---
name: inference-cli-install
title: Installing the Red Hat AI Inference CLI
description: You can use the `ilab` CLI plug-in to manage your Red Hat AI Inference resources.
last-updated: 2026-07-09
---

> ## Documentation Index
> The table of contents for this documentation set is at https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/inference?format=markdown
> The index for all IBM Cloud docs is at: https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use these files to discover more information as needed.

# Installing the Red Hat AI Inference CLI
{: #cli-install}


You can use the `ilab` CLI plug-in to manage your Red Hat AI Inference resources.
{: shortdesc}

Red Hat AI Inference model alignment, synthetic data generation, and taxonomy management features are deprecated and will be removed on 25 September 2026. To continue model customization and alignment workflows, migrate to Red Hat® OpenShift® AI On OpenShift. [Learn more about Red Hat® OpenShift® AI](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/openshift?topic=openshift-ai-addon-about&format=markdown){: external}.
{: deprecated}


## Running the installation command
{: #step1-install-idt}
{: step}

The latest version of the IBM Cloud CLI is installed when you run the command. As the CLI installs, keep an eye on the command line to authenticate as needed.

* For MacOS, run the following command:
   ```curl
   curl -fsSL https://clis.cloud.ibm.com/install/osx | sh
   ```
   {: codeblock}

* For Linux™, run the following command:
   ```curl
   curl -fsSL https://clis.cloud.ibm.com/install/linux | sh
   ```
   {: codeblock}

* For Windows™, run the following command in PowerShell as an administrator:
   ```curl
   iex (New-Object Net.WebClient).DownloadString('https://clis.cloud.ibm.com/install/powershell')
   ```
   {: codeblock}

   To open PowerShell, right-click the Windows™ PowerShell icon, and select **Run as administrator**.
   {: tip}

* For WSL2 on Windows™, run the following command:
   ```curl
   curl -fsSL https://clis.cloud.ibm.com/install/linux | sh
   ```

## Verifying the installation
{: #step2-verify-idt}
{: step}

To verify that the CLI was installed successfully, run the `help` command:
```text
ibmcloud help
```
{: codeblock}

The output lists the usage instructions, the current version, and the supported commands.

## Installing CLI plug-ins and tools
{: #step3-install-idt-manually}
{: step}

To manually install the CLI plug-ins and tools, see [Extending IBM Cloud CLI with plug-ins](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?topic=cli-plug-ins&format=markdown).

- To install the `ilab` plug-in, run the following command.

    ```sh
    ibmcloud plugin install ilab
    ```
    {: pre}

- To install the `cos` plug-in, run the following command.

    ```sh
    ibmcloud plugin install cos
    ```
    {: pre}

- To install the `secrets-manager` plug-in, run the following command.

    ```sh
    ibmcloud plugin install secrets-manager
    ```
    {: pre}

- Optional: Install the [Git CLI](https://docs.github.com/en/get-started/git-basics/set-up-git) to store and manage your taxonomies.



## Updating the IBM Cloud CLI
{: #update-ibmcloud-cli}

Use the latest version of the CLI. If you aren't using the latest version, run the following command to update your CLI:

```bash
ibmcloud update
```
{: codeblock}

To determine your IBM Cloud CLI version, run the following command:
```bash
ibmcloud -v
```
{: codeblock}

If you are running the current release, the following output is displayed:
```bash
Checking for updates...
No update required. Your CLI is already up-to-date.
```
{: screen}

To get notified about new IBM Cloud CLI releases, subscribe to the [IBM Cloud CLI releases repository](https://github.com/IBM-Cloud/ibm-cloud-cli-release/releases/){: external}.

## Updating installed plug-ins
{: #cli-update-plugin}

Use the `plugin update` command to update the plug-ins that are installed in IBM Cloud CLI. The `plugin update` command returns the following information for each plug-in that is installed:

* The current plug-in version
* The latest plug-in version that is available

```bash
ibmcloud plugin update
```
{: pre}


## Logging in to the CLI
{: #cli-login}

1. Log in to your IBM Cloud account from the CLI.

    ```sh
    ibmcloud login -a https://cloud.ibm.com --sso -r us-east
    ```
    {: pre}

1. If you plan to allow Red Hat AI Inference to create IBM Cloud® Object Storage Instance resources for you, target a resource group.
    ```sh
    ibmcloud target -g RESOURCE_GROUP
    ```
    {: pre}

    Example:
    ```sh
    ibmcloud target -g Default
    ```
    {: pre}