudo systemctl enable dynamodb sudo systemctl start dynamodb You’ve successfully installed DynamoDB Local on Ubuntu 25.10. This setup is perfect for developers who need a lightweight, offline environment for testing DynamoDB queries, schema design, and integrations before deploying to AWS.

For high-performance Ubuntu VPS servers optimized for databases, automation, and AWS integrations, check out DropVPS — your reliable partner for cloud-ready hosting.

What Is DynamoDB Local and Why Install It?

DynamoDB Local is an offline, downloadable version of Amazon DynamoDB that lets developers build and test DynamoDB-backed applications without connecting to the AWS cloud. It behaves identically to the hosted service in terms of API compatibility, which means any code or query you write against DynamoDB Local will work seamlessly when you deploy to AWS.

The primary use cases for installing DynamoDB locally include: rapid prototyping without incurring AWS costs, CI/CD pipeline integration where internet access may be restricted, schema and index design testing before production rollout, and offline development on laptops or isolated servers.

Importantly, DynamoDB Local is not a production database — it is a development and testing tool. Data stored in it is not replicated, not fault-tolerant, and not suitable for serving real user traffic. Once development is complete, you point your application's endpoint to the real AWS DynamoDB service.

Prerequisites Before You Install DynamoDB on Ubuntu

Before you begin the installation process, make sure the following prerequisites are met on your Ubuntu 25.10 system:

**1. A running Ubuntu 25.10 instance** — This guide is tested on Ubuntu 25.10 (Oracular Oriole), but the steps are fully compatible with Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and most Debian-based distributions.

**2. sudo privileges** — You need administrator access to install packages and create systemd service files.

**3. Internet access** — To download the `dynamodb_local_latest.tar.gz` archive from Amazon S3. If you are on an air-gapped server, see the offline installation section below.

**4. At least 512 MB of free RAM** — DynamoDB Local runs as a Java process and requires a minimum of 256 MB heap, though 512 MB or more is recommended for smooth operation.

**5. `wget` or `curl` installed** — Used to download the archive. Both are usually pre-installed on Ubuntu; if not, run `sudo apt install wget -y`.