Integrating with Azure Application Insights - Tutorial

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have the following prerequisites:

• An Azure subscription
• An AKS cluster deployed
• Azure CLI installed

Step 1: Create an Azure Application Insights resource

To integrate AKS with Azure Application Insights, you need to create an Application Insights resource. Follow these steps:

1. Create an Application Insights resource using the Azure portal or Azure CLI.
2. Make note of the Instrumentation Key, which will be used in the next steps.

Step 2: Update AKS deployment manifest

To enable integration with Azure Application Insights, you need to update your AKS deployment manifest with the Application Insights Instrumentation Key. Follow these steps:

1. Open your deployment manifest file (e.g., deployment.yaml).
2. Locate the container spec for your application.
3. Add the following environment variable to the container spec, using the Instrumentation Key from the previous step:

env:
  - name: APPINSIGHTS_INSTRUMENTATIONKEY
    value: 

Step 3: Deploy the updated manifest

Once you have updated the deployment manifest, you need to deploy it to your AKS cluster. Follow these steps:

1. Apply the updated manifest to your AKS cluster using the following command:

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Forgetting to create an Azure Application Insights resource before integrating with AKS.
• Missing or incorrect Instrumentation Key in the AKS deployment manifest.
• Not applying the updated manifest to the AKS cluster after making changes.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What types of applications can be monitored with Azure Application Insights?

   Azure Application Insights can monitor a wide range of applications, including web applications, mobile apps, and services running on various platforms.

2. Can I monitor multiple AKS clusters with a single Azure Application Insights resource?

   Yes, you can monitor multiple AKS clusters by configuring each cluster to send data to the same Application Insights resource.

3. How soon can I see the telemetry data in Azure Application Insights?

   The telemetry data from your AKS applications will appear in Azure Application Insights in near real-time, allowing you to monitor and analyze it without delay.

4. What types of data can I collect with Azure Application Insights?

   Azure Application Insights can collect various types of data, including request/response data, performance metrics, dependency tracing, and custom event telemetry.

5. Can I set up alerts based on telemetry data in Azure Application Insights?

   Yes, Azure Application Insights allows you to configure alerts based on specific conditions or anomalies detected in the telemetry data.

Summary

Integrating Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) with Azure Application Insights provides powerful monitoring and diagnostics capabilities for your AKS applications. By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you can easily create an Application Insights resource, update your AKS deployment manifest, and deploy the changes to your AKS cluster. Avoid common mistakes such as forgetting to create the Application Insights resource or missing the Instrumentation Key. With AKS and Azure Application Insights integration, you can gain valuable insights into the performance and health of your applications and improve their overall reliability.