# rpk redpanda config bootstrap

> 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 redpanda config bootstrap
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)
page-is-nearing-eol: "false"
page-is-past-eol: "false"
page-eol-date: July 28, 2027
latest-connect-version: 4.105.0
docname: rpk/rpk-redpanda/rpk-redpanda-config-bootstrap
page-component-name: streaming
page-version: "26.2"
page-component-version: "26.2"
page-component-title: Streaming
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-redpanda/rpk-redpanda-config-bootstrap.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-redpanda/rpk-redpanda-config-bootstrap.adoc
description: Initialize the configuration to bootstrap a cluster. This command generates a <code>redpanda.yaml</code> configuration file to bootstrap a cluster.
page-git-created-date: "2023-05-17"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-08-01"
support-status: supported
---

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

Initialize the configuration to bootstrap a cluster.

This command generates a `redpanda.yaml` configuration file to bootstrap a cluster. If you are modifying the configuration file further, it is recommended to first bootstrap and then modify. If the file already exists, this command will set fields as requested by flags, and this may undo some of your earlier edits.

The `--ips` flag specifies seed servers (`ips`, ip:ports, or hostnames) that this broker will use to form a cluster.

The flags `--advertised-kafka` and `--advertised-rpc` specify the advertised addresses that this broker will use to advertise the corresponding listeners. If not set, it will default to the private IP address or the one specified with the `--self` flag.

By default, Redpanda expects your machine to have one private IP address, and Redpanda will listen on it. If your machine has multiple private IP addresses, you must use the `--self` flag to specify which ip redpanda should listen on.

> 📝 **NOTE**
>
> This command is only available on Linux.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk redpanda config bootstrap [--self <ip>] [--ips <ip1,ip2,...>] [flags]
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --advertised-kafka | string | Optional address:port for Redpanda to advertise the kafka listener; if empty, defaults to --self. |
| --advertised-rpc | string | Optional address:port for Redpanda to advertise the rpc listener; if empty, defaults to --self. |
| --ips | stringSlice | Comma-separated list of the seed node addresses or hostnames; at least three are recommended. |
| --self | string | Optional IP address for Redpanda to listen on; if empty, defaults to a private address. |

## [](#global-flags)Global flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are ~/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings; -X help for detail or -X list for terser detail. |
| --ignore-profile | bool | Ignore rpk.yaml and redpanda.yaml; use default settings. |
| --profile | string | rpk profile to use. |
| -v, --verbose | bool | Enable verbose logging. |