1. If you have already provisioned a Kubernetes cluster and have already configured access to the cluster via a `kubeconfig` file, you are ready to install Consul K8s. Issue the `install` subcommand to install Consul on Kubernetes:
The [Homebrew](https://brew.sh) package manager is required to complete the following installation instructions. The `brew upgrade` command assumes that Hashicorp `tap` repository has already been installed from a prior install.
1. Upgrade the Consul K8s CLI with the latest `consul-k8s` package.
```shell-session
brew upgrade consul-k8s
```
2. (Optional) Issue the `consul-k8s version` command to verify the installation:
| `-auto-approve` | Boolean value that enables you to skip the installation confirmation prompt. | `false` | Optional |
| `-dry-run` | Boolean value that validates the installation and returns a summary. | `false` | Optional |
| `-config-file` | String value that specifies the path to a file containing custom installation configurations, e.g., Consul Helm chart values file. <br/> You can use the `-config-file` flag multiple times to specify multiple files. | none | Optional |
| `-namespace` | String value that specifies the namespace of the Consul installation. | `consul` | Optional |
| `-preset` | String value that installs Consul based on a preset configuration. You can specify the following values: <br/> `demo`: Installs a single replica server with sidecar injection enabled; useful for testing service mesh functionality. <br/> `secure`: Installs a single replica server with sidecar injection, ACLs, and TLS enabled; useful for testing service mesh functionality. | Configuration of the Consul Helm chart. | Optional |
| `-set` | String value that enables you to set a customizeable value. This flag is comparable to the `helm install --set` flag. <br/> You can use the `-set` flag multiple times to set multiple values. <br/> Consul Helm chart values are supported. | none | Optional |
| `-set-file` | String value that specifies the name of an arbitrary config file. This flag is comparable to the `helm install --set-file` <br/> flag. The contents of the file will be used to set a customizeable value. You can use the `-set-file` flag multiple times to specify multiple files. <br/> Consul Helm chart values are supported. | none | Optional |
| `-set-string` | String value that enables you to set a customizeable string value. This flag is comparable to the `helm install --set-string` <br/> flag. You can use the `-set-string` flag multiple times to specify multiple strings. <br/> Consul Helm chart values are supported. | none | Optional |
| `-timeout` | Specifies how long to wait for the installation process to complete before timing out. The value is specified with an integer and string value indicating a unit of time. <br/> The following units are supported: <br/> `ms` (milliseconds)<br/>`s` (seconds)<br/>`m` (minutes) <br/>In the following example, installation will timeout after one minute:<br/> `consul-k8s install -timeout 1m` | `10m` | Optional |
| `-wait` | Boolean value that determines if Consul should wait for resources in the installation to be ready before exiting the command. | `true` | Optional |
| `-verbose`, `-v` | Boolean value that specifies whether to output verbose logs from the install command with the status of resources being installed. | `false` | Optional |
The following example commands install Consul on Kubernetes using custom values, files, or strings that are set via flags. The underlying Consul-on-Kubernetes Helm chart uses the flags to customize the installation. The flags are comparable to the `helm install` [flags](https://helm.sh/docs/helm/helm_install/#helm-install).
| `-timeout` | Specifies how long to wait for the removal process to complete before timing out. The value is specified with an integer and string value indicating a unit of time. <br/> The following units are supported: <br/> `ms` (milliseconds)<br/>`s` (seconds)<br/>`m` (minutes) <br/>`h` (hours) <br/>In the following example, removal will timeout after one minute:<br/> `consul-k8s uninstall -timeout 1m` | `10m` | Optional |
| `-wipe-data` | Boolan value that deletes PVCs and secrets associated with the Consul installation during installation. <br/> Data will be removed without a verification prompt if the `-auto-approve` flag is set to `true`. | `false` <br/> Instructions for removing data will be printed to the console. | Optional |
The following example command immediately uninstalls Consul from the `my-ns` namespace with the name `my-consul` and removes PVCs and secrets associated with the installation without asking for verification:
The `status` command provides an overall status summary of the Consul on Kubernetes installation. It also provides the config that was used to deploy Consul K8s and provides a quick glance at the health of both Consul servers and clients. This command does not take in any flags.
-> The `consul-k8s upgrade` **subcommand is currently in beta**: This subcommand is not recommended for production environments.
The `upgrade` command upgrades the Consul on Kubernetes components to the current version of the `consul-k8s` cli. Prior to running `consul-k8s upgrade`, the `consul-k8s` CLI should first be upgraded to the latest version as described [Upgrade the Consul K8s CLI](#upgrade-the-consul-k8s-cli)
| `-auto-approve` | Boolean value that enables you to skip the upgrade confirmation prompt. | `false` | Optional |
| `-dry-run` | Boolean value that allows you to run pre-upgrade checks and returns a summary of the upgrade. | `false` | Optional |
| `-config-file` | String value that specifies the path to a file containing custom upgrade configurations, e.g., Consul Helm chart values file. <br/> You can use the `-config-file` flag multiple times to specify multiple files. | none | Optional |
| `-namespace` | String value that specifies the namespace of the Consul installation. | `consul` | Optional |
| `-preset` | String value that upgrades Consul based on a preset configuration. | Configuration of the Consul Helm chart. | Optional |
| `-set` | String value that enables you to set a customizeable value. This flag is comparable to the `helm upgrade --set` flag. <br/> You can use the `-set` flag multiple times to set multiple values. <br/> Consul Helm chart values are supported. | none | Optional |
| `-set-file` | String value that specifies the name of an arbitrary config file. This flag is comparable to the `helm upgrade --set-file` <br/> flag. The contents of the file will be used to set a customizeable value. You can use the `-set-file` flag multiple times to specify multiple files. <br/> Consul Helm chart values are supported. | none | Optional |
| `-set-string` | String value that enables you to set a customizeable string value. This flag is comparable to the `helm upgrade --set-string` <br/> flag. You can use the `-set-string` flag multiple times to specify multiple strings. <br/> Consul Helm chart values are supported. | none | Optional |
| `-timeout` | Specifies how long to wait for the upgrade process to complete before timing out. The value is specified with an integer and string value indicating a unit of time. <br/> The following units are supported: <br/> `ms` (milliseconds)<br/>`s` (seconds)<br/>`m` (minutes) <br/>In the following example, the upgrade will timeout after one minute:<br/> `consul-k8s upgrade -timeout 1m` | `10m` | Optional |
| `-wait` | Boolean value that determines if Consul should wait for resources in the upgtrade to be ready before exiting the command. | `true` | Optional |
| `-verbose`, `-v` | Boolean value that specifies whether to output verbose logs from the upgrade command with the status of resources being upgraded. | `false` | Optional |
| `--help` | Prints usage information for this option. | none | Optional |
See [Global Options](#global-options) for additional commands that you can use when installing Consul on Kubernetes.
### `version`
The `version` command prints the Consul on Kubernetes version. This command does not take any options.
| `-context` | String value that sets the Kubernetes context to use for Consul K8s CLI operations. | none | Optional |
| `-kubeconfig` <br/> Alias: `-c` | String value that specifies the path to the `kubeconfig` file. <br/> | none | Optional |
