Istio Hands-On for Kubernetes from Udemy

Istio is one of the most talked-about frameworks in recent years. If you've worked with Kubernetes before, then you'll want to learn Istio. With this hands-on, practical course, you'll be able to gain experience in running your own Istio Service Meshes.

The course has now been updated to Istio 1.15, which now supports Apple M1 (and ARM processors in general).

This course is designed to be clear and understandable - and fun. But we also go into detail - you'll be learning how to use Istio in real production scenarios - and you'll be looking at the inner workings of Istio.

You can run this course on your own computer, using Minikube (8Gb of Host Ram required) - you don't need a cloud provider, although you can also run the course there - anywhere that you can run Kubernetes.

After a brief talk about what Istio is, we go straight into a hands-on demo, where you'll experience how Istio can solve difficult problems on live projects.

Then you'll find out the details of:

Traffic Management
Telemetry
Visualisation (with Kiali)
Distributed Tracing (with Jaeger)
Using Grafana to monitor network traffic
How to deploy canary releases
How to do "Dark Releases"
Istio VirtualServices and DestinationRules
Load Balancing and Session Affinity
Istio Gateways
Resilience testing with Fault Injection
Circuit Breaking/Outlier Detection
Securing cluster traffic with Mutual TLS (mTLS)

The "learning curve" for Istio is steep - which is why I've designed this course to be as clear and understandable as possible, and I hope with the hands-on demos, you'll also have fun along the way. But most of all, Istio is an extremely powerful tool, and it's a great addition to your CV.

What's inside

Learning objectives

What are service meshes?
What is istio?
How can i run istio locally?
What are envoy proxies?
The istio control and data planes
Visualising a cluster using kiali
Distributed tracing using jaeger
Monitoring metrics using grafana

What are istio virtualservices and destinationrules?
How to deploy canaries (and what they are!)
How to deploy "dark releases"
Istio gateways
How to test the resilience of a system using fault injection
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What are service meshes?
What is istio?
How can i run istio locally?
What are envoy proxies?
The istio control and data planes
Visualising a cluster using kiali
Distributed tracing using jaeger
Monitoring metrics using grafana
What are istio virtualservices and destinationrules?
How to deploy canaries (and what they are!)
How to deploy "dark releases"
Istio gateways
How to test the resilience of a system using fault injection
Show more
Show less

Syllabus

Introduction

Course Downloads

You'll find out what Istio is for, and why Service Meshes are very useful on Kubernetes clusters

What is Istio?

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers Istio, which is highly relevant to operating Kubernetes clusters in an enterprise environment

Teaches Istio's Telemetry features including Kiali, Jaeger, and Grafana, which are widely used in industry

Provides hands-on labs and interactive materials, which are essential to learning Istio effectively

Taught by Richard Chesterwood and Prageeth Warnak, who are recognized for their work in Kubernetes and Istio

Requires learners to come in with some experience in Kubernetes, which may not be suitable for complete beginners

Focuses on practical application of Istio, which may be less useful for learners seeking theoretical understanding

Reviews summary

Practical istio for kubernetes engineers

According to students, this course provides an exceptionally hands-on and practical approach to learning Istio for Kubernetes. Learners consistently praise the instructor's ability to break down complex concepts into digestible segments through engaging demos and labs. The course is considered highly relevant and up-to-date, with recent updates for Istio 1.15 and M1/ARM support, which significantly enhances the learning experience. While some learners encountered initial setup challenges, the course effectively covers core Istio features such as traffic management, telemetry, and resilience testing, helping students gain confidence and apply their skills in real-world production scenarios.

Covers essential Istio features for effective use.

"Excellent and comprehensive overview of Istio. The demos for Kiali, Jaeger, and Grafana were particularly helpful."

"I especially liked the sections on canary releases and dark releases. The practical insights into production use cases are valuable."

"The explanations on VirtualServices and DestinationRules cleared up a lot of confusion for me."

"I particularly enjoyed the resilience testing sections, including fault injection and circuit breakers."

Regularly updated, ensuring relevance with recent Istio versions.

"The updates to Istio 1.15 and M1 support are a huge plus, making it easy to follow along."

