how to check kafka version

Everly

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13-01-2025

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Knowing your Kafka version is crucial for troubleshooting, upgrades, and ensuring compatibility with other tools and systems. This guide provides several methods to check your Kafka version, regardless of your operating system or deployment method. We'll cover checking the version on the broker, the client, and within containerized environments.

Checking the Kafka Broker Version

The Kafka broker is the core component of your Kafka cluster. Checking its version is fundamental. Here are several ways to accomplish this:

Method 1: Using the kafka-topics.sh script

This is a straightforward method if you have the Kafka command-line tools installed.

1. Locate the script: Find the kafka-topics.sh script within your Kafka installation directory. This is usually located under the bin directory.

2. Run the script with the --describe option (and potentially --zookeeper option): Use the following command, replacing <zookeeper_connect> with your ZooKeeper connection string:

./kafka-topics.sh --describe --zookeeper <zookeeper_connect> 

The output will contain information about your topics, but importantly, near the top, you'll see the Kafka version. If using a newer Kafka version you may need to specify the --bootstrap-server instead of --zookeeper.

3. Interpret the output: Look for a line similar to "Version:" followed by the version number. This indicates the version of the Kafka broker.

Method 2: Accessing JMX Metrics (Advanced)

Java Management Extensions (JMX) provides detailed metrics about your Kafka brokers. This method requires access to your broker's JMX interface.

1. Connect to JMX: Use a JMX client (like jconsole or a dedicated monitoring tool) to connect to your Kafka broker.

2. Locate the version attribute: Navigate through the JMX attributes until you find the Kafka version. The specific attribute name might vary slightly depending on the version.

3. Read the version: The value associated with the version attribute will display your Kafka broker version.

Method 3: Examining the Broker Logs

Your Kafka broker logs might contain the version information during startup. This method can be useful if you can't access the command line or JMX.

1. Locate the log files: Find the log files for your Kafka broker. The location varies based on your setup.

2. Search for the version: Search the log files for text indicating the version number. It's often printed at startup.

Checking the Kafka Client Version

The client library version is equally important and might differ from the broker version. You can check this in several ways depending on your chosen client library (e.g., Java, Python).

Method 1: Java Client

For Java clients, the version information is embedded within the JAR file.

1. Locate the JAR: Find the Kafka client JAR file (e.g., kafka-clients-*.jar).

2. Use jar tf: Execute the following command replacing <jar_file> with the path to your JAR file.

jar tf <jar_file> | grep MANIFEST.MF

3. Extract the version: Examine the output for a line containing Implementation-Version:. This value displays the client library version.

Method 2: Python Client

The Python client provides a method to directly check the version.

1. Import the library: Import the Kafka Python client library.

2. Access the version attribute: Use the following code:

import kafka
print(kafka.__version__)

This will output the version of the installed Kafka Python client.

Checking Kafka Version in Containerized Environments (Docker, Kubernetes)

If Kafka is running in a container, you can check its version by inspecting the container image.

Docker

1. Find the container ID: Use docker ps to find the container ID of your Kafka instance.

2. Inspect the image: Execute:

docker inspect <container_id>

Look for the Config.Image field. The image name usually incorporates the Kafka version (e.g., confluentinc/cp-kafka:7.0.1).

Kubernetes

1. Find the Pod: Identify the pod running your Kafka deployment.

2. Execute a shell command: Use kubectl exec to execute a command within the pod. Use one of the methods described in the "Checking the Kafka Broker Version" section within the pod's shell.

Conclusion

Checking your Kafka version is a crucial step in maintaining a healthy and functional Kafka cluster. By utilizing the methods described above, you can easily determine the versions of your brokers and clients, regardless of your environment. Remember to regularly check your versions to ensure compatibility and facilitate smooth upgrades and troubleshooting.