# What’s New in Redpanda

> 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: What’s New in Redpanda
latest-redpanda-tag: v25.1.1
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
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: April 7, 2026
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: release-notes/redpanda
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "25.1"
page-component-version: "25.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: release-notes/redpanda.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/v/25.1/modules/get-started/pages/release-notes/redpanda.adoc
description: Summary of new features and updates in this Redpanda release.
page-git-created-date: "2025-04-07"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-26"
support-status: past end-of-life
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/get-started/release-notes/redpanda.md -->

This topic includes new content added in version 25.1. For a complete list of all product updates, see the [Redpanda release notes](https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/). See also:

-   [What’s New in Redpanda Cloud](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/get-started/whats-new-cloud/)

-   [Redpanda Cloud vs Self-Managed feature compatibility](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/get-started/cloud-overview/#redpanda-cloud-vs-self-managed-feature-compatibility)


## [](#crash-recording-for-improved-support)Crash recording for improved support

Redpanda now records detailed information about broker crashes to help streamline troubleshooting and reduce time to resolution. Crash reports include information such as a stack trace, exception details, the Redpanda broker version, and the timestamp of when the crash occurred. The recorded crash reports are now automatically collected as part of [debug bundles](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/troubleshoot/debug-bundle/overview/), providing Redpanda customer support with more context to diagnose and resolve issues faster.

## [](#new-health-probes-for-broker-restarts-and-upgrades)New health probes for broker restarts and upgrades

The Redpanda Admin API now includes new health probes to help you ensure safe broker restarts and upgrades. The [`pre_restart_probe`](https://docs.redpanda.com/api/doc/admin/operation/operation-pre_restart_probe) endpoint identifies potential risks if a broker is restarted, and [`post_restart_probe`](https://docs.redpanda.com/api/doc/admin/operation/operation-post_restart_probe) indicates how much of its workloads a broker has reclaimed after the restart. See also:

-   [Perform a Rolling Restart](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/cluster-maintenance/rolling-restart/)

-   [Upgrade Redpanda](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/upgrade/rolling-upgrade/)


## [](#redpanda-console-v3-0-0)Redpanda Console v3.0.0

The Redpanda Console v3.0.0 release includes the following updates:

### [](#new-features)New features

Redpanda Console now supports unified authentication and authorization between Console and Redpanda, including user impersonation. This means you can authenticate to Redpanda using the same credentials you use for Redpanda Console.

See [Authentication in Redpanda Console](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/console/config/security/authentication/) for more information.

### [](#breaking-changes)Breaking changes

-   **Authentication and authorization:**

    -   Renamed the `login` stanza to `authentication`.

    -   Renamed `login.jwtSecret` to `authentication.jwtSigningKey`.

    -   Removed the plain login provider.

    -   OIDC group-based authorization is no longer supported.

    -   Role bindings must now be configured in the `authorization.roleBindings` stanza (no longer stored in a separate file).


-   **Schema Registry:**

    -   Moved from under the `kafka` stanza to a top-level `schemaRegistry` stanza.

    -   All authentication settings for Schema Registry are now defined under `schemaRegistry.authentication`.


-   **Admin API:**

    -   Authentication for the Redpanda Admin API is now defined under `redpanda.adminApi.authentication`.


-   **Serialization settings:**

    -   Moved `kafka.protobuf`, `kafka.cbor`, and `kafka.messagePack` to a new top-level `serde` stanza.

    -   The `kafka.protobuf.schemaRegistry` setting is deprecated. Use the top-level `schemaRegistry` stanza instead.


-   **Connect:**

    -   Renamed the `connect` stanza to `kafkaConnect` to avoid ambiguity with Redpanda Connect.


-   **Console settings:**

    -   Moved `console.maxDeserializationPayloadSize` to `serde.maxDeserializationPayloadSize`.



**Action required**: [Migrate to Redpanda Console v3.0.0](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/migrate/console-v3/).

### [](#other-changes)Other changes

The admin panel has been removed from the Redpanda Console UI. To manage users, use the Security page. To generate debug bundles, use the link on the Cluster overview page. To upload a new license, use the link on the Cluster overview page or in the license expiration warning banner.

## [](#iceberg-improvements)Iceberg improvements

Iceberg-enabled topics now support the following:

-   [Custom partitioning](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/iceberg/about-iceberg-topics/#use-custom-partitioning) for improved query performance.

-   [Snapshot expiry](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/iceberg/query-iceberg-topics/#access-iceberg-tables).

-   [Dead-letter queue](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/iceberg/about-iceberg-topics/#manage-dead-letter-queue) for invalid records.

-   [Schema evolution](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/iceberg/about-iceberg-topics/#schema-evolution), with schema mutations implemented according to the Iceberg specification.

