How to Install Vertica DB Client (vsql) on Ubuntu 24.04

If you're looking to work with Vertica's powerful analytics database on Ubuntu 24.04, installing the Vertica DB client (vsql) is a crucial first step. This guide walks you through the installation process, from downloading the client to verifying the installation.

Step 1: Download the Vertica Client Package

Start by downloading the Vertica client driver package suitable for your system. You can find the required package on the official Vertica website:

Download Vertica Client Drivers
https://www.vertica.com/download/vertica/client-drivers/

For this guide, we’ll be using version 24.2.0-1. Use the following link to download the package directly:

https://www.vertica.com/client_drivers/24.2.x/24.2.0-1/vertica-client-24.2.0-1.x86_64.tar.gz

Save the downloaded file in your Downloads directory.

Step 2: Create a Directory for Vertica

Next, you'll want to create a directory to store the Vertica client files. Open your terminal and run the following commands:

sudo mkdir -p /opt/vertica/

This command creates a directory named vertica under /opt, which is a standard location for optional software packages on Unix-like systems.

Step 3: Move the Downloaded File

Now, copy the downloaded package to the newly created directory:

sudo cp ~/Downloads/vertica-client-24.2.0-1.x86_64.tar.gz /opt/vertica/

Step 4: Extract the Package

Navigate to the Vertica directory:

cd /opt/vertica/

You can verify the presence of the package with:

ls

Now, extract the contents of the package:

sudo tar vzxf vertica-client-24.2.0-1.x86_64.tar.gz

This command will unpack the files into the directory, creating several subdirectories and files necessary for the client to operate.

Step 5: Update Your PATH

To use vsql easily from the command line, you’ll need to add its directory to your system’s PATH. You can do this by running:

export PATH=$PATH:/opt/vertica/opt/vertica/bin

To make this change permanent, consider adding the above line to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile.

Step 6: Set Permissions

Next, set the necessary permissions to ensure you can execute the vsql binary:

sudo chmod ugo+x /opt/vertica/opt/vertica/bin/vsql

Step 7: Verify the Installation

Finally, check that the installation was successful by running:

vsql --version

You should see output indicating the version of vsql, similar to:

vsql version 24.02.0001, built for Linux64, contains support for command-line editing

Conclusion

You have successfully installed the Vertica DB client (vsql) on your Ubuntu 24.04 system. With this powerful tool at your fingertips, you're ready to connect to Vertica databases and leverage its advanced analytical capabilities.