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TSB-2026-35 Upgrading to v26.1.1 binary while using deprecated properties in helm or operator will fail the upgrade.

  • Updated

Summary: 

Upgrading to Redpanda v26.1.1 using Helm or the Redpanda Operator will fail if any previously deprecated broker configuration properties (removed in v26.1.1) are present in your Helm values file or Operator YAML. Affected deployments will see the Helm post-upgrade job get stuck or Operator reconciliation wedge indefinitely. 

This is fixed in Redpanda 26.1.2

Note: If you are not managing Redpanda via the Redpanda Operator or Redpanda Helm chart you are not impacted by this.

Severity: 

Medium

Redpanda Products Affected:

  • Redpanda Self-Managed - Enterprise
  • Redpanda Self-Managed - Community

Release Affected:

Redpanda Core v26.1.1

Redpanda Helm and Operator < v26.1.2

Identification:

Helm and Operator

You are affected if ALL of the following are true:

  1. You are upgrading to Redpanda > v26.1.1.
  2. Your Helm values file or Operator YAML contains one or more properties that were removed in v26.1.1.
    1. https://docs.redpanda.com/current/get-started/release-notes/redpanda/#removed-properties
  3. You are using a Helm or Operator version under v26.1.2

Impact

Helm users: The post-upgrade configuration job gets stuck attempting to apply the cluster configuration via the Admin API. Because the deprecated property no longer exists in v26.1.1, the Admin API returns HTTP 400 ("Unknown property") for any request that includes it. The broker itself upgrades successfully, but the Helm release never finalizes — leaving it in a failed/pending state.

Operator users: The Operator reconciliation loop wedges indefinitely. The Operator continuously attempts to reconcile cluster configuration and fails on the removed property, backing off exponentially but never completing. Broker operation is not disrupted, but the Operator cannot make any further configuration changes until the issue is resolved.

Note: This issue is triggered by the presence of removed properties in your Helm values file or Operator YAML — not by the version of the Helm chart or Operator itself. Any chart or Operator version that references a removed property will fail when targeting Redpanda v26.1.1.

Action required: 

Upgrade directly to Redpanda 26.1.2, following the standard upgrade process.  

If you have removed properties in your configurations and would like advice on removing them, or encounter any issue, reach out to Redpanda Support.                 

                                                                     

Questions? If you have any questions on this TSB, or need further guidance, please contact Redpanda Support