-   For Avro and Protobuf data, structured Iceberg tables without the use of the Schema Registry wire format or SerDes. See [Choose an Iceberg Mode](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/iceberg/choose-iceberg-mode/) for more information.


## [](#protobuf-normalization-in-schema-registry)Protobuf normalization in Schema Registry

Redpanda now supports normalization of Protobuf schemas in the Schema Registry. You can normalize Avro, JSON, and Protobuf schemas both during registration and lookup. For more information, see the [Schema Registry overview](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/schema-reg/schema-reg-overview/#schema-normalization), and the [Schema Registry API reference](https://docs.redpanda.com/api/doc/schema-registry/).

## [](#protobuf-well-known-types-in-rpk)Protobuf well-known types in `rpk`

Support for [Protobuf well-known types](https://protobuf.dev/reference/protobuf/google.protobuf/) is available in `rpk` when encoding and decoding records using Schema Registry.

## [](#saslplain-authentication)SASL/PLAIN authentication

You now can configure Kafka clients to authenticate using [SASL/PLAIN](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/security/authentication/#enable-sasl.adoc) with a single account using the same username and password. Unlike SASL/SCRAM, which uses a challenge response with hashed credentials, SASL/PLAIN transmits plaintext passwords. You enable SASL/PLAIN by appending `PLAIN` to the list of SASL mechanisms.

## [](#pause-and-resume-uploads)Pause and resume uploads

Redpanda now supports [pausing and resuming uploads](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/tiered-storage/#pause-and-resume-uploads) to object storage when running Tiered Storage, with no risk to data consistency or data loss. You can use the [`cloud_storage_enable_segment_uploads`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/object-storage-properties/#cloud_storage_enable_segment_uploads) property to pause or resume uploads to help you troubleshoot any issues that occur in your cluster during uploads.

## [](#trial-license)Trial license

All new Redpanda clusters automatically receive a [trial license](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/get-started/licensing/overview/#trial-license) valid for 30 days. You can extend this trial for 30 days using the new [`rpk generate license`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/rpk/rpk-generate/rpk-generate-license/) command.

## [](#metrics)Metrics

The following metrics are new in this version:

### [](#consumer-lag-gauges)Consumer lag gauges

Redpanda can now expose dedicated consumer lag gauges that eliminate the need to calculate lag manually. These metrics provide real-time insights into consumer group performance and help identify issues. The following metrics are available:

-   [`redpanda_kafka_consumer_group_lag_max`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/public-metrics-reference/#redpanda_kafka_consumer_group_lag_max): Reports the maximum lag observed among all partitions for a consumer group. This metric helps pinpoint the partition with the greatest delay, indicating potential performance or configuration issues.

-   [`redpanda_kafka_consumer_group_lag_sum`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/public-metrics-reference/#redpanda_kafka_consumer_group_lag_sum): Aggregates the lag across all partitions, providing an overall view of data consumption delay for the consumer group.


See [Monitor consumer group lag](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/monitoring/#consumers) for more information.

### [](#other-metrics)Other metrics

-   [`redpanda_rpc_received_bytes`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/public-metrics-reference/#redpanda_rpc_received_bytes): Reports the number of bytes received from valid requests from the client.

-   [`redpanda_rpc_sent_bytes`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/public-metrics-reference/#redpanda_rpc_sent_bytes): Reports the number of bytes sent to clients.

-   [`redpanda_kafka_request_bytes_total`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/public-metrics-reference/#redpanda_kafka_request_bytes_total): Reports the total number of bytes read from or written to the partitions of a topic.

-   [`redpanda_cloud_storage_paused_archivers`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/public-metrics-reference/#redpanda_cloud_storage_paused_archivers): Reports the number of paused archivers.


## [](#rpk-commands)rpk commands

The following `rpk` commands are new in this version:

-   [`rpk generate license`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/rpk/rpk-generate/rpk-generate-license/)

-   [`rpk topic analyze`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/rpk/rpk-topic/rpk-topic-analyze/)


## [](#cluster-properties)Cluster properties

The following cluster properties are new in this version:

### [](#metrics-2)Metrics

-   [`enable_consumer_group_metrics`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#enable_consumer_group_metrics): Enables detailed consumer group metrics collection.

-   [`enable_host_metrics`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#enable_host_metrics): Enables exporting of some host metrics like `/proc/diskstats`, `/proc/snmp` and `/proc/net/netstat`.


### [](#iceberg-integration)Iceberg integration

-   [`iceberg_backlog_controller_p_coeff`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_backlog_controller_p_coeff): Configures the coefficient for backlog control in Iceberg tables.

-   [`iceberg_default_partition_spec`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_default_partition_spec): Sets the default partition specification for Iceberg tables.

-   [`iceberg_disable_snapshot_tagging`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_disable_snapshot_tagging): Disables snapshot tagging in Iceberg.

