# Configure External Access

> 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: Configure External Access
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.2.1
latest-console-tag: v3.10.0
latest-operator-version: v26.2.1
# EOL = End-of-Life (support lifecycle status)
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page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: July 28, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.105.0
docname: kubernetes/networking/external/index
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.2"
page-component-version: "26.2"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: kubernetes/networking/external/index.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/main/modules/manage/pages/kubernetes/networking/external/index.adoc
description: Use Kubernetes Services to expose your Redpanda cluster to clients outside of your Kubernetes cluster.
page-git-created-date: "2023-11-14"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-07-28"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/manage/kubernetes/networking/external.md -->

Setting up external access to your Redpanda cluster allows applications running outside the Kubernetes cluster to communicate with Redpanda. To make the Redpanda brokers externally accessible, the Pods must be exposed through Kubernetes Services, or routed through a Gateway with [Gateway API TLSRoutes](k-gateway-api/) (beta).

-   [Configure External Access through a NodePort Service](k-nodeport/)

    Use a NodePort Service to expose your Redpanda cluster to clients outside of your Kubernetes cluster.

-   [Configure External Access through LoadBalancer Services](k-loadbalancer/)

    Use LoadBalancer Services to expose your Redpanda cluster to clients outside of your Kubernetes cluster.

-   [Use a Custom Service for External Access](k-custom-services/)

    Expose your Redpanda cluster to clients outside of your Kubernetes cluster by using a custom Service.

-   [Configure External Access through Gateway API](k-gateway-api/)

    Use Gateway API TLSRoutes to expose your Redpanda cluster through a Gateway, without NodePort or LoadBalancer Services.