"This course has now been updated to Istio 1.15, which now supports Apple M1 (and ARM processors in general)."

"The updated content, especially for ARM/M1 users, is a huge win. The updates are also very welcome."

Instructor simplifies complex topics and explains concepts well.

"The instructor explains things clearly and breaks down complex Istio concepts into digestible segments."

"Instructor is good at simplifying complex topics."

"The instructor's approach to the 'steep learning curve' of Istio is commendable."

"This course is designed to be clear and understandable – and fun. I really appreciate the focus on production scenarios."

Focuses on practical application with many labs and demos.

"Absolutely fantastic! The instructor breaks down complex Istio concepts into digestible, hands-on labs."

"This course delivers exactly what it promises: a hands-on experience with Istio. Every concept is reinforced with practical examples."

"The course is incredibly thorough and practical. The step-by-step guidance through setting up and using Istio is invaluable."

"The best part is the practical labs that really reinforce the concepts. I found the hands-on coding and projects to be very strong."

Could benefit from more advanced topics for experienced users.

"I wish there were more advanced topics or deeper dives into custom Istio configurations."

"It gets you started, but I found some parts a bit superficial. For example, while mTLS was covered, I felt it could have gone deeper."

"For a 'hands-on' introduction, it's perfect, but I'd appreciate more advanced examples next time."

Some learners found initial environment setup difficult.

"My only minor gripe was occasional setup challenges with Minikube, which required some troubleshooting on my part."

"I struggled a bit with the initial setup, despite the provided instructions. More detailed troubleshooting would be beneficial."

"Setup can be tricky, but that's often the nature of these tools, and nothing a quick search couldn't fix."

"I think the only tricky part of this course is getting the local Kubernetes environment set up and running correctly."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Istio Hands-On for Kubernetes with these activities:

Review Kubernetes basics

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Refresh your Kubernetes knowledge before taking this course to improve knowledge retention and recall essential concepts.

Browse courses on Kubernetes

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Review Kubernetes fundamentals (e.g., pods, containers, and deployments)
Review Kubernetes networking and storage concepts
Review Kubernetes cluster management techniques

Gather Istio resources and tools

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Gather and organize resources and tools related to Istio to facilitate your learning and reference.

Browse courses on Istio

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Identify and collect useful Istio documentation, tutorials, and articles
Bookmark or download Istio tools, libraries, and plugins
Create a curated list or folder for easy access

Join a study group or online forum

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Join a study group or online forum to connect with other learners, ask questions, and share knowledge.

Browse courses on Istio

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Identify and join a study group or online forum focused on Istio
Engage with other members by asking questions, sharing insights, and participating in discussions
Collaborate on projects and learn from others' experiences

Four other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all seven activities

Build a simple Istio demo

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Create a simple Istio demo to reinforce your understanding of its core concepts and how it works in practice.

Browse courses on Istio

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Set up a Kubernetes cluster (e.g., Minikube)
Deploy a basic Istio service mesh
Configure and test basic traffic management features
Deploy and test a sample application with Istio

Follow Istio tutorials

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Follow official Istio tutorials to enhance your understanding and learn best practices.

Browse courses on Istio

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Explore the official Istio documentation
Complete the Istio quickstart tutorial
Review advanced Istio tutorials on specific features

Participate in an Istio hackathon

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Participate in a hackathon to showcase your Istio skills, solve real-world problems, and collaborate with others.

Browse courses on Istio

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Identify an upcoming Istio hackathon
Form a team or work individually
Develop a solution to the hackathon challenge
Present your solution and compete for prizes

Contribute to Istio open source projects

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Contribute to Istio open source projects to deepen your understanding, stay updated, and give back to the community.

Browse courses on Istio

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Identify areas within Istio where you can contribute
Review existing issues and pull requests
Create or work on an issue or pull request
Collaborate with the Istio community

Career center

Learners who complete Istio Hands-On for Kubernetes will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Site Reliability Engineer

A Site Reliability Engineer is responsible for ensuring the reliability and performance of IT systems and services. This course can be helpful for Site Reliability Engineers who want to gain in-depth knowledge of Istio and its usage in production environments. By understanding how Istio can improve system reliability, performance, and availability, individuals can excel in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Site Reliability Engineer

DevOps Engineer

This course is particularly relevant for DevOps Engineers. The concepts and technologies covered, such as continuous integration, service meshes, and distributed tracing, are DevOps tools used to improve the efficiency and agility of software development and delivery. By taking this course, individuals in this field can strengthen their understanding and enhance their DevOps skillset.