-   [`iceberg_invalid_record_action`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_invalid_record_action): Specifies the action for handling invalid records in Iceberg.

-   [`iceberg_rest_catalog_authentication_mode`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_rest_catalog_authentication_mode): Defines the authentication mode for the Iceberg REST catalog.

-   [`iceberg_rest_catalog_oauth2_server_uri`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_rest_catalog_oauth2_server_uri): Specifies the OAuth2 server URI for the Iceberg REST catalog.

-   [`iceberg_target_backlog_size`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_target_backlog_size): Sets the target backlog size for Iceberg.

-   [`iceberg_target_lag_ms`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#iceberg_target_lag_ms): Configures the target lag (in milliseconds) for Iceberg.


### [](#log-compaction)Log compaction

-   [`log_compaction_adjacent_merge_self_compaction_count`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#log_compaction_adjacent_merge_self_compaction_count): Adjusts the number of self-compaction merges during log compaction.

-   [`min_cleanable_dirty_ratio`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#min_cleanable_dirty_ratio): Sets the minimum ratio between the number of bytes in dirty segments and the total number of bytes in closed segments that must be reached before a partition’s log is eligible for compaction in a compact topic.


### [](#raft-optimization)Raft optimization

-   [`raft_max_buffered_follower_append_entries_bytes_per_shard`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#raft_max_buffered_follower_append_entries_bytes_per_shard): Limits the maximum bytes buffered for follower append entries per shard.

-   [`raft_max_inflight_follower_append_entries_requests_per_shard`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#raft_max_inflight_follower_append_entries_requests_per_shard): Replaces the deprecated `raft_max_concurrent_append_requests_per_follower` to limit in-flight follower append requests per shard.


### [](#tiered-storage)Tiered Storage

-   [`cloud_storage_enable_remote_allow_gaps`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/object-storage-properties/#cloud_storage_enable_remote_allow_gaps): Controls the eviction of locally stored log segments when Tiered Storage uploads are paused.

-   [`cloud_storage_enable_segment_uploads`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/object-storage-properties/#cloud_storage_enable_segment_uploads): Controls the upload of log segments to Tiered Storage. If set to `false`, this property temporarily pauses all log segment uploads from the Redpanda cluster.


### [](#tls-configuration)TLS configuration

-   [`tls_certificate_name_format`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#tls_certificate_name_format): Sets the format of the certificates’s distinguished name to use for mTLS principal mapping.

-   [`tls_enable_renegotiation`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#tls_enable_renegotiation): Enables support for TLS renegotiation.


### [](#throughput-quota)Throughput quota

-   [`target_fetch_quota_byte_rate`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#target_fetch_quota_byte_rate): Configures the fetch quota in bytes per second.


### [](#topic-configuration)Topic configuration

-   [`topic_partitions_memory_allocation_percent`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#topic_partitions_memory_allocation_percent): Adjusts the percentage of memory allocated for topic partitions.


### [](#scheduler-improvements)Scheduler improvements

-   [`use_kafka_handler_scheduler_group`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#use_kafka_handler_scheduler_group): Enables the Kafka handler scheduler group.

-   [`use_produce_scheduler_group`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#use_produce_scheduler_group): Enables the produce scheduler group.


### [](#changes-to-the-default-configuration)Changes to the default configuration

-   [`storage_read_readahead_count`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#storage_read_readahead_count): Reduced default from `10` to `1` to optimize read throughput and minimize unaccounted memory usage, lowering the risk of OOM errors on local storage paths.

-   [`topic_memory_per_partition`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#topic_memory_per_partition): Decreased default from `4194304` to `204800`

-   [`topic_partitions_per_shard`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/cluster-properties/#topic_partitions_per_shard): Increased default from `1000` to `5000` to support larger partition counts per shard.


### [](#client-quota-properties-removed)Client quota properties removed

The following client configuration properties were deprecated in version 24.2.1, and have been removed in this release:

-   `kafka_client_group_byte_rate_quota`

-   `kafka_client_group_fetch_byte_rate_quota`

-   `target_quota_byte_rate`

-   `target_fetch_quota_byte_rate`

-   `kafka_admin_topic_api_rate`


Use [`rpk cluster quotas`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/rpk/rpk-cluster/rpk-cluster-quotas/) to manage [client throughput limits](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/manage/cluster-maintenance/manage-throughput/#client-throughput-limits) based on the Kafka API.

## [](#broker-properties)Broker properties

-   [`node_id_overrides`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/broker-properties/#node_id_overrides): Overrides a broker ID and UUID at broker startup.


## [](#topic-properties)Topic properties

-   [`min.cleanable.dirty.ratio`](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/25.1/reference/properties/topic-properties/#mincleanabledirtyratio): Sets the minimum ratio between the number of bytes in dirty segments and the total number of bytes in closed segments that must be reached before a partition’s log is eligible for compaction in a compact topic.