Apache Kafka 4.2 on Ubuntu 22.04 by cloudimg

## Apache Kafka 4.2 on Ubuntu 22.04 by cloudimg

Pre configured Apache Kafka 4.2 (Community edition) on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, purpose built for Microsoft Azure and maintained by cloudimg. Runs as a single node KRaft combined controller and broker with SASL SCRAM authentication, per VM credentials auto generated on first boot, and a hardened systemd service. Production ready, security patched, and validated before publication, with 24/7 expert technical support.

Why Choose cloudimg?

* 24/7 Expert Support with guaranteed 24 hour response for all requests and one hour average for critical issues. Contact support@cloudimg.co.uk

* Production Ready from Launch Pre configured, security patched, and validated before publication

* Azure Native Integration Built with Azure Linux Agent, cloud init, and Gen2 Hyper V support

* Trusted by Enterprise Established marketplace publisher with hundreds of images across AWS and Azure

What's Included

* Apache Kafka 4.2.0 (Scala 2.13 build) in KRaft mode (no ZooKeeper)

* OpenJDK 17 headless runtime on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

* SASL SCRAM SHA 512 authentication with per VM admin credentials generated on first boot

* Dedicated kafka OS user with hardened home and data directories

* systemd services for kafka.service and kafka-firstboot.service

* Pre seeded server.properties, kafka_server_jaas.conf, and /etc/default/kafka JVM tuning

* Helper scripts and a credentials log at /stage/scripts/kafka-credentials.log

* Ubuntu 22.04 LTS base with latest security patches at build time

* Azure Linux Agent for seamless cloud integration

* Cloud init for automated provisioning

Use Cases

* Single node Kafka broker for development, test, and proof of concept workloads

* Event streaming backbone for microservices and serverless consumers on Azure

* Log aggregation, change data capture, and real time analytics pipelines

* Application integration via producer and consumer APIs over SASL SCRAM

* Learning, training, and CI environments that need a real KRaft broker without operational overhead

Getting Started

1. Deploy from the Azure Marketplace in your preferred region

2. Connect via SSH using azureuser and your SSH key

3. Retrieve the per VM admin credentials from /stage/scripts/kafka-credentials.log

4. Start the broker with sudo systemctl start kafka and confirm port 9093 is listening

5. Produce and consume a test topic from your client using the generated SCRAM credentials

Technical Specifications

* Operating System: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

* Apache Kafka: 4.2.0 (Scala 2.13 build, KRaft mode)

* Java Runtime: OpenJDK 17 headless

* Install Path: /opt/kafka (symlink to /opt/kafka-4.2.0)

* Data Directory: /var/lib/kafka/data

* Log Directory: /var/log/kafka

* Listener Ports: 9093 (SASL SCRAM broker), 9094 (KRaft controller quorum)

* Default OS User: azureuser (sudo enabled)

* Service Account: kafka (owns KAFKA_HOME and data directory)

* Recommended Size: Standard_B2s (2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM)

* VM Generation: Hyper V Gen2 with UEFI boot

* Filesystem: LVM partitioned

Security

* Latest CVE patches applied at build time

* SASL SCRAM SHA 512 enabled by default; plaintext listener not exposed

* Per VM credentials generated on first boot so every deployment is unique

* No inbound ports required beyond SSH; customer opens 9093 from application tier only

* SSH hardened with key based authentication

* Compliance ready for CIS, PCI DSS, HIPAA when combined with customer network controls

Support

cloudimg provides 24/7/365 expert technical support. Guaranteed response within 24 hours, one hour average for critical issues. Contact support@cloudimg.co.uk.

Visit www.cloudimg.co.uk/guides/apache-kafka-4-2-on-ubuntu-22-04-azure for the full user guide.

Apache Kafka is a registered trademark of the Apache Software Foundation. This image is a repackaged upstream distribution provided by cloudimg. Additional charges apply for build, maintenance, and 24/7 support.