Kubernetes Cluster component monitoring

[Viji_Radhakrish]

Hi, 

Do you use appd to monitor Kubernetes cluster components such as API server, etc, scheduler, and controller manager? How much are the cluster agent metrics useful?

[rganapavarapu]

Hello Radhakrishnan,

Thank you for posting us. 
Yes, the cluster agent will monitor your entire cluster and provide you the all the important metrics. 

The Cluster Agent collects metrics and metadata for the entire cluster, including every node and namespace down to the container level. When you instrument applications with AppDynamics APM Agents, the Cluster Agent allows you to view both Kubernetes and APM metrics for those pods (if both the Cluster Agent and the APM Agents are reporting the data to the same account the Controller).

You can use Cluster Agent to:

• Gain visibility into key Kubernetes metrics and events, and detect uptime and availability issues
• Diagnose issues that may prevent uptime or scalability issues, such as: 
  • Pod failures and restarts
  • Node starvation
  • Pod eviction threats and pod quota violations
  • Image and storage failures
  • Pending or stuck pods.
  • Bad endpoints: detects broken links between pods and application components
  • Service endpoints in a failed state
  • Missing dependencies (Services, configMaps, Secrets)
• Track resource usage of pods relative to the declared requests and limits

Please find the document link where you can see detailed metrics that would collected by the cluster agent.

https://docs.appdynamics.com/appd/23.x/latest/en/infrastructure-visibility/monitor-kubernetes-with-t...

https://docs.appdynamics.com/appd/23.x/latest/en/infrastructure-visibility/monitor-kubernetes-with-t...

Other imp links : https://docs.appdynamics.com/appd/23.x/latest/en/infrastructure-visibility/monitor-kubernetes-with-t...

Please let us know if you would like to set up a call and learn the basic information regarding the agent. We have a CAC option where customers can have a call with our consultants and learn more about it.

Best Regards,
Rajesh Ganapavarapu

[Viji_Radhakrish]

Thanks @Rajesh.Ganapavarapu for your input. 

It would be great to know what do you tell as a unique metric from appd cluster agent compared to the native kubernetes monitoring. What do you see as a selling factor here ?