:_mod-docs-content-type: CONCEPT

// Module included in the following assemblies:
//
// configuring/assembly-external-config.adoc

[id='con-loading-config-from-env-vars-{context}']
= Enabling configuration providers

[role="_abstract"]
You can enable one or more configuration providers using the `config.providers` properties in the `spec` configuration of a component.

.Example configuration to enable a configuration provider
[source,yaml,subs="attributes+"]
----
apiVersion: {KafkaConnectApiVersion}
kind: KafkaConnect
metadata:
  name: my-connect
  annotations:
    strimzi.io/use-connector-resources: "true"
spec:
  # ...
  config:
    # ...
    config.providers: env
    config.providers.env.class: org.apache.kafka.common.config.provider.EnvVarConfigProvider
  # ...
----

KubernetesSecretConfigProvider:: Loads configuration data from Kubernetes secrets. 
You specify the name of the secret and the key within the secret where the configuration data is stored. 
This provider is useful for storing sensitive configuration data like passwords or other user credentials.
KubernetesConfigMapConfigProvider:: Loads configuration data from Kubernetes config maps. 
You specify the name of the config map and the key within the config map where the configuration data is stored. 
This provider is useful for storing non-sensitive configuration data.
EnvVarConfigProvider:: Loads configuration data from environment variables. 
You specify the name of the environment variable where the configuration data is stored. 
This provider is useful for configuring applications running in containers, for example, to load certificates or JAAS configuration from environment variables mapped from secrets.
FileConfigProvider:: Loads configuration data from a file. 
You specify the path to the file where the configuration data is stored. 
This provider is useful for loading configuration data from files that are mounted into containers.
DirectoryConfigProvider:: Loads configuration data from files within a directory. 
You specify the path to the directory where the configuration files are stored.
This provider is useful for loading multiple configuration files and for organizing configuration data into separate files.

To use `KubernetesSecretConfigProvider` and `KubernetesConfigMapConfigProvider`, which are part of the Kubernetes Configuration Provider plugin, you must set up access rights to the namespace that contains the configuration file.

You can use the other providers without setting up access rights.
You can supply connector configuration for Kafka Connect or MirrorMaker 2 in this way by doing the following:

* Mount config maps or secrets into the Kafka Connect pod as environment variables or volumes
* Enable `EnvVarConfigProvider`, `FileConfigProvider`, or `DirectoryConfigProvider` in the Kafka Connect or MirrorMaker 2 configuration
* Pass connector configuration using the `template` property in the `spec` of the `KafkaConnect` or `KafkaMirrorMaker2` resource

Using providers help prevent the passing of restricted information through the Kafka Connect REST interface.
You can use this approach in the following scenarios:

* Mounting environment variables with the values a connector uses to connect and communicate with a data source 
* Mounting a properties file with values that are used to configure Kafka Connect connectors
* Mounting files in a directory that contains values for the TLS truststore and keystore used by a connector

NOTE: A restart is required when using a new `Secret` or `ConfigMap` for a connector, which can disrupt other connectors.

[role="_additional-resources"]
.Additional resources

link:{BookURLConfiguring}#type-KafkaConnectTemplate-reference[`KafkaConnectTemplate` schema reference^]
