Zero unpatched CVEs after migration
Native JSON, vector search, and time series
Faster throughput with Redis 8.x
Granular ACL and RBAC
Native AI and vector search
No more RedisStack module maintenance
Zero unpatched CVEs after migration
Native JSON, vector search, and time series
Faster throughput with Redis 8.x
Granular ACL and RBAC
Meet Security & Compliance Standards
0
Downtime upgrades
Downtime upgrades
Rolling broker upgrades and low-traffic write-lock windows keep production event streaming live through every Apache Kafka version upgrade cutover.
24/7
Managed support
Managed support
Consumer group lag spikes, partition rebalance storms, and JVM pressure are resolved before they impact your Apache Kafka upgrade service delivery.
99.99%
Availability goals
Availability goals
Controller quorum sizing, replica allocation, and retention policies are tuned for availability under real failure conditions across every upgraded cluster.
3.x
Upgrade ready
Upgrade ready
Deprecated APIs scanned, ZooKeeper-to-KRaft upgrade executed, and client versions validated against the latest Apache Kafka version before production is touched.
Upgrade to Apache Kafka 3.x with Ksolves Experts
Running Apache Kafka 2.x leaves your platform exposed to security risks, unaddressed bugs, and growing compatibility issues with modern connectors and streaming tools. Every release they ship widens the gap that your team cannot close.
Ksolves certified Kafka engineers own your complete cluster upgrade from broker audit to post-migration consumer lag validation. Every engagement is staffed with named streaming infrastructure experts, backed by a written message-accuracy guarantee, and delivered on a confirmed timeline agreed upon before any broker is touched.
Why Upgrade to Apache Kafka Version 3.x
Apache Kafka's community support window covers only 12 months per release. Once that window closes, every vulnerability discovered goes permanently unpatched while the rest of the ecosystem advances without you.
Unpatched security vulnerabilities
Any CVE found after end-of-life goes permanently unpatched in Apache Kafka 2.x. Upgrading to Apache Kafka version 3.x is the only way to restore a live security patch pipeline for your streaming infrastructure.
Compliance and audit exposure
SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA auditors flag end-of-life software. Upgrading your old Apache Kafka version to 3.x removes the audit risk that can void cyber insurance and block certification renewals.
ZooKeeper is a dead end
Apache Kafka 4.0 removed ZooKeeper entirely. There is no direct Apache Kafka upgrade path from ZooKeeper-based 2.x to 4.0. Kafka 3.9 is the mandatory bridge to upgrade to the latest version of Apache Kafka.
Client and connector breakage
Confluent connectors, Kafka Streams clients, and Apache Flink integrations are dropping 2.x support. Clients below version 2.1 cannot connect to a Kafka 4.0 cluster once your Apache Kafka version upgrade is complete.
Blocked from modern streaming features
Upgrade to Apache Kafka version 3.x to unlock the next-generation consumer rebalance protocol (KIP-848), tiered storage, and concurrent segment processing unavailable in any 2.x release.
Shrinking upgrade window
An Apache Kafka upgrade service for 2.x environments takes 2 to 8 weeks. Clusters below 2.4 require an intermediate stop before 3.9. Starting the Apache Kafka version upgrade late raises cost and operational risk.
Still Running Apache Kafka 2.x?
Upgrade to 3.x Now.
Our certified engineers audit your cluster and deliver a written Apache Kafka
upgrade plan before any work begins.
Our Apache Kafka Version Upgrade Services
Every Ksolves Kafka upgrade is planned upfront, delivered by certified Kafka engineers, and backed by a proven migration methodology.
Apache Kafka 2.x to 3.x rolling upgrade
Ksolves runs compatibility assessment, inter-broker protocol version sequencing, and ZooKeeper version validation before a single broker is restarted during your Apache Kafka version upgrade. Clients on 2.1 and above are confirmed against the target 3.x minor before production is touched.
ZooKeeper-to-KRaft upgrade
Upgrading to the latest version of Apache Kafka requires ZooKeeper removal. Ksolves runs the controlled live upgrade introduced in 3.6, stabilized in 3.7, and production-ready in 3.9. Controller quorum sizing, dynamic quorum configuration, and metadata validation are all covered.
Kafka Streams and consumer group upgrade
Upgrading your old Apache Kafka version to 3.x introduces cooperative rebalancing, foreign-key join serialization changes, and removal of deprecated Streams APIs. Ksolves executes the two-phase rolling bounce and confirms consumer group behavior before the Apache Kafka upgrade service completes.
