---
title: influxd-ctl join
description: The influxd-ctl join command joins a meta or data node data node to an InfluxDB Enterprise cluster.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/enterprise_influxdb/v1/tools/influxd-ctl/join/
estimated_tokens: 1075
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/enterprise_influxdb/v1/tools/influxd-ctl/join/
date: '2023-10-05T14:23:52-06:00'
lastmod: '2023-10-05T14:23:52-06:00'
---

The `influxd-ctl join` command joins a meta or data node data node to an
InfluxDB Enterprise cluster.
The command searches for `influxd` and `influxd-meta` processes running on the
local machine bound to specific ports and determines if that process is an
InfluxDB meta or data node.

* **8088**: Data node
* **8091**: Meta node

> [!Note]
> If the InfluxDB data or meta processes are running on non-default ports, the
> join operation cannot detect them.

## Usage

```sh
influxd-ctl join [flags] <meta-node-http-bind-address>
```

## Arguments

* **meta-node-http-bind-address**: HTTP bind address of a meta node in an*existing* cluster. Use this argument to add un-joined meta or data node to an
  existing cluster.

## Flags

|Flag|                                                Description                                                |
|----|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
|`-p`|Add the data node as a [passive node](/enterprise_influxdb/v1/concepts/glossary/#passive-node-experimental)|
|`-v`|                                  Print verbose information when joining                                   |

*Also see [`influxd-ctl` global flags](/enterprise_influxdb/v1/tools/influxd-ctl/#influxd-ctl-global-flags).*

## Examples

* [Join a meta and data node into a cluster](#join-a-meta-and-data-node-into-a-cluster)
* [Join a meta and data node to an existing cluster](#join-a-meta-and-data-node-to-an-existing-cluster)
* [Join a meta node to an existing cluster](#join-a-meta-node-to-an-existing-cluster)

### Join a meta and data node into a cluster

In the following example, `influxd-ctl join` command detects a meta node process
running at `cluster-node-03:8091` and a data node process running at`cluster-node-03:8088` and joins them into a *new* cluster.

```sh
influxd-ctl join
```

###### Command output

```txt
Joining meta node at localhost:8091
Searching for meta node on cluster-node-03:8091...
Searching for data node on cluster-node-03:8088...

Successfully created cluster

  * Added meta node 1 at cluster-node-03:8091
  * Added data node 2 at cluster-node-03:8088

  To join additional nodes to this cluster, run the following command:

  influxd-ctl join cluster-node-03:8091
```

### Join a meta and data node to an existing cluster

In the following example, `influxd-ctl join` detects a meta node process running
at `cluster-node-03:8091` and a data node process running at `cluster-node-03:8088`.
It uses the meta node running at `cluster-meta-node-02:8091` in an *existing*cluster to join the newly detected meta and data nodes to the cluster.

```sh
influxd-ctl join cluster-meta-node-02:8091
```

###### Command output

```txt
Joining meta node at cluster-meta-node-02:8091
Searching for meta node on cluster-node-03:8091...
Searching for data node on cluster-node-03:8088...

Successfully joined cluster

  * Added meta node 3 at cluster-node-03:8091
  * Added data node 4 at cluster-node-03:8088
```

### Join a meta node to an existing cluster

In the following example, `influxd-ctl join` detects a meta node process running
at `cluster-meta-node-03:8091`, but does not detect a data node process.
It uses the meta node running at `cluster-meta-node-02:8091` in an *existing*cluster to join the newly detected meta node to the cluster.

```bash
influxd-ctl join cluster-meta-node-02:8091
```

###### Command output

```txt
Joining meta node at cluster-meta-node-02:8091
Searching for meta node on cluster-meta-node-03:8091...
Searching for data node on cluster-meta-node-03:8088...

Successfully joined cluster

  * Added meta node 18 at cluster-meta-node-03:8091
  * No data node added.  Run with -v to see more information
```

## Troubleshoot influxd-ctl join

Common problems when attempting to join nodes to InfluxDB Enterprise clusters:

* The `influxd` or `influxd-meta` processes are using non-standard ports and can’t be detected.
* The `influxd` or `influxd-meta` processes are not running.
  Check the logs for startup errors.

#### Related

* [influxd-ctl leave](/enterprise_influxdb/v1/tools/influxd-ctl/leave/)
| Flag | Description |
| --- | --- |
| Flag | Description |
| -p | Add the data node as a  passive node |
| -v | Print verbose information when joining |