---
title: "Prepare the Apache Kafka Binary Distribution"
slug: "prepare-the-apache-kafka-binary-distribution"
updated: 2024-03-19T11:24:57Z
published: 2024-03-19T11:24:57Z
canonical: "docs.mapp.com/prepare-the-apache-kafka-binary-distribution"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.mapp.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Prepare the Apache Kafka Binary Distribution

> Usually, the Kafka versions are compatible up to the minor version (for example, using the tools on the binary distribution of Kafka 2.0 usually works with other Kafka 2.X). If there is no particular reason against it, you should use the 2.12-XXX versions (Scala 2.12).

1. Download the Apache Kafka binary distribution at [https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi?path=/kafka/](https://www.apache.org/dyn/closer.cgi?path=/kafka/).

> [!WARNING]
> Beware of not downloading the `-src.tgz`-file which only contains the source code.
2. Uncompress the `.tgz`-file.
3. Save it in the desired location on your local machine.

#### Example

Assuming Linux/MacOS, you can download, uncompress and move the `.tgz`-file with the following commands:

```plaintext
wget http://mirror.vorboss.net/apache/kafka/2.1.0/kafka_2.12-2.1.0.tgz -O /tmp/kafka_2.12-2.1.0.tgz
tar -xzf /tmp/kafka_2.12-2.1.0.tgz -C /tmp
rm /tmp/kafka_2.12-2.1.0.tgz
mv /tmp/kafka_2.12-2.1.0 ~/kafka
```

Now you should have your binary Kafka distribution on your home folder under the folder `kafka`.
4. In the desired location on your local machine, set up a JAAS ([Java Authentication and Authorization Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Authentication_and_Authorization_Service)) configuration file with the `jaas.conf`-extension. It contains the credentials and will be used when connecting to Kafka. Mapp will provide the credentials.

> [!CAUTION]
> This is a sensitive file so please set proper file permissions for the configuration file, as it contains the user and the password that will be used when connecting to Mapp's streaming endpoint.
5. Include the following in the `jaas.conf`-file:

```plaintext
KafkaClient {
 org.apache.kafka.common.security.scram.ScramLoginModule required
 username="myuser"
 password="mypassword";
};
```
6. Substitute <username> and <password> by credentials provided by Mapp.
7. Export the environment variable `KAFKA_OPTS` from the path directory:

```plaintext
export KAFKA_OPTS="-Djava.security.auth.login.config=/path/to/jaas.conf"
```
8. Substitute the path to your `jaas.conf`-file.