Amazon MSK and Confluent Cloud upgrade
Ksolves handles MSK pre-upgrade eligibility checks, IAM access policy updates, VPC boundary validation, MirrorMaker 2.0 workload transfer, and connector configuration validation as part of your Apache Kafka version upgrade service on managed platforms.
Connector and ingestion pipeline upgrade
Production 2.x clusters carry legacy Connect workers that no longer support older Apache Kafka versions. Ksolves upgrades your ingestion stack to Data Prepper or Confluent-certified 3.x connectors and validates end-to-end throughput against 2.x baselines before sign-off.
Multi-hop Apache Kafka upgrade (2.x to 3.4 to 3.9)
Clusters below Apache Kafka 2.4 cannot upgrade directly to 3.9 due to wire-protocol changes. Ksolves plans the correct intermediate stops, validates inter-broker protocol compatibility at each stage, and manages the full IBP bump sequence through to the 3.9 bridge release.
Our Apache Kafka Version Upgrade Services
Every Ksolves Kafka upgrade is planned upfront, delivered by certified Kafka engineers, and backed by a proven migration methodology.
Apache Kafka 2.x to 3.x rolling upgrade
Ksolves runs compatibility assessment, inter-broker protocol version sequencing, and ZooKeeper version validation before a single broker is restarted during your Apache Kafka version upgrade. Clients on 2.1 and above are confirmed against the target 3.x minor before production is touched.
ZooKeeper-to-KRaft upgrade
Upgrading to the latest version of Apache Kafka requires ZooKeeper removal. Ksolves runs the controlled live upgrade introduced in 3.6, stabilized in 3.7, and production-ready in 3.9. Controller quorum sizing, dynamic quorum configuration, and metadata validation are all covered.
Kafka Streams and consumer group upgrade
Upgrading your old Apache Kafka version to 3.x introduces cooperative rebalancing, foreign-key join serialization changes, and removal of deprecated Streams APIs. Ksolves executes the two-phase rolling bounce and confirms consumer group behavior before the Apache Kafka upgrade service completes.
Amazon MSK and Confluent Cloud upgrade
Ksolves handles MSK pre-upgrade eligibility checks, IAM access policy updates, VPC boundary validation, MirrorMaker 2.0 workload transfer, and connector configuration validation as part of your Apache Kafka version upgrade service on managed platforms.
Connector and ingestion pipeline upgrade
Production 2.x clusters carry legacy Connect workers that no longer support older Apache Kafka versions. Ksolves upgrades your ingestion stack to Data Prepper or Confluent-certified 3.x connectors and validates end-to-end throughput against 2.x baselines before sign-off.
Multi-hop Apache Kafka upgrade (2.x to 3.4 to 3.9)
Clusters below Apache Kafka 2.4 cannot upgrade directly to 3.9 due to wire-protocol changes. Ksolves plans the correct intermediate stops, validates inter-broker protocol compatibility at each stage, and manages the full IBP bump sequence through to the 3.9 bridge release.
Apache Kafka 2.x vs Apache Kafka 3.x
| Capability | Apache Kafka 2.x EOL | Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x |
|---|---|---|
| Community support | No patches, permanently EOL | Active security and bug fix support |
| ZooKeeper dependency | Required, no alternative | Eliminated via KRaft architecture |
| Metadata management | External ZooKeeper ensemble required | Self-managed KRaft controller quorum |
| Consumer rebalance | Eager stop-the-world rebalance only | Cooperative rebalance + KIP-848 GA |
| Kafka 4.0 client support | Clients below 2.1 are blocked entirely | Full compatibility within 3.x and 4.x family |
| Path to the latest Apache Kafka version | Blocked without ZooKeeper-to-KRaft first | Direct upgrade from KRaft 3.3 onwards |
| Tiered storage | Not available | Available from Apache Kafka 3.6 via KIP-405 |
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
No patches, permanently EOL
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Active security and bug fix support
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
Required, no alternative
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Eliminated via KRaft architecture
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
External ZooKeeper ensemble required
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Self-managed KRaft controller quorum
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
Eager stop-the-world rebalance only
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Cooperative rebalance + KIP-848 GA
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
Clients below 2.1 are blocked entirely
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Full compatibility within 3.x and 4.x family
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
Blocked without ZooKeeper-to-KRaft first
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Direct upgrade from KRaft 3.3 onwards
Apache Kafka 2.x EOL
Not available
Apache Kafka 3.x / 4.x
Available from Apache Kafka 3.6 via KIP-405
Our Apache Kafka Version Upgrade Service Process
From first audit to final handover, every step of your Apache Kafka upgrade service is planned, executed, and documented by our certified engineering team.
