Install rpk

The rpk tool is a single binary application that provides a way to interact with your Redpanda clusters from the command line. For example, you can use rpk to:

  • Monitor your cluster’s health.

  • Set up access control lists (ACLs) and other security features.

  • Create topics, produce to topics, and consume from topics.

To install the rpk binary as a standalone application, follow the instructions for your operating system.

Install rpk on Linux

  1. Install rpk for Linux:

    • To install the latest version of rpk:

      curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-linux-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-linux-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

    • To install a version other than the latest:

      curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-linux-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-linux-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

  2. Run rpk --version to display the version of the rpk binary:

    rpk --version
    rpk version 24.2.4 (rev 2d4b926)

Install rpk on macOS

  • Homebrew

  • Manual Download

  1. If you don’t have Homebrew installed, install it.

  2. Install rpk:

    brew install redpanda-data/tap/redpanda

  3. Run rpk --version to display the version of the rpk binary:

    rpk --version
    rpk version 24.2.4 (rev 2d4b926)
    This method installs the latest version of rpk, which is supported only with the latest version of Redpanda.

To install rpk through a manual download, choose an option that corresponds to your system architecture. For example, if you have an M1 or M2 chip, use the Apple Silicon instructions.

  • Intel macOS

  • Apple Silicon

  1. Install rpk for macOS:

    • To install the latest version of rpk:

      curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-darwin-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

    • To install a version other than the latest:

      curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-darwin-amd64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

  2. Run rpk --version to display the version of the rpk binary:

    rpk --version
    rpk version 24.2.4 (rev 2d4b926)

  1. Install rpk for macOS:

    • To install the latest version of rpk:

      curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-darwin-arm64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-arm64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

    • To install a version other than the latest:

      curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/download/v<version>/rpk-darwin-arm64.zip &&
  mkdir -p ~/.local/bin &&
  export PATH="~/.local/bin:$PATH" &&
  unzip rpk-darwin-arm64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

  2. Run rpk --version to display the version of the rpk binary:

    rpk --version
    rpk version 24.2.4 (rev 2d4b926)

Next steps

For a list of all rpk commands and their syntax, see the rpk documentation.