Apache Kafka is a distributed event streaming platform capable of handling trillions of events a day. It is widely used for building real-time data pipelines and streaming applications. In this guide, we will walk you through the installation of Apache Kafka on Ubuntu 22.04. Whether you are deploying it on a local server or using a Windows VPS UK, this tutorial provides all the necessary steps.
Step 1: Update Your System
Before installing Apache Kafka, ensure your system is up to date. Run the following commands:
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
Keeping your system updated is crucial for security and performance, whether you're setting it up locally or on a VPS Windows Servers platform.
Step 2: Install Java
Kafka requires Java to run. Install OpenJDK 11 using the following command:
sudo apt install openjdk-11-jdk -y
After installation, verify the Java installation:
java -version
Step 3: Download and Install Apache Kafka
Navigate to the /opt directory and download the latest version of Apache Kafka:
cd /opt
sudo wget https://downloads.apache.org/kafka/3.4.0/kafka_2.13-3.4.0.tgz
Extract the downloaded file:
sudo tar -xvzf kafka_2.13-3.4.0.tgz
Rename the extracted folder for easier access:
sudo mv kafka_2.13-3.4.0 kafka
Step 4: Start Zookeeper and Kafka Server
Kafka uses Zookeeper to manage distributed brokers. Start the Zookeeper server with the following command:
sudo /opt/kafka/bin/zookeeper-server-start.sh /opt/kafka/config/zookeeper.properties
Open a new terminal session and start the Kafka server:
sudo /opt/kafka/bin/kafka-server-start.sh /opt/kafka/config/server.properties
Step 5: Create a Kafka Topic
To create a topic in Kafka, use the following command:
sudo /opt/kafka/bin/kafka-topics.sh --create --topic test --bootstrap-server localhost:9092 --replication-factor 1 --partitions 1
You can verify that the topic was created successfully with the following command:
sudo /opt/kafka/bin/kafka-topics.sh --list --bootstrap-server localhost:9092
Step 6: Send Messages to the Kafka Topic
Open a new terminal session and start a producer to send messages to the topic:
sudo /opt/kafka/bin/kafka-console-producer.sh --topic test --bootstrap-server localhost:9092
Type messages and press Enter to send them to the topic.
Step 7: Consume Messages from the Kafka Topic
Open another terminal session and start a consumer to read messages from the topic:
sudo /opt/kafka/bin/kafka-console-consumer.sh --topic test --from-beginning --bootstrap-server localhost:9092
You should see the messages that were sent to the topic.