Auto-updating the Control Center user interface
The Auto-update feature enables access to the most current version of the
Control Center user interface (UI) within a minor release. The feature
provides a more frequent cadence of releases for
Control Center between patch releases. Updates can include security enhancements,
minor features, and bug fixes. The feature does not update the UI between minor
or major release versions, such as from 5.4 to 5.5; or from 5.4 to 6.0
respectively. The feature is available from Confluent Platform version 5.4 and later.
The Auto-update feature does not install Control Center locally; it serves the
most current frontend JavaScript assets to your client browser over an internet
connection. If your internet connection or the service hosting the updated
Control Center UI becomes unavailable, the UI version temporarily reverts to your
local installed packaged version of Control Center. Banner messages and messages in
the Updates tab inform you of the version you are using and its feature updates.
When the feature is enabled and an update is detected as available, a banner
message instructs you to refresh your browser to access the updated UI. You can
click the Refresh button on the Control Center Updates page, use the browser UI
refresh controls, or use the command keys for your OS, such as Mac command + R.
Important
As of Control Center version 6.0.x, the auto-update feature is
enabled by default.
Advantages of having Auto-update enabled:
- All Control Center users are accessing the same version of the UI. The feature is
enabled installation-wide for an instance.
- Users have access to the most current version of Control Center. There is no
waiting for a packaged Confluent Platform update.
Note
For Control Center 5.4.1 and earlier, if RBAC is enabled, the Auto-update
feature cannot be used.
Enabling auto-updates UI
Note that in Confluent Platform version 6.0.0 and later, the auto-update feature is enabled by
default. If you disabled it and wish to re-enable it, follow these steps.
In the appropriate Control Center properties file for your environment,
uncomment (remove the hash #
from) the
#confluent.controlcenter.ui.autoupdate.enable=true
configuration property.
Restart Control Center and pass in the appropriate properties file.
For more information about restarting Control Center and passing in its properties files, see
Control Center properties files.
Disabling auto-updates UI
Disable auto-updates to the Control Center UI in one of two ways:
- Set the configuration property to
confluent.controlcenter.ui.autoupdate.enable=false
.
- Comment out the configuration property with a hash (
#
) so that it reads
#confluent.controlcenter.ui.autoupdate.enable=true
.
Either of these options will disable auto-updates to the UI.
Restart Control Center and pass in the appropriate properties file.
Viewing UI updates status
The Control Center Updates page provides:
- Status on the current user interface version you are using.
- An indication of whether Auto-update is enabled or disabled.
- A Refresh button when an update is available.
- Embedded release notes for the version updates.
From the Administration menu, click About Control Center.
Click Updates.
Troubleshooting auto-updates
A status message that indicates you are not using the most current UI version
can occur under the following circumstances:
- Your internet connection is down.
- Your organization does not allow outside internet access.
- No access to the Confluent CDN (Content Delivery Network).
Supported client browsers
must have access to all subdomains of
*.confluent.io
.
- No access to Launch Darkly that
manages certain Confluent features. Supported client
browsers must have access to all subdomains of
*.launchdarkly.com
.
To remedy:
If your personal internet connection is down, contact your Internet Service
Provider.
If your organization’s internet connection is down, or you require
external internet access from behind a firewall, contact your system
administrator.
Note
If your organization’s security policies prohibit external internet
access, you cannot use the auto-update feature for interim releases.
The auto-update features will become available in the packaged
releases.
If your internet connection is up, and you do not have current UI access,
the Confluent CDN or Launch Darkly connections for Confluent could
be down. Contact Confluent Support for
assistance.