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Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
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Apache Kafka
Database1024MB+ RAM
Distributed event streaming platform with KRaft mode (no Zookeeper)
messagingstreamingevent-drivenqueue
Deploy Apache Kafka in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select Apache Kafka
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy Apache Kafka on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the Apache Kafka template in Server Compass to deploy a fast distributed event streaming platform on your VPS, then verify the Kafka CLI topic command.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
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Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
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Step 3Search for Apache Kafka
Use the template picker search to find Apache Kafka in the Server Compass template catalog.
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Step 4Select the Apache Kafka template
Choose the Apache Kafka template. Server Compass fills the Kafka container, persistent data volume, broker port, and advertised listener host.
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Step 5Review the Apache Kafka settings
Confirm the app name and compose service. In this run, the app was named kafka-demo and used host port 9092.
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Step 6Deploy Apache Kafka
Review the generated environment values, confirm the Kafka broker port is available, and click Deploy Now.
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Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the Apache Kafka image, starts the container, and verifies the stack.
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Step 8Confirm Apache Kafka is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the Apache Kafka app is marked Running with the broker port available.
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Step 9Verify Apache Kafka is reachable
Open the app detail view and verify the running Apache Kafka container. In this tutorial run, the Kafka CLI topic command reported that Apache Kafka was ready.
After Apache Kafka Opens
- Restrict external access to port 9092 unless remote clients explicitly need it.
- Configure SASL/SSL before production use.
- Configure regular backups for the Apache Kafka data volume before storing production data.
- Review topic retention and replication settings before storing production event streams.
Verified Result
The Kafka CLI created and listed a tutorial verification topic through the local broker.
Apache Kafka deployment questions
What does the Apache Kafka template deploy?
It deploys an Apache Kafka container in KRaft mode with a persistent data volume and an externally advertised broker listener.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host port 9092, which maps to the Kafka broker port 9092.
Why is there no browser verification screenshot?
Apache Kafka exposes a broker endpoint rather than a conventional browser app. The tutorial verifies it with the Kafka CLI topic command.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the Apache Kafka template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Do It Yourself
Deploy Apache Kafka via Command Line
Prefer the command line? Follow this step-by-step guide to deploy Apache Kafka manually on your VPS.
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Open a Terminal Connection
Start by opening a terminal window and connecting to your VPS via SSH.
terminal
# Connect to your VPS
ssh root@your-server-ip
# Or with a specific SSH key
ssh -i ~/.ssh/your-key root@your-server-ipFirst time? Docker required! Install it with: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
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Create Application Directory
Create a dedicated space for your application deployment.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/kafka
cd ~/apps/kafka3
Create Deployment Configuration
Create a docker-compose.yml file with the following configuration:
docker-compose.yml
services:
kafka:
image: apache/kafka:latest
ports:
- "9092:9092"
environment:
- KAFKA_NODE_ID=1
- KAFKA_PROCESS_ROLES=broker,controller
- KAFKA_LISTENERS=PLAINTEXT://:9092,CONTROLLER://:9093
- KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS=PLAINTEXT://localhost:9092
- KAFKA_CONTROLLER_LISTENER_NAMES=CONTROLLER
- KAFKA_LISTENER_SECURITY_PROTOCOL_MAP=CONTROLLER:PLAINTEXT,PLAINTEXT:PLAINTEXT
- KAFKA_CONTROLLER_QUORUM_VOTERS=1@localhost:9093
- KAFKA_OFFSETS_TOPIC_REPLICATION_FACTOR=1
- KAFKA_TRANSACTION_STATE_LOG_REPLICATION_FACTOR=1
- KAFKA_TRANSACTION_STATE_LOG_MIN_ISR=1
- KAFKA_LOG_DIRS=/var/lib/kafka/data
volumes:
- kafka_data:/var/lib/kafka/data
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
kafka_data:
Configuration Variables
PORTKafka port(default: 9092)4
Launch Your Application
Deploy the stack and monitor the startup process.
terminal
# Spin up containers
docker compose up -d
# Verify deployment
docker compose ps
# Check logs for errors
docker compose logs -f5
Enable External Access
Set up firewall rules to permit incoming connections.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 9092/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:9092Skip the Terminal
Skip the command line. Deploy visually.
Deploy Apache Kafka with a beautiful UI instead. No SSH, no YAML editing, no terminal commands. Just click, configure, and deploy in under 3 minutes.
- Visual config editor
- Instant deployment
- Automatic HTTPS
- Smooth updates
- Live monitoring
- Quick rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying Apache Kafka with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
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Create topics
2
Test with kafka-console-producer and kafka-console-consumer
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Configure retention policies
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
Apache Kafka FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting Apache Kafka
How do I deploy Apache Kafka with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select Apache Kafka from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for Apache Kafka?
Apache Kafka requires a minimum of 1024MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 2048MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing Apache Kafka data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard Apache Kafka backup and restore procedures.
How do I update Apache Kafka to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest Apache Kafka image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is Apache Kafka free to self-host?
Apache Kafka is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
Ready to Self-Host Apache Kafka?
Download Server Compass and deploy Apache Kafka to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
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