---
layout: docs
page_title: 'nomad node pool apply command reference'
description: |
  The `nomad node pool apply` command creates or updates a node pool.
---

# `nomad node pool apply` command reference

The `node pool apply` command is used to create or update a node pool.

## Usage

```plaintext
nomad node pool apply [options] <input>
```

Apply is used to create or update a node pool. The specification file is read
from stdin by specifying `-`, otherwise a path to the file is expected.

If ACLs are enabled, this command requires a token with the `write` capability
in a `node_pool` policy that matches the node pool being targeted. In federated
clusters, the node pool will be created in the authoritative region and will be
replicated to all federated regions.

## Options

- `-json`: Parse the input as a JSON node pool specification.

## Examples

Create a node pool from a file:

```hcl
# prod_pool.nomad.hcl
node_pool "prod" {
  description = "Node pool for production workloads."

  meta {
    env = "prod"
  }

  # Available only in Nomad Enterprise.
  scheduler_config {
    scheduler_algorithm = "spread"
  }
}
```

```shell-session
$ nomad node pool apply prod_pool.nomad.hcl
Successfully applied node pool "prod"!
```

Create a node pool from stdin:

```shell-session
$ cat prod_pool.nomad.hcl | nomad node pool apply -
Successfully applied node pool "prod"!
```

```shell-session
$ cat <<EOF | nomad node pool apply -
node_pool "dev" {
  description = "Node pool for dev workloads."
}
EOF
Successfully applied node pool "dev"!
```

## General options

@include 'general_options_no_namespace.mdx'
