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In this guide, you’ll learn how to install Kiali to visualize your service mesh. By following the steps below, you’ll set up Kiali along with its associated add-ons, including Grafana, Jaeger, and Prometheus.

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Step 1: Install Kiali and Add-ons

To begin, apply the configuration files from the samples folder to install Kiali with all available add-ons. Run the following command:
The add-ons, such as Grafana and Jaeger, are intended for demonstration purposes only. They are not tuned for production performance or security.

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Step 2: Review the Installation Output

Once you execute the command, you’ll see a detailed output showing the creation of various components. Here is an example of the installation output:
This output confirms that a large group of objects were created for Kiali. Notably, Prometheus is installed at the end of the process.

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Step 3: Verify the Kiali Deployment

After installation, it’s important to confirm that the Kiali deployment has rolled out successfully. Use your deployment file to verify the status with the following command:
The output should resemble the following:

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Step 4: Confirm Service Status

To ensure the Kiali service is active and running, check the service status in the Istio system namespace using the command below:
This command displays the current status of services on your cluster.

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Step 5: Launch the Kiali Dashboard

Once the installation and verification steps are complete, start the Kiali dashboard. Executing the launch command will automatically open your web browser to the dashboard’s overview page. You should notice the following elements:
  • The address bar indicates that the dashboard is served on port 20001.
  • The left menu provides several options for visualizing your service mesh.
  • A filter option in the top left lets you adjust the displayed data.
  • Controls on the far right allow filtering by time intervals and adjusting the data refresh rate.

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Step 6: Exploring Kiali Dashboard Features

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Applications Overview

After launching the dashboard, you’ll see all the namespaces in your service mesh. Clicking the number next to the applications takes you to the applications page, which is also accessible from the left menu. In this view, you’ll find the four Bookinfo applications and have the option to switch namespaces for more details.
The image shows the Kiali Console interface displaying a list of applications within the "default" namespace, each with health status, labels, and details.

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Workloads Overview

Navigate to the “Workloads” section from the menu to view all deployments listed as workloads. Each workload is displayed as healthy with labels indicating its application name and version.
The image shows the Kiali Console interface displaying a list of workloads in the "default" namespace, all marked as healthy. Each workload is labeled with its application name and version.

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Services and Istio Config

Next, check the “Services” section. Initially, no services might be displayed, which is normal as the Service Mesh applications and objects may take some time to load. After a short wait, the services will appear. When you access the “Istio Config” menu, you might notice that no configurations are shown. This indicates that there are currently no Istio configurations for the selected namespace.
The image shows a Kiali Console interface displaying a list of services within the "default" namespace, including details like health, labels, and configuration status.

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Graph Visualization

Finally, the Graph section of the Kiali dashboard is one of the most dynamic tools available. Initially, the graph may appear empty if there is no traffic flowing through the mesh. To visualize traffic, generate some load within your service mesh. Once active, the graph will dynamically display the connections and communications among services.

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Additional Resources

For more detailed information on Kubernetes and service mesh concepts, refer to these resources: By following these steps, you can effectively install Kiali on your cluster and take advantage of its robust monitoring and visualization capabilities for your service mesh.

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