Maximize cluster reliability with kubernetes monitoring tool
Modern IT environments rely on containerization to deliver applications at scale. However, the ephemeral nature of containers means that traditional infrastructure monitoring is no longer sufficient. To maintain high availability, organizations need a specialized Kubernetes monitoring tool that can navigate the complexity of the control plane, data plane, and the applications residing within.
ManageEngine Applications Manager provides deep, end-to-end visibility into Kubernetes ecosystems, helping DevOps and IT Operations teams transition from reactive firefighting to proactive performance management.
Overcoming the complexity of container orchestration
A Kubernetes cluster is a living organism of moving parts. Nodes, pods, and services are created and destroyed in seconds based on demand. A dedicated Kubernetes monitoring tool is essential for:
- Infrastructure mapping: Understanding how logical components like Services and Deployments relate to physical or virtual hardware.
- Cost governance: Identifying over-provisioned resources to reduce cloud spend.
- Security & compliance: Monitoring namespace isolation and access patterns.
- Performance baseline: Distinguishing between a normal scaling event and a genuine performance bottleneck.
Comprehensive visibility with Applications Manager
Applications Manager stands out among Kubernetes monitoring tools by offering a holistic view of the entire stack—from the underlying cloud infrastructure to the code running inside a container.
1. Unified multi-cloud monitoring
Whether you are running vanilla Kubernetes on-premises or using managed services like Amazon EKS, Azure AKS, or Google GKE, Applications Manager provides a consistent monitoring experience. You can manage hybrid environments from a single console, eliminating the need to switch between different cloud-native dashboards.
2. Service mesh and istio integration
Modern microservices often utilize a service mesh for communication. Applications Manager integrates with Istio, allowing you to monitor service-to-service traffic, request success rates, and latency. This visibility is crucial for troubleshooting "silent" failures in complex networking layers.
3. Deep-dive pod diagnostics
While many tools only show if a pod is "Up" or "Down," a high-end Kubernetes monitoring tool must look deeper. Applications Manager tracks:
- Container resource throttling: Detect when CPU limits are causing application slowness even if utilization looks low.
- Ephemeral storage: Monitor the health of local storage used by pods to prevent "DiskPressure" errors.
- CrashLoopBackOff analysis: Instantly identify pods stuck in restart cycles due to configuration errors or runtime exceptions.
4. Persistent volume management (PV & PVC)
Stateful applications, such as databases running in Kubernetes, depend on persistent storage. Applications Manager tracks the status of Persistent Volumes (PV) and Persistent Volume Claims (PVC). By monitoring disk I/O and capacity trends, you can ensure that your stateful workloads never face data corruption due to storage exhaustion.
5. Namespace isolation and quotas
In multi-tenant clusters, one team's high-demand application can starve others of resources. Applications Manager provides detailed reports on Namespace utilization, helping you enforce resource quotas and ensure that every business unit has the capacity it needs without impacting others.
Kubernetes monitoring metrics for peak performance
| Monitoring level | Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) |
|---|---|
| Cluster level | Uptime, Control plane health, API server latency, ETCD performance |
| Node level | CPU/Memory allocatable vs. capacity, Disk I/O, Network errors |
| Pod/Workload | Container CPU throttling, Memory working set, Restart count, OOM events |
| Storage | PV/PVC status, Volume usage percentage, IOPS |
Why applications manager is the preferred kubernetes monitoring tool
While open-source collectors provide raw data, they lack the enterprise-grade features required for business-critical environments. Applications Manager delivers:
- Ease of deployment: Connect to your cluster in minutes via the Kubernetes API or Prometheus integration.
- Built-in reports: Access ready-to-use reports for capacity planning, inventory, and SLA compliance.
- Integrated APM: Drill down from a slow container into the specific Java, .NET, or Node.js code causing the delay.
Effective Kubernetes management requires a tool that understands the nuances of container orchestration. ManageEngine Applications Manager serves as a robust Kubernetes monitoring tool that bridges the gap between infrastructure and application performance. By providing deep visibility into nodes, pods, namespaces, and services, it ensures your containerized applications remain fast, reliable, and cost-effective.
