---
title: Install your InfluxDB Clustered license
description: Install your InfluxDB Clustered license to authorize the use of the InfluxDB Clustered software.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/clustered/install/set-up-cluster/licensing/
estimated_tokens: 2536
product: InfluxDB Clustered
version: clustered
---

# Install your InfluxDB Clustered license

-   Install InfluxDB Clustered
-   Phase 1: Set up your cluster

Install your InfluxDB Clustered license in your cluster to authorize the use of the InfluxDB Clustered software.

## Install your InfluxDB Clustered license

1. If you haven’t already, [request an InfluxDB Clustered license](https://influxdata.com/contact-sales).
    
2. InfluxData provides you with a `license.yml` file that encapsulates your license token as a custom Kubernetes resource.
    
3. Use `kubectl` to apply and create the `License` resource in your InfluxDB namespace:
    
    ```bash
    kubectl apply --filename license.yml --namespace influxdb
    ```
    

InfluxDB Clustered detects the `License` resource and extracts the credentials into a secret required by InfluxDB Clustered Kubernetes pods. Pods validate the license secret both at startup and periodically (roughly once per hour) while running.

## Upgrade from a non-licensed release

If you are currently using a non-licensed preview release of InfluxDB Clustered and want to upgrade to a licensed release, do the following:

1. [Install an InfluxDB Clustered license](#install-your-influxdb-clustered-license)
    
2. If you [use the `AppInstance` resource configuration](/influxdb3/clustered/install/set-up-cluster/configure-cluster/directly/) to configure your cluster, in your `myinfluxdb.yml`, update the package version defined in `spec.package.image` to use a licensed release.
    
    If using the InfluxDB Clustered Helm chart, update the `image.tag` property in your `values.yaml`to use a licensed release.
    
    #### Upgrade to checkpoint releases first
    
    When upgrading InfluxDB Clustered, always upgrade to each [checkpoint release](/influxdb3/clustered/admin/upgrade/#checkpoint-releases) first, before proceeding to newer versions. Upgrading past a checkpoint release without first upgrading to it may result in corrupt or lost data.
    

<!-- Tabbed content: Select one of the following options -->

**AppInstance:**

```yml
apiVersion: kubecfg.dev/v1alpha1
kind: AppInstance
# ...
spec:
  package:
    # ...
    image: us-docker.pkg.dev/influxdb2-artifacts/clustered/influxdb:PACKAGE_VERSION
```

**Helm:**

```yml
# values.yaml

image:
  tag: PACKAGE_VERSION
```

<!-- End tabbed content -->

Replace `PACKAGE_VERSION` with the version number to upgrade to.

## Verify your license

After you have activated your license, use the following signals to verify the license is active and functioning.

In your commands, replace the following:

-   `NAMESPACE`: your [InfluxDB namespace](/influxdb3/clustered/install/set-up-cluster/configure-cluster/#create-a-namespace-for-influxdb)
-   `POD_NAME`: your [InfluxDB Kubernetes pod](/influxdb3/clustered/install/set-up-cluster/deploy/#inspect-cluster-pods)

### Verify database components

After you [install your license](#install-your-influxdb-clustered-license), run the following command to check that database pods start up and are in the `Running` state:

```bash
kubectl get pods -l app=iox --namespace influxdb
```

If a `Pod` fails to start, run the following command to view pod information:

```sh
kubectl describe pod POD_NAME --namespace influxdb
```

### Verify the `Secret` exists

Run the following command to verify that the licensing activation created a `iox-license` secret:

```sh
kubectl get secret iox-license --namespace influxdb
```

If the secret doesn’t exist, [view `license-controller` logs](#view-license-controller-logs) for more information or errors. For troubleshooting guidance, see [Manage your InfluxDB Clustered license](/influxdb3/clustered/admin/licensing/).

### View `license controller` logs

The `license controller` component creates a `Secret` named `iox-license` from your `License`. To view `license controller` logs for troubleshooting, run the following command:

```sh
kubectl logs deployment/license-controller --namespace influxdb
```

## Renew your license

Before your license expires, your InfluxData sales representative will contact you about license renewal. You may also contact your sales representative at any time.

If you have an expired license, follow the same process to [install your renewed license](#install-your-influxdb-clustered-license) using the new `license.yml` file provided by InfluxData.

#### Recover from an expired license

If your license has already expired and your cluster pods are in a `CrashLoopBackoff` state, applying a valid renewed license will restore normal operation. For more information about license enforcement and recovery, see [Manage your InfluxDB Clustered license](/influxdb3/clustered/admin/licensing/).

For more information about InfluxDB Clustered licensing, including license enforcement, grace periods, and detailed troubleshooting, see [Manage your InfluxDB Clustered license](/influxdb3/clustered/admin/licensing/).

[Configure your cluster](/influxdb3/clustered/install/set-up-cluster/configure-cluster/) [Deploy your cluster](/influxdb3/clustered/install/set-up-cluster/deploy/)

#### Related

-   [Manage your InfluxDB Clustered license](/influxdb3/clustered/admin/licensing/)
-   [Upgrade InfluxDB Clustered](/influxdb3/clustered/admin/upgrade/)

[licensing](/influxdb3/clustered/tags/licensing/)