Phase 1: Environment Audit (Days 1 to 3)
Kafka version, cluster topology, ZooKeeper ensemble, broker configuration, and consumer group inventory documented. Deprecated API usage and log message format version flagged before the upgrade plan is drafted.
Phase 2: Compatibility Analysis ( Days 3 to 5 )
Every consumer group, Streams application, and connector is categorised as blocking, recommended, or no action required. Wire-protocol regression risk was assessed, and a written compatibility gap report was produced for your team to approve.
Phase 3: Upgrade Runbook (Days 5 to 7)
Step-by-step runbook covering ZooKeeper sequencing, broker rolling upgrade order, IBP bump phases, and rollback triggers prepared and approved with your team before staging begins.
Phase 4: Staging Validation (Days 7 to 14)
Full rolling upgrade to Apache Kafka 3.x executed against staging. Consumer group behaviour, message throughput, and connector performance validated against 2.x baselines before production cutover is approved.
Phase 5: Cutover Day
Rolling broker upgrade with ZooKeeper first, data brokers second, controller last. IBP bumped only after all brokers are confirmed stable on the new binary.
Phase 6: Post-Upgrade Monitoring (48 to 72 Hours)
Cluster health, consumer group lag, producer throughput, and KRaft quorum stability are monitored. Engagement closes with a written handover document and recommended path toward Apache Kafka 4.0.
Our Apache Kafka Version Upgrade Service Process
From first audit to final handover, every step of your Apache Kafka upgrade service is planned, executed, and documented by our certified engineering team.
Phase 1: Environment Audit (Days 1 to 3)
Kafka version, cluster topology, ZooKeeper ensemble, broker configuration, and consumer group inventory documented. Deprecated API usage and log message format version flagged before the upgrade plan is drafted.
Phase 2: Compatibility Analysis ( Days 3 to 5 )
Every consumer group, Streams application, and connector is categorised as blocking, recommended, or no action required. Wire-protocol regression risk was assessed, and a written compatibility gap report was produced for your team to approve.
Phase 3: Upgrade Runbook (Days 5 to 7)
Step-by-step runbook covering ZooKeeper sequencing, broker rolling upgrade order, IBP bump phases, and rollback triggers prepared and approved with your team before staging begins.
Phase 4: Staging Validation (Days 7 to 14)
Full rolling upgrade to Apache Kafka 3.x executed against staging. Consumer group behaviour, message throughput, and connector performance validated against 2.x baselines before production cutover is approved.
Phase 5: Cutover Day
Rolling broker upgrade with ZooKeeper first, data brokers second, controller last. IBP bumped only after all brokers are confirmed stable on the new binary.
Phase 6: Post-Upgrade Monitoring (48 to 72 Hours)
Cluster health, consumer group lag, producer throughput, and KRaft quorum stability are monitored. Engagement closes with a written handover document and recommended path toward Apache Kafka 4.0.
Every day on OpenSearch 1.x is a day your
cluster runs exposed;
upgrade to
OpenSearch 2.x and fix that permanently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know Before Choosing Us
An Apache Kafka upgrade service covers end-to-end delivery of a production version upgrade: environment audit, ZooKeeper-to-KRaft upgrade, inter-broker protocol upgrade, staging validation, and post-upgrade monitoring, handled entirely by Ksolves engineers.
Upgrade ZooKeeper first, then execute a rolling broker upgrade with IBP pinned to your current version. Once all brokers are stable on the new binary, bump the IBP in a second rolling pass. Clusters below 2.4 require an intermediate stop at 3.4 before reaching 3.9. Ksolves covers every step before production is touched.
Apache Kafka 4.0 removed ZooKeeper entirely. There is no direct upgrade path from ZooKeeper-based clusters to 4.0. Kafka 3.9 is the mandatory bridge release to upgrade to the latest version of Apache Kafka. Ksolves treats this as a required phase in every engagement.
Yes. Ksolves executes rolling broker upgrades one node at a time while your cluster continues serving producers and consumers, with a tested rollback path maintained throughout.
Straightforward 2.x to 3.x upgrades take 2 to 3 weeks. Complex environments with multi-hop upgrade paths take 4 to 8 weeks. Every engagement starts with a 5-day audit that produces a firm timeline upfront.
Environment audit, compatibility gap report, upgrade runbook, staging validation, production cutover, and 48 to 72 hours of post-upgrade monitoring with a named team, fixed price, and written message accuracy guarantee agreed before work begins.
Self-hosted Kafka on Kubernetes or bare metal, Amazon MSK, Confluent Cloud, and Aiven for Apache Kafka, including connector and ingestion pipeline upgrades on every platform.
