10 Kubernetes Visualization Tool that You Can't Afford to Miss
Tags: kubernetes, grafana, observability, devops
Published: 2023-07-02 01:19:24


Kubernetes has become the go-to platform for managing containerized applications, but its complex architecture and numerous components can make it challenging to visualize and understand. Fortunately, there are several Kubernetes visualization tools available that simplify the process of comprehending and monitoring Kubernetes clusters. In this blog, we will explore ten popular Kubernetes visualization tools, providing installation instructions and sample code to help you gain a better grasp of container orchestration.

## 1. Kubernetes Dashboard

Kubernetes Dashboard is a web-based user interface that offers an intuitive way to manage and monitor Kubernetes clusters. To install Kubernetes Dashboard, follow these steps:

## i. Deploy the Dashboard using the following command:

```
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes/dashboard/v2.3.1/aio/deploy/recommended.yaml
```

## ii. Create a proxy to access the Dashboard:

```
kubectl proxy
```

## iii. Accessing the Kubernetes Dashboard

Access the Dashboard at http://localhost:8001/api/v1/namespaces/kubernetes-dashboard/services/https:kubernetes-dashboard:/proxy/.

## 2. Octant

Octant is an open-source Kubernetes visualization tool designed for developers. Follow these instructions to install Octant:

a. Download the latest Octant release for your operating system from the official GitHub repository.
b. Install Octant according to the instructions provided for your specific platform.
c. Launch Octant with the following command:

```
octant
```

d. Access Octant through your browser at http://localhost:7777.

## 3. Lens

Lens is a popular Kubernetes IDE that provides powerful visualization and management capabilities. To install Lens, follow these steps:

a. Download the appropriate Lens installer for your operating system from the official Lens GitHub repository.
b. Install Lens by following the installation instructions provided for your platform.
c. Launch Lens using the executable or shortcut created during installation.

## 4. Kiali

Kiali is an observability tool specifically designed for Kubernetes service meshes. Install Kiali using the following steps:
a. Install the Kiali Operator by executing the following commands:

```
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kiali/kiali/master/deploy/openshift/kiali-operator.yaml
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kiali/kiali/master/deploy/openshift/kiali-cr.yaml
```

b. Verify the installation by running the command:

```
kubectl get pods -n istio-system | grep kiali
```

c. Access Kiali's user interface at http://localhost:20001/kiali/console.

## 5. Grafana

Grafana is a powerful open-source monitoring and visualization platform. To visualize Kubernetes metrics using Grafana, follow these steps:
a. Install Prometheus by executing the command:

```
kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/kubernetes/ingress-nginx/controller-v1.0.4/deploy/static/provider/cloud/deploy.yaml
```

b. Install Grafana using Helm by running the following commands:

```
helm repo add grafana https://grafana.github.io/helm-charts
helm repo update
helm install grafana grafana/grafana
```

c. Access Grafana's web interface by running:

```
kubectl port-forward svc/grafana 3000:80
```

d. Navigate to http://localhost:3000 to view Grafana and configure data sources and dashboards for Kubernetes monitoring.

## 6. Weave Scope

Weave Scope provides a real-time graphical representation of your Kubernetes cluster. Install Weave Scope using the following instructions:
a. Run the command:

```
kubectl apply -n weave -f "https://cloud.weave.works/k8s/scope.yaml?k8s-version=$(kubectl version | base64 | tr -d '\n')"
```

b. Access Weave Scope's web interface at http://localhost:4040.

## 7. kube-state-metrics

kube-state-metrics is a tool that exposes the state of Kubernetes objects as Prometheus metrics. To install kube-state-metrics, follow these steps:

a. Clone the kube-state-metrics repository from GitHub:

```
git clone https://github.com/kubernetes/kube-state-metrics.git
```

b. Change into the kube-state-metrics directory and install it with Helm:

```
helm install kube-state-metrics ./charts/kube-state-metrics
```

## 8. Rancher

Rancher is a comprehensive Kubernetes management platform that offers visualization and monitoring features. Install Rancher using the following steps:
a. Install Docker on your system if you haven't already.
b. Run the following command to deploy Rancher:

```
docker run -d --restart=unless-stopped -p 80:80 -p 443:443 rancher/rancher
```

c. Access Rancher's web interface at http://localhost.

## 9. Kontena Lens

Kontena Lens is a user-friendly Kubernetes cluster visualization and management tool. To install Kontena Lens, follow these instructions:
a. Download Kontena Lens from the official website for your operating system.
b. Install Kontena Lens according to the provided installation instructions.
c. Launch Kontena Lens using the executable or shortcut.

## 10. Prometheus

Prometheus is an open-source monitoring system widely used in the Kubernetes ecosystem. To install Prometheus, follow these steps:
a. Create a namespace for Prometheus:

```
kubectl create namespace prometheus
```

b. Install Prometheus using Helm:

```
helm install prometheus stable/prometheus -n prometheus
```

## Conclusion

Visualizing Kubernetes clusters is crucial for comprehending and effectively managing container orchestration environments. The ten Kubernetes visualization tools discussed in this blog, including Kubernetes Dashboard, Octant, Lens, Kiali, Grafana, Weave Scope, kube-state-metrics, Rancher, Kontena Lens, and Prometheus, offer intuitive interfaces and insightful representations of Kubernetes components. By following the provided installation instructions and utilizing the sample code, you can easily integrate these tools into your Kubernetes workflow, empowering you to gain deeper insights into your cluster and enhance your container orchestration journey.