# rpk container start

> 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: rpk container start
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
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: "false"
page-eol-date: March 31, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
docname: rpk/rpk-container/rpk-container-start
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.1"
page-component-version: "26.1"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-container/rpk-container-start.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-container/rpk-container-start.adoc
page-git-created-date: "2023-05-17"
page-git-modified-date: "2024-12-03"
support-status: supported
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/reference/rpk/rpk-container/rpk-container-start.md -->

Start a local container cluster.

This command uses Docker to initiate a local container cluster. Use the `--nodes` (or the shorthand version `-n`) flag to specify the number of brokers.

The initial broker starts on default ports, with subsequent brokers' ports offset by 1000. You can use the following flags to specify listener ports:

-   `--kafka-ports`

-   `--admin-ports`

-   `--rpc-ports`

-   `--schema-registry-ports`

-   `--proxy-ports`


Each flag accepts a comma-separated list of ports for your listeners. Use the `--any-port` flag to let `rpk` randomly select an available port on the host machine.

In case of IP address pool conflict, you may specify a custom subnet and gateway using the `--subnet` and `--gateway` flags respectively.

By default, this command uses the `redpandadata/redpanda:latest` Redpanda container image. You can specify a container image by using the `--image` flag. See the available images at [Docker Hub](#https://hub.docker.com/r/redpandadata/redpanda/tags).

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk container start [flags]
```

## [](#examples)Examples

Start a three-broker cluster:

```bash
rpk container start -n 3
```

Start a single-broker cluster, selecting random ports for every listener:

```bash
rpk container start --any-port
```

Start a 3-broker cluster, selecting the seed kafka and console port only:

```bash
rpk container start --kafka-ports 9092 --console-port 8080
```

Start a three-broker cluster, specifying the Admin API port for each broker:

```bash
rpk container start --admin-ports 9644,9645,9646
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --admin-ports | strings | Redpanda Admin API ports to listen on; check help text for more information. |
| --any-port | - | Opt in for any (random) ports in all listeners. |
| --console-image | string | An arbitrary Redpanda Console container image to use (default redpandadata/console:latest). |
| --console-port | string | Redpanda Console ports to listen on; check help text for more information (default 8080). |
| --gateway | string | Gateway IP address for the subnet. Must be in the subnet address range (default 172.24.1.1). |
| -h, --help | - | Help for start. |
| --image | string | An arbitrary container Redpanda image to use (default redpandadata/redpanda:v26.1.9). |
| --kafka-ports | strings | Kafka protocol ports to listen on; check help text for more information. |
| --no-profile | - | If true, rpk will not create an rpk profile after creating a cluster. |
| -n, --nodes | uint | The number of brokers (nodes) to start (default 1). |
| --proxy-ports | strings | HTTP Proxy ports to listen on; check help text for more information. |
| --pull | - | Force pull the container image used. |
| --retries | uint | The amount of times to check for the cluster before considering it unstable and exiting (default 10). |
| --rpc-ports | strings | RPC ports to listen on; check help text for more information. |
| --schema-registry-ports | strings | Schema Registry ports to listen on; check help text for more information. |
| --subnet | string | Subnet to create the cluster network on (default 172.24.1.0/24). |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are /var/lib/redpanda/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings. See rpk -X or execute rpk -X help for inline detail or rpk -X list for terser detail. |
| --profile | string | Profile to use. See rpk profile for more details. |
| -v, --verbose | - | Enable verbose logging. |

## [](#see-also)See also

-   [QuickStart - Deploy Redpanda to Docker with a Single Broker](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/get-started/quick-start/#tabs-1-single-brokers)

-   [QuickStart - Deploy Redpanda to Docker with Three Nodes](https://docs.redpanda.com/streaming/current/get-started/quick-start/#tabs-1-three-brokers)