This page explains the cockroach init command, which you use to perform a one-time initialization of a new multi-node cluster. For a full tutorial of the cluster startup and initialization process, see one of the Manual Deployment tutorials.
When starting a single-node cluster with cockroach start-single-node, you do not need to use the cockroach init command.
Synopsis
Perform a one-time initialization of a cluster:
$ cockroach init <flags>
View help:
$ cockroach init --help
Flags
The cockroach init command supports the following client connection and logging flags.
cockroach init must target one of the nodes that was listed with --join when starting the cluster. Otherwise, the command will not initialize the cluster correctly.
Client connection
| Flag | Description |
|---|---|
--host |
The server host and port number to connect to. This can be the address of any node in the cluster. Env Variable: COCKROACH_HOSTDefault: localhost:26257 |
--port-p |
The server port to connect to. Note: The port number can also be specified via --host. Env Variable: COCKROACH_PORTDefault: 26257 |
--user-u |
The SQL user that will own the client session. Env Variable: COCKROACH_USERDefault: root |
--insecure |
Use an insecure connection. Env Variable: COCKROACH_INSECUREDefault: false |
--cert-principal-map |
A comma-separated list of <cert-principal>:<db-principal> mappings. This allows mapping the principal in a cert to a DB principal such as node or root or any SQL user. This is intended for use in situations where the certificate management system places restrictions on the Subject.CommonName or SubjectAlternateName fields in the certificate (e.g., disallowing a CommonName like node or root). If multiple mappings are provided for the same <cert-principal>, the last one specified in the list takes precedence. A principal not specified in the map is passed through as-is via the identity function. A cert is allowed to authenticate a DB principal if the DB principal name is contained in the mapped CommonName or DNS-type SubjectAlternateName fields. |
--certs-dir |
The path to the certificate directory containing the CA and client certificates and client key. Env Variable: COCKROACH_CERTS_DIRDefault: ${HOME}/.cockroach-certs/ |
--url |
A connection URL to use instead of the other arguments. Env Variable: COCKROACH_URLDefault: no URL |
--cluster-name |
The cluster name to use to verify the cluster's identity. If the cluster has a cluster name, you must include this flag. For more information, see cockroach start. |
--disable-cluster-name-verification |
Disables the cluster name check for this command. This flag must be paired with --cluster-name. For more information, see cockroach start. |
See Client Connection Parameters for details.
Logging
By default, this command logs messages to stderr. This includes events with WARNING severity and higher.
If you need to troubleshoot this command's behavior, you can customize its logging behavior.
Examples
Usage of cockroach init assumes that nodes have already been started with cockroach start and are waiting to be initialized as a new cluster. For a more detailed tutorial, see one of the Manual Deployment tutorials.
Initialize a Cluster on a Node's Machine
SSH to the machine where the node has been started. This must be a node that was listed with
--joinwhen starting the cluster.Make sure the
client.root.crtandclient.root.keyfiles for therootuser are on the machine.Run the
cockroach initcommand with the--certs-dirflag set to the directory containing theca.crtfile and the files for therootuser, and with the--hostflag set to the address of the current node:$ cockroach init --certs-dir=certs --host=<address of this node>At this point, all the nodes complete startup and print helpful details to the standard output, such as the CockroachDB version, the URL for the DB Console, and the SQL URL for clients.
SSH to the machine where the node has been started. This must be a node that was listed with
--joinwhen starting the cluster.Run the
cockroach initcommand with the--hostflag set to the address of the current node:$ cockroach init --insecure --host=<address of this node>At this point, all the nodes complete startup and print helpful details to the standard output, such as the CockroachDB version, the URL for the DB Console, and the SQL URL for clients.
Initialize a cluster from another machine
Install the
cockroachbinary on a machine separate from the node.Create a
certsdirectory and copy the CA certificate and the client certificate and key for therootuser into the directory.Run the
cockroach initcommand with the--certs-dirflag set to the directory containing theca.crtfile and the files for therootuser, and with the--hostflag set to the address of the node. This must be a node that was listed with--joinwhen starting the cluster:$ cockroach init --certs-dir=certs --host=<address of any node on --join list>At this point, all the nodes complete startup and print helpful details to the standard output, such as the CockroachDB version, the URL for the DB Console, and the SQL URL for clients.
Install the
cockroachbinary on a machine separate from the node.Run the
cockroach initcommand with the--hostflag set to the address of the node. This must be a node that was listed with--joinwhen starting the cluster:$ cockroach init --insecure --host=<address of any node on --join list>At this point, all the nodes complete startup and print helpful details to the standard output, such as the CockroachDB version, the URL for the DB Console, and the SQL URL for clients.
