# Produce and consume messages using authentication
<a name="msk-authentication-messages"></a>

This process describes how to produce and consume messages using authentication.

1. Run the following command to create a topic. The file named `client.properties` is the one you created in the previous procedure.

   ```
   <path-to-your-kafka-installation>/bin/kafka-topics.sh --create --bootstrap-server BootstrapBroker-String --replication-factor 3 --partitions 1 --topic ExampleTopic --command-config client.properties
   ```

1. Run the following command to start a console producer. The file named `client.properties` is the one you created in the previous procedure.

   ```
   <path-to-your-kafka-installation>/bin/kafka-console-producer.sh --bootstrap-server BootstrapBroker-String --topic ExampleTopic --producer.config client.properties
   ```

1. In a new command window on your client machine, run the following command to start a console consumer.

   ```
   <path-to-your-kafka-installation>/bin/kafka-console-consumer.sh --bootstrap-server BootstrapBroker-String --topic ExampleTopic --consumer.config client.properties
   ```

1. Type messages in the producer window and watch them appear in the consumer window.