# Create and Manage Connectors in Kubernetes

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [streaming-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming-full.txt)

---
title: Create and Manage Connectors in Kubernetes
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "true"
page-eol-date: July 31, 2025
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: kubernetes/k-manage-connectors
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "24.2"
page-component-version: "24.2"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: kubernetes/k-manage-connectors.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/24.2/modules/manage/pages/kubernetes/k-manage-connectors.adoc
description: Learn how to create and manage connectors using Redpanda Console or the Kafka Connect REST API.
page-git-created-date: "2024-01-04"
page-git-modified-date: "2024-02-26"
support-status: past end-of-life
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/24.2/manage/kubernetes/k-manage-connectors.md -->

When you have Redpanda Connectors deployed, you can create and manage connectors using Redpanda Console or the Kafka Connect REST API.

> ❗ **IMPORTANT**
>
> **The Redpanda Connectors Docker image is a community-supported artifact**. For support, reach out to the Redpanda team in [Redpanda Community Slack](https://redpanda.com/slack).
> Are you looking for [Redpanda Connect documentation](https://docs.redpanda.com/connect/get-started/about/)?

This topic describes how to use the [Redpanda Connectors Docker image](https://hub.docker.com/r/redpandadata/connectors/tags), which includes a pre-configured instance of [Kafka Connect](https://redpanda.com/guides/kafka-tutorial/what-is-kafka-connect) that works with Redpanda.

The Redpanda Connectors Docker image contains _only_ the MirrorMaker2 connector but you can build a custom image to install additional connectors. For a smoother experience, consider using the Managed Connectors available in Redpanda Cloud.

## [](#prerequisites)Prerequisites

-   [Deploy a Redpanda cluster with Redpanda Console](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/24.2/deploy/deployment-option/self-hosted/kubernetes/k-production-deployment/).

-   [Deploy Redpanda Connectors](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/24.2/deploy/deployment-option/self-hosted/kubernetes/k-deploy-connectors/).


## [](#manage-connectors-in-redpanda-console)Manage connectors in Redpanda Console

By default, Redpanda Console is deployed with a ClusterIP Service. To access Redpanda Console, you can use the `kubectl port-forward` command to forward one of your local ports to the Pod.

> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> The `kubectl port-forward` command is a development tool. To expose services to external traffic in a more permanent and controlled manner, use Kubernetes Services such as LoadBalancer or NodePort.

1.  Expose Redpanda Console to your localhost:

    ```bash
    kubectl --namespace <namespace> port-forward svc/redpanda-console 8080:8080
    ```

    This command actively runs in the command-line window. To execute other commands while the command is running, open another command-line window.

2.  Open Redpanda Console on [http://localhost:8080](http://localhost:8080).


You can create and manage connectors by clicking **Connectors** in the navigation menu.

## [](#manage-connectors-with-the-rest-api)Manage connectors with the REST API

This section provides examples of requesting data from the REST API using cURL. Execute all cURL commands in the Pod that’s running Redpanda Connectors.

To view the name of the Pod that’s running Redpanda Connectors:

```bash
kubectl get pod -l app.kubernetes.io/name=connectors --namespace <namespace>
```

### [](#view-version-of-kafka-connect)View version of Kafka Connect

To view the version of Kafka Connect, run:

```bash
curl localhost:8083 | jq
```

### [](#view-a-list-of-connectors)View a list of connectors

To view all available connectors, run:

```bash
curl localhost:8083/connector-plugins | jq
```

### [](#view-active-connectors)View active connectors

To view all active connectors, run:

```bash
curl 'http://localhost:8083/connectors?expand=status&expand=info' | jq
```

### [](#create-a-connector)Create a connector

To create a connector, run:

```bash
curl "localhost:8083/connectors" -H 'Content-Type: application/json' --data-raw '<connector-config>'
```

For example:

```bash
curl "localhost:8083/connectors" \
  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --data-raw '{ "name": "heartbeat-connector", "config": { "connector.class": "org.apache.kafka.connect.mirror.MirrorHeartbeatConnector", "heartbeats.topic.replication.factor": "1", "replication.factor": "1", "source.cluster.alias": "source", "source.cluster.bootstrap.servers": "redpanda:29092", "target.cluster.bootstrap.servers": "redpanda:29092"}}'
```

### [](#view-connector-status)View connector status

To view the status of a connector, run:

```bash
curl localhost:8083/connectors/<connector-name>/status
```

For example:

```bash
curl localhost:8083/connectors/heartbeat-connector/status
```

### [](#delete-a-connector)Delete a connector

To delete a connector, run:

```bash
curl "localhost:8083/connectors/<connector-name>" -X 'DELETE'
```

For example:

```bash
curl "localhost:8083/connectors/heartbeat-connector" -X 'DELETE'
```

## [](#next-steps)Next steps

-   [Monitor Connectors in Kubernetes](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/24.2/manage/kubernetes/monitoring/k-monitor-connectors/)


## Suggested labs

-   [Redpanda Iceberg Docker Compose Example](https://docs.redpanda.com/labs/docker-compose/iceberg/)
-   [Migrate Data with Redpanda Migrator](https://docs.redpanda.com/labs/docker-compose/redpanda-migrator/)
-   [Iceberg Streaming on Kubernetes with Redpanda, MinIO, and Spark](https://docs.redpanda.com/labs/kubernetes/iceberg/)

[Search all labs](https://docs.redpanda.com/labs)