# Kafka Setup

Before we combine Kafka with Ruby, it would be good to have a workable local Kafka process. The easiest way to do that is by using our `docker-compose.yml` present in Karafka:

```shell
git clone https://github.com/karafka/karafka.git
cd karafka
docker compose up
```

To check that it works, you can just telnet to it:

```shell
telnet 127.0.0.1 9092
Trying 127.0.0.1...
Connected to 127.0.0.1.
Escape character is '^]'.
```

## Kafka Setup / Connecting to Kafka from other Docker containers

The `docker-compose.yml` we provide with Karafka has a setting called `KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS`, and it is by default set to `PLAINTEXT://127.0.0.1:9092`.

Modify the `KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS` to match your docker host IP if you want to connect to Kafka from other docker containers:

```yaml
# KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS: PLAINTEXT://127.0.0.1:9092
KAFKA_ADVERTISED_LISTENERS: PLAINTEXT://192.168.0.5:9092
```

Once you have changed that, you should be able to connect from other docker containers to your Kafka by using the host IP address:

```shell
# Run an example docker container to check it via telnet
docker run -it --rm --entrypoint=bash python:3.8-slim-buster

# And then from within
apt update && apt install telnet

telnet 192.168.0.5 9092
Trying 192.168.0.5...
Connected to 192.168.0.5.
Escape character is '^]'.
```

## Kafka Setup / See Also

- [Getting Started](https://karafka.io/docs/Basics-Getting-Started.md) - For setting up Karafka with your Kafka cluster
- [Kafka Topic Configuration](https://karafka.io/docs/Kafka-Topic-Configuration.md) - For configuring Kafka topics
- [Kafka Cluster Configuration](https://karafka.io/docs/Kafka-Cluster-Configuration.md) - For cluster-level configuration options


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*Last modified: 2026-10-16 07:39:25*