.. _cloud-connect-context:

Configure the |ccloud| CLI for Multiple Environments
====================================================

You can provide restricted access to |ccloud| clusters by using the ``ccloud init`` command. This
command allows you to authenticate with |ccloud| using as a |ak-tm| API key and secret pair.

Each authentication instance that you create is saved.

.. important:: When you connect to a cluster using ``ccloud init`` with the ``--kafka-auth`` option,
               you are limited to produce and consume. Topic management is currently not supported.

Prerequisites:
    - `Access to Confluent Cloud <https://www.confluent.io/confluent-cloud/>`__ with an active cluster.
    - |ccloud| :ref:`CLI <ccloud-install-cli>` is installed.
    - An |ak-tm| :ref:`API key <cloud-api-keys>`.

#.  Create and log in to your environment by using the ``ccloud init`` command, where `<context-name>`
    is your environment name. This requires an |ak| API key and the bootstrap server URL of the
    |ccloud| environment.

    ::

        ccloud init <context-name> --kafka-auth

    You should be prompted to enter the login information:

    ::

        Bootstrap: xxx
        API Key: xxx
        API Secret: xxx

#.  You can now produce or consume to your |ccloud| environment. For more information, see
    :ref:`ccloud_kafka_topic_produce` and :ref:`ccloud_kafka_topic_consume`.