• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
WittySparks Logo White

WittySparks

Ignite Your Thoughts

  • Topics
  • Reviews
  • Newsletter
WittySparks / Technology / Open Source / Basics of Kubernetes Monitoring and Logging
Kubernetes open-source

Basics of Kubernetes Monitoring and Logging

Open Source Updated: January 31, 2022 by Nishitha

Every enthusiast understands the importance of Kubernetes log aggregation and log monitoring. Collecting all those diverse log files and organizing their data into an easily searchable form is where the rubber meets the road. We can do endless monitoring of our Kubernetes data but it’s all a pointless enterprise unless we’re able to aggregate those logs into a form that allows them to be of use to us. Otherwise, we’re left with a gigantic pile of unconnected puzzle pieces.

What’s the solution? In the popular open-source COS (container-orchestration system) otherwise known as Kubernetes, it’s necessary to create a logging stack. The aggregation comes in during the first phase of the operation. Specifically, when we build our Kubernetes logging stack, it will have an aggregator, a component for collecting/storing/searching, and a user-interface with alerting capabilities.

What Kubernetes Can and Can’t Do

Why all the fuss? Kubernetes is very good at doing what it does, but the core tasks of the system do not include maintaining any kind of log history. By nature, a system is extremely dynamic and only holds very recent log data. That means any prior log data is likely going to be non-existent. So, we create a logging stack to oversee all the data that flows through our Kubernetes system. It’s helpful for programmers, system administrators and even end-users to understand the core components of a Kubernetes log stack and the related stack monitoring system.

Logging Stack Basics

The entire Kubernetes logging stack is divided into three parts. This is true of most logging systems, Kubernetes-related or not. The three pieces are the log aggregator (which does the essential log aggregation tasks), the log search/storage/collector component, and the UI component (which includes an alerting function). Here’s a quick look at each of these vital pieces of the logging stack:

Log aggregator:

This part of the stack gathers up all the diverse logs from multiple pods. Many of the pods exist and run on various nodes. The aggregator simply routes all the logs to a centralized place for safe storage. Capable log aggregators share three essential qualities. They’re dynamic, efficient, and extensible. In other words, you want an aggregator that is not a CPU hog, can adapt very rapidly to changes in the environment, and plug into all sorts of search, storage, and collection systems.

Search/storage/collector:

In addition to the obvious storage and collection functions, this part of the stack has an interface that lets us run any kind of search on the logged data we wish to perform. There are also archiving and storage management capabilities in this part of the stack.

User interface:

If you want to do any kind of log analysis, you’ll have to have a capable UI in order to search, perform queries, do debugging and, generally speaking, sift through the reams of data in front of you. Aggregating, collecting, storing and searching are immensely helpful, but without a decent UI that has an alerting function, all our work is wasted. The alerting function is typically set up alongside monitoring and logging.

Previous Post: « Best personality traits for a career in design
Next Post: Introduction to Performance Counters for IIS Monitoring »
Profile picture for Nishitha

About Nishitha

Co-founder of WittySparks
WittySparks Staff

I am done with my Physiotherapy Graduation. And I always try to share Health and technology tips with people. Apart from Physiotherapy and being a tech savvy, I do explore more on Technology side and I keep sharing my findings with wider audience.

View all posts by Nishitha

Primary Sidebar

Featured Productivity Software

Notion logo
Notion

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or a large team, Notion Workspace can help you stay organized and get more done. Get started today and take your productivity to the next level.

Try Notion for FREE

Related Topics

  • How to Install Android on Raspberry Pi 4
  • WordPress Membership plugins – tools to capture recurring revenue
  • Everything you need on How to speed up WordPress site
  • MemberPress: the ultimate membership plugin for WordPress
  • Best WordPress theme framework: Details, Pros, Cons, exclusive list of best ones
  • WordPress Checklist: 11 Things to Consider before Launching a Website

Exclusive Coupons

  • Moqups coupon code: WITTYSPARKS for 20% or PARTNERS50 for 50% discount.
  • WPForms coupon code: WITTYSPARKS for 50% off.
  • Serpstat coupon code: wittysparks_discount for 30% off.
  • SEO Buddy coupon code: WITTYSPARKS for 25% off.
  • Morningscore coupon code: wittysparks for 30% off for 3 months.
  • FlexClip coupon code: WITTYSPARKS for 30% off.
  • Uplead coupon code: “witty” for 30-day free trial.
  • FastestVPN coupon codes: WITTYSPARKS15 or WITTYSPARKS10 or Get up to 93% OFF.
  • Outranking.io coupon code: WITTYSPARKS50 for 50% off.

For more such offers visit our exclusive offers for SEO, Bloggers, Marketers and for Business owners.

Footer

Affiliate Disclosure

If you make a purchase from WittySparks links, we will receive a small commission. See our Affiliate Disclosure.

Sponsors

Partnered with FreePik to use the licensed images.

turn to dhgate for smartphone

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • RSS

Copyright © 2023 · Hosting sponsored by Rocket.net (Affiliate link)

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • Like
  • Pinterest