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Before diving into the demo, let’s explore the key tools, installation approaches, and observability options for Cilium on Kubernetes.

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1. Cilium CLI: Your Primary Management Tool

The Cilium CLI is the go-to command-line utility for installing, managing, and troubleshooting Cilium:
  • View the overall status of Cilium components
  • Verify network connectivity across endpoints
  • Run built-in network tests
  • Enable Hubble for deep observability
  • Install Cilium and addons
The image shows a diagram titled "Installation Options and Components" with icons representing a management tool and various Cilium commands: status, connectivity test, hubble enable, and install.
The Cilium CLI v0.14+ supports both direct CLI installs and Helm-style deployments, giving you full flexibility.

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2. Installation Methods: CLI vs. Helm

Cilium can be installed in two interchangeable ways:
The image shows logos for "Cilium" and "Helm" under the title "Installation Options and Components," with a note about the benefits for Helm users who also use the Cilium CLI.
In this demo, we’ll walk through both methods side by side.

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3. Observability with Hubble

Hubble provides real-time visibility into network flows, service dependencies, and security policies. You can enable it:
  • During Cilium installation:
  • After Cilium is up and running:
You must install Cilium before enabling Hubble, as Hubble relies on core Cilium components.
To interact with Hubble:

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