# Setting Up Your Vector Database (VDB)

> How to set up your own Vector Database (VDB).

*Source: https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/vdb-setup.htm*

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Last updated: June 11, 2026

|  |  |
| --- | --- |
| [Tier](https://www.sisense.com/pricing/#pricing) | [Deployment](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/introduction-to-sisense-cloud-managed-services.md#ComparisonofManagedCloudandSelfHosted) |
| Enterprise | On-Prem |

In order to use GenAI for self-hosted environments, you must set up a vector database (VDB).

For the complete MongoDB Atlas setup instructions, see the official [MongoDB Atlas documentation](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/atlas/#build-with-mongodb-on-aws--azure--and-google-cloud).

## Deploying an Atlas Cluster

1. Follow the instructions in the [MongoDB documentation](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/atlas/create-connect-deployments/) to deploy an Atlas cluster. Ensure that you deploy it in the same region as your Sisense deployment.

![VDB DeployCluster](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_DeployCluster.png)

## Configuring a Database User

1. Follow the instructions in [Configure Database Users](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/atlas/security-add-mongodb-users/) to create a database user.

   1. Set the authentication method to use a user name and password.

      ![VDB AuthPass](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_AuthPass_814x476.png)
   2. Set the user privileges to read and write for your database.

      ![VDB UserPriv](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_UserPriv_816x350.png)

## Generating an Application API Key

1. Follow the instructions in [Programmatic Access to Cloud Manager](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/cloud-manager/tutorial/manage-programmatic-api-keys/) to generate an application API key. Ensure that there are permissions to create a search index.

   ![VDB APIKey](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_APIKey_672x367.png)

## Connecting the Cluster to the Sisense Deployment

1. Follow the instructions in [Configure IP Access List Entries](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/atlas/security/ip-access-list/) to whitelist the Sisense deployment IP address for network access.

   ![VDB NetworkAccess](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_NetworkAccess_790x161.png)
2. Follow the instructions in [Programmatic Access to Cloud Manager](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/cloud-manager/tutorial/manage-programmatic-api-keys/) to whitelist the Sisense deployment IP address for search index creation.

   ![VDB EditAPIKey](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_EditAPIKey_537x181.png)

## Connecting the Atlas Cluster to Your Sisense Deployment

1. Follow the instructions in [Get Connection String](https://www.mongodb.com/docs/guides/atlas/connection-string/) to obtain your MongoDB connection string (including the database name) which you will [use in Sisense](https://docs.sisense.com/main/SisenseLinux/genai-selfhosted.md#ConnectingyourVectorDatabase). Ensure that the Atlas db name is included in the connection string in the following format:

   `mongodb+srv://<user>:<password>@<cluster domain>/<db_name>?retryWrites=true&w=majority`

   In the connection string above, replace the following fields with your own information:

   - <user> - your login user name
   - <password> - your password
   - <cluster domain> - the domain name
   - <db\_name> - the DB name

   ![VDB Connect](https://docs.sisense.com/main/Resources/Images/VDB_Connect_671x660.png)

## Setting the Service Provider to Atlas

1. Set the following environment variables via the terminal:

   - `kubectl -n sisense set env deployment ai-integration SERVICE_PROVIDER=atlas`
   - `kubectl -n sisense set env deployment ai-services SERVICE_PROVIDER=atlas`