How to Install and Configure Redpanda on Ubuntu 22.04 (Step-by-Step)

Redpanda is a Kafka®-compatible streaming data platform: JVM-free, ZooKeeper-free, and distributed as a single binary. It is designed for high throughput and lower resource use and works with existing Kafka clients and tools. In this guide you install and configure Redpanda on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy), enable production mode, start the service, and optionally install rpk (CLI) and Redpanda Console (UI).

In this guide you’ll:

Add the Redpanda APT repository and install the redpanda package
Switch from development to production mode and run system tuning
Start and enable the Redpanda service and confirm it listens on port 9092
Optionally install the rpk CLI (standalone) and Redpanda Console (Docker or package)

Prerequisites

Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy) with sudo and internet access.
curl (install with sudo apt install curl if needed).
For Redpanda Console via Docker: Docker installed; for the native package, the same Redpanda APT repo is used.

Install Redpanda
Start and enable Redpanda
Optional: Install rpk standalone
Optional: Install Redpanda Console

1. Install Redpanda

Update the system and add the Redpanda APT repository. Check Redpanda docs for the current setup URL if needed:

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sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y
curl -1sLf 'https://dl.redpanda.com/nzc4ZYQK3WRGd9sy/redpanda/cfg/setup/bash.deb.sh' | sudo -E bash

You should see “OK: Installing ‘redpanda/redpanda’ repository” and “You’re ready to rock!”. Then install:

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sudo apt install -y redpanda

Redpanda defaults to development mode. For production, switch mode and run the system tuner:

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sudo rpk redpanda mode production
sudo rpk tune all

2. Start and enable Redpanda

Start the service and enable it on boot:

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sudo systemctl start redpanda
sudo systemctl enable redpanda

Check status: sudo systemctl status redpanda. You should see active (running) and a line like redpanda is ready! - v22.3.x. The broker listens on port 9092 (Kafka API). You now have a single-node Redpanda cluster; use it with any Kafka client or tool.

3. Optional: Install rpk standalone

rpk (Redpanda Keeper) is the CLI for managing Redpanda. It is installed with the redpanda package on the server; this section is for installing rpk on another machine (e.g. your laptop). Download the binary for Linux amd64:

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curl -LO https://github.com/redpanda-data/redpanda/releases/latest/download/rpk-linux-amd64.zip
mkdir -p ~/.local/bin
unzip rpk-linux-amd64.zip -d ~/.local/bin/

Add ~/.local/bin to your PATH (use $HOME so it expands correctly):

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export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"
echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc

Verify: rpk version (e.g. v22.3.11 (rev 9eefb907c)).

4. Optional: Install Redpanda Console

Redpanda Console is a web UI for browsing topics, consumer groups, and cluster state. You can run it in Docker or install the Debian/Ubuntu package (same repo as Redpanda).

Run Console with Docker (local broker)

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docker run --network=host \
  -e KAFKA_BROKERS=localhost:9092 \
  docker.redpanda.com/vectorized/console:latest

Open http://localhost:8080 in your browser.

Run Console with Docker (remote broker with TLS/SASL)

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docker run -p 8080:8080 \
  -e KAFKA_BROKERS=your-broker:9092 \
  -e KAFKA_TLS_ENABLED=true \
  -e KAFKA_SASL_ENABLED=true \
  -e KAFKA_SASL_MECHANISM=SCRAM-SHA-256 \
  -e KAFKA_SASL_USERNAME=your-username \
  -e KAFKA_SASL_PASSWORD=your-password \
  docker.redpanda.com/vectorized/console:latest

Install Console as a Debian/Ubuntu package

If you already added the Redpanda APT repo in step 1:

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sudo apt-get install -y redpanda-console
sudo systemctl start redpanda-console

The console listens on port 8080; open it in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is Redpanda?

Redpanda is a Kafka®-compatible streaming platform implemented in C++. It is JVM- and ZooKeeper-free, uses a single binary, and is designed for lower latency and resource use while supporting the Kafka API and many Kafka tools.

What port does Redpanda use?

The Kafka API is on TCP 9092 by default. Redpanda Console uses 8080. Configure ports in /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml if needed.

Can I use Kafka clients with Redpanda?

Yes. Redpanda is Kafka API–compatible. Use the same bootstrap servers (e.g. localhost:9092) and existing Kafka clients (librdkafka, kafka-python, etc.).

Where is the Redpanda config file?

Main config: /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. Use rpk cluster config edit or edit the file and restart the service.

Conclusion

You installed Redpanda on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS: added the APT repo, installed the package, enabled production mode and tuning, and started the service. The broker listens on port 9092. You can optionally install rpk on other machines and run Redpanda Console via Docker or the Ubuntu package for a web UI. For the same steps on Debian 11, see Redpanda on Debian 11. For Apache Kafka, see Kafka on Ubuntu 22.04 or Kafka in Docker.