How to Install Netdata on a VPS for Real-Time Metrics

Netdata is a free, open-source monitoring tool that gives you real-time, per-second visibility into your VPS's CPU, RAM, disk, and network performance through a web-based dashboard.

Before starting, connect to your VPS via SSH with a user that has sudo privileges.

Step 1: Update the Server

Update your package list before installing anything new:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 2: Install Netdata Using the Official Script

Netdata provides an official one-line installer, called kickstart.sh, that automatically detects your Linux distribution, installs all required dependencies, and configures Netdata for you. Run:

wget -O /tmp/netdata-kickstart.sh https://get.netdata.cloud/kickstart.sh && sh /tmp/netdata-kickstart.sh

During installation, you'll be prompted to confirm the setup and optionally connect the VPS to Netdata Cloud for centralized monitoring. This step is optional, and Netdata works fully as a local dashboard without it.

The script installs all dependencies, creates the required system user, and configures Netdata automatically, so no manual setup is needed.

Step 3: Verify Netdata Is Running

Check that the Netdata service started successfully:

sudo systemctl status netdata

If it's not already running, start it with:

sudo systemctl start netdata

To make sure Netdata starts automatically on reboot:

sudo systemctl enable netdata

Step 4: Open the Netdata Port in the Firewall

Netdata's dashboard runs on port 19999 by default. If your VPS uses UFW, allow access only from your own IP address to keep the dashboard private:

sudo ufw allow from YOUR_IP_ADDRESS to any port 19999

Exposing port 19999 to the entire internet is not recommended, since the dashboard reveals detailed system information. Restricting access by IP keeps the setup secure.

Step 5: Access the Netdata Dashboard

Open a browser and go to your VPS IP address on port 19999:

http://your-vps-ip:19999

The dashboard loads instantly and displays live, per-second metrics for CPU usage, memory, disk I/O, network traffic, and running processes, with no configuration required to start viewing data.

Netdata is a lightweight way to monitor a Linux VPS in real time, making it easier to spot resource spikes, diagnose performance issues, and keep track of server health as your workload grows.

With Netdata installed, you now have a live, detailed view of your VPS's performance, updated every second, right from your browser.