---
name: quickstart
description: Set up Zilliz Cloud CLI — install, authenticate, and configure your cluster context in one go.
---
Guide the user through the complete Zilliz Cloud CLI setup. Follow these steps in order:
## Step 1: Install zilliz-cli
Check if already installed:
```bash
zilliz --version
```
If not installed or needs upgrading:
```bash
Verify:
```bash
zilliz --version
```
## Step 2: Authenticate
Check if already logged in:
```bash
zilliz auth status
```
If not logged in, instruct the user to open their own terminal and run one of:
1. **Browser login (recommended)** — `zilliz login` — opens browser for OAuth, full feature access.
2. **API Key via login** — `zilliz login --api-key` — prompts for API key, no browser needed.
3. **API Key via configure (legacy)** — `zilliz configure` — prompts for API key, simpler setup.
4. **Environment variable** — add `export ZILLIZ_API_KEY=<key>` to `.zshrc` / `.bashrc`.
**IMPORTANT:** These commands require interactive input and cannot run inside Claude Code. Do NOT ask the user to paste API keys into the chat.
Wait for the user to confirm login is complete, then verify:
```bash
zilliz auth status
```
## Step 3: Select a Cluster
List available clusters:
```bash
zilliz cluster list
```
If no clusters exist, offer to create one:
```bash
zilliz project list
zilliz cluster regions
zilliz cluster create --type serverless --name <name> --project-id <id> --region <region>
```
## Step 4: Set Cluster Context
Set the active cluster for data operations:
```bash
zilliz context set --cluster-id <selected-cluster-id>
```
## Step 5: Verify
Confirm everything works:
```bash
zilliz context current
zilliz collection list
```
Report the setup result to the user, showing their cluster ID, endpoint, and database.