Skip to main content
The tensor9 CLI is the primary tool for managing your Tensor9 control plane, publishing origin stacks, creating releases, and managing appliances.

​
Prerequisites

Before installing the tensor9 CLI, ensure you have:
  • Java 17 or later: The tensor9 CLI requires Java to run
  • API Key: Request an API key by emailing [email protected]
  • AWS Account (for AWS deployments): A dedicated AWS account for your Tensor9 control plane

​
Installation

​
Step 1: Download and install

Run the following command to download and install the tensor9 CLI: 
curl https://t9-artifacts-prod-1.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/tensor9-latest > tensor9 && \
  chmod +x tensor9 && \
  sudo tensor9 install
This command:
  1. Downloads the latest version of tensor9
  2. Makes it executable
  3. Installs it to /usr/local/bin/ so it’s accessible from anywhere

​
Step 2: Verify installation

Confirm the installation was successful: 
tensor9 help
You should see the help output listing available commands.

​
Step 3: Set your API key

Set your Tensor9 API key as an environment variable: 
export T9_API_KEY=<your-api-key>
Add this to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, etc.) to persist it across sessions:
echo 'export T9_API_KEY=<your-api-key>' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

​
Step 4: Verify authentication

Test that your API key works: 
tensor9 env
This should display your Tensor9 environment information without errors.

​
Updating

Update to the latest version of the tensor9 CLI: 
tensor9 update
To update to a specific version: 
tensor9 update -customVersion <version>

​
Uninstallation

To uninstall the tensor9 CLI: 
sudo rm /usr/local/bin/tensor9
rm -rf ~/.tensor9

​
Installation locations

The tensor9 CLI installs files to:
  • /usr/local/bin/tensor9: The main CLI executable
  • ~/.tensor9/: Configuration and cache directory

​
Platform support

The tensor9 CLI is supported on:
  • Linux (x86_64)
  • macOS (Intel and Apple Silicon)
Windows users can use the CLI through WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux).

​
Verifying Java installation

The tensor9 CLI requires Java 17 or later. Check your Java version: 
java -version
If Java is not installed or the version is too old, install Java 17+:

​
macOS (using Homebrew)

brew install openjdk@17

​
Ubuntu/Debian

sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdk

​
CentOS/RHEL

sudo yum install java-17-openjdk

​
Environment variables

The tensor9 CLI uses these environment variables:
VariableDescriptionRequired
T9_API_KEYYour Tensor9 API keyYes (for most commands)

​
Common installation issues

Problem: sudo tensor9 install fails with permission errors.Solution: Ensure you have sudo privileges. If you can’t use sudo, install to a local directory:
mkdir -p ~/bin
cp tensor9 ~/bin/
chmod +x ~/bin/tensor9
export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"
Add the export PATH line to your shell profile for persistence.
Problem: Error message about Java not being found.Solution: Install Java 17 or later following the platform-specific instructions above, then verify:
java -version
Problem: tensor9: command not found after installation.Solution: Ensure /usr/local/bin is in your PATH:
echo $PATH
If not, add it to your shell profile:
echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
Problem: “API key required” or authentication errors.Solution:
  1. Verify your API key is set: echo $T9_API_KEY
  2. If empty, set it: export T9_API_KEY=<your-key>
  3. Verify it works: tensor9 env
  4. For persistence, add to your shell profile

​
What’s next?

After installing the CLI:
  1. Set up your control plane: Follow the Quick Start guide
  2. Learn common workflows: See Common Workflows for typical tasks
  3. Reference documentation: Check the CLI Reference for all commands

​
Getting help

If you encounter issues:
  • Run tensor9 help to see available commands
  • Run tensor9 <command> -help for command-specific help
  • Contact support at [email protected]