diff --git a/ansible/rpcn_files/pipeline.yaml b/ansible/rpcn_files/pipeline.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..44b69b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/rpcn_files/pipeline.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,12 @@
+#Example pipeline to smoke test with
+input:
+  label: "file_input"
+  file:
+    paths: [ "/opt/rpcn/pipeline.yaml" ]
+    scanner: 
+      lines: {}
+
+output:
+  label: "stdout"
+  stdout:
+    codec: lines
diff --git a/ansible/rpcn_files/redpanda.license b/ansible/rpcn_files/redpanda.license
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a026809
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/rpcn_files/redpanda.license
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+#Paste license key here
diff --git a/ansible/rpcn_files/rpcn.service b/ansible/rpcn_files/rpcn.service
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a5ac84b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/rpcn_files/rpcn.service
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+[Unit]
+Description=Redpanda Connect Pipeline
+After=network.target
+
+[Service]
+ExecStart=/etc/redpanda/rpk connect run /etc/redpanda/pipeline.yaml
+Restart=on-failure
+User=ubuntu
+#Group=redpanda-connect
+Environment="REDPANDA_PIPELINE_ID=%H"
+
+[Install]
+WantedBy=multi-user.target
diff --git a/ansible/stage-rpcn.yml b/ansible/stage-rpcn.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3a842f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/stage-rpcn.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,93 @@
+- name: Install redpanda-connect and set up systemd service
+  hosts: connect
+  become: true
+
+  vars:
+    rpcn_dir: /etc/redpanda
+    local_files_dir: "./rpcn_files"   # directory on your control machine to upload
+
+  pre_tasks:
+    - name: Set package script location for Debian/Ubuntu
+      set_fact:
+        download_url: "https://dl.redpanda.com/nzc4ZYQK3WRGd9sy/redpanda/cfg/setup/bash.deb.sh"
+      when: ansible_facts['os_family'] == "Debian"
+
+    - name: Set package script location for RHEL-family
+      set_fact:
+        download_url: "https://dl.redpanda.com/nzc4ZYQK3WRGd9sy/redpanda/cfg/setup/bash.rpm.sh"
+      when: ansible_facts['os_family'] == "RedHat"
+
+
+  tasks:
+    # --- Ensure target directory exists before unarchive ---
+    - name: Ensure /etc exists
+      file:
+        path: /etc
+        state: directory
+        mode: "0755"
+
+    - name: Ensure target directory exists
+      file:
+        path: "{{ rpcn_dir }}"
+        state: directory
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: "0755"
+
+    - name: Verify target directory exists
+      stat:
+        path: "{{ rpcn_dir }}"
+      register: rpcn_dir_stat
+
+    - name: Fail if target directory is missing
+      fail:
+        msg: "Target directory {{ rpcn_dir }} was not created"
+      when: not rpcn_dir_stat.stat.exists
+
+    # --- Install redpanda-connect package ---
+    - name: dnf install redpanda-connect
+      ansible.builtin.dnf:
+        name: redpanda-connect
+        state: present
+      when: ansible_facts['os_family'] == "RedHat"
+    
+    - name: apt install redpanda-connect
+      ansible.builtin.apt:
+        name: redpanda-connect
+        state: present
+        update_cache: yes
+      when: ansible_facts['os_family'] == "Debian"   
+
+    # --- Copy your local files to the REMOTE host(s) ---
+    - name: Copy your local files into /etc/redpanda (recursive)
+      copy:
+        src: "{{ local_files_dir }}/"
+        dest: "{{ rpcn_dir }}/"
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: "0644"
+
+    # --- Install systemd unit ---
+    - name: Copy service file from /etc/redpanda to systemd unit dir
+      copy:
+        src: "{{ rpcn_dir }}/rpcn.service"
+        dest: /etc/systemd/system/rpcn.service
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: "0644"
+        remote_src: true
+      notify: daemon-reload
+
+    - name: Enable and start rpcn service
+      systemd:
+        name: rpcn.service
+        enabled: true
+        state: started
+
+  handlers:
+    - name: daemon-reload
+      systemd:
+        daemon_reload: true
+
+
+
diff --git a/ansible/stop-pipleline.yml b/ansible/stop-pipleline.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3e7bbd5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/stop-pipleline.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+- name: Stop rpcn service (skip if unit missing)
+  hosts: connect
+  become: true
+  tasks:
+    - name: Check if rpcn unit file exists
+      stat:
+        path: /etc/systemd/system/rpcn.service
+      register: rpcn_unit
+
+    - name: Stop rpcn.service when present
+      systemd:
+        name: rpcn.service
+        state: stopped
+      when: rpcn_unit.stat.exists
diff --git a/ansible/update-pipeline.yml b/ansible/update-pipeline.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..614af91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ansible/update-pipeline.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+- name: Update rpcn pipeline and restart service
+  hosts: connect
+  become: true
+
+  vars:
+    rpcn_dir: /etc/redpanda
+    local_files_dir: "./rpcn_files"   # same convention as your other playbook
+
+  tasks:
+    - name: Ensure target directory exists
+      file:
+        path: "{{ rpcn_dir }}"
+        state: directory
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: "0755"
+
+    - name: Copy pipeline.yaml to /etc/redpanda
+      copy:
+        src: "{{ local_files_dir }}/pipeline.yaml"
+        dest: "{{ rpcn_dir }}/pipeline.yaml"
+        owner: root
+        group: root
+        mode: "0644"
+      notify:
+        - daemon-reload
+        - restart rpcn
+
+  handlers:
+    - name: daemon-reload
+      systemd:
+        daemon_reload: true
+
+    - name: restart rpcn
+      systemd:
+        name: rpcn.service
+        state: restarted