See salaries and explore the career path for DevOps Engineer

Cloud Engineer

Cloud Engineers are in high demand as more companies shift their operations and infrastructure to cloud-based platforms. A firm understanding of container orchestration, service meshes, and cloud-native technologies is essential for Cloud Engineers. By completing this Istio course, you can strengthen your skillset and be prepared to take on advanced roles in cloud engineering.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Engineer

Cloud Architect

Cloud Architects are responsible for designing and managing cloud computing systems. This course can be helpful for Cloud Architects who want to gain proficiency in deploying, managing, and troubleshooting Istio in cloud environments. By understanding how Istio can improve cloud service performance, reliability, and security, Cloud Architects can enhance their skills in designing and maintaining scalable and efficient cloud architectures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cloud Architect

Software Architect

For those interested in the larger scope and design of software systems, progressing into the role of a Software Architect is an excellent next step. Architects play a crucial role in the tech industry, creating software applications and overseeing the work of various engineering departments. The concepts learned in this Istio course, especially around telemetry, can serve as a strong foundation for those who want to excel as a Software Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Architect

Software Development Manager

As a Software Development Manager, you will be responsible for leading and managing software development teams. This course can help those aspiring to enter this role develop a solid understanding of Istio, a crucial technology for managing microservices and distributed systems. By gaining proficiency in Istio's concepts and mechanisms, you can effectively lead teams in adopting and implementing service mesh solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Development Manager

Solutions Architect

Solutions Architects are responsible for designing and implementing technology solutions that meet the needs of clients. This course can be helpful for Solutions Architects who want to gain familiarity with Istio and its use cases in enterprise environments. By understanding how Istio can help solve common challenges in service-oriented architectures, Solutions Architects can enhance their ability to design and deliver tailored technology solutions to clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Solutions Architect

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts are responsible for protecting an organization's IT systems and data from security threats. This course can be useful for Information Security Analysts who want to gain familiarity with Istio's security features, such as mutual TLS (mTLS), which is essential for securing microservice communication. By understanding how Istio can enhance security within distributed systems, analysts can strengthen their skills in protecting organizations from cyber threats.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Network Architect

Network Architects design, implement, and maintain the infrastructure that connects devices, systems, and services. This course can be helpful for Network Architects who want to gain familiarity with Istio's network management capabilities. By understanding how Istio can be used to optimize network performance, manage traffic flow, and provide security, Network Architects can enhance their skills in designing and maintaining robust networks.

See salaries and explore the career path for Network Architect

Systems Administrator

Systems Administrators play a vital role in ensuring the smooth operation of IT systems. With a deep understanding of network infrastructure, operating systems, and cloud technologies, Systems Administrators maintain and improve the performance and reliability of systems. This Istio course can be helpful for those looking to specialize in Kubernetes administration and service mesh technologies.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Administrator

Technical Support Engineer

Technical Support Engineers provide technical assistance and support to users. This course can be helpful for Technical Support Engineers who want to gain familiarity with troubleshooting and resolving issues related to Istio and Kubernetes. By understanding how Istio works and how to troubleshoot common problems, Technical Support Engineers can enhance their skills in providing efficient and effective support to users.

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Product Manager

For those interested in the intersection of technology and business, a Product Manager role may be a great fit. Product Managers are responsible for defining the vision and roadmap for software products, working with engineering teams to bring products to market. The concepts learned in this course, around service meshes, traffic management, and monitoring, can be useful for Product Managers who want to build a strong understanding of the technical aspects of their products.

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Database Administrator

Database Administrators (DBAs) are responsible for managing and maintaining databases. With a deep understanding of database systems, DBAs ensure data integrity, security, and performance. This course can be helpful for DBAs who want to expand their knowledge into cloud-native technologies and service meshes. By understanding how Istio can be used to manage and monitor database services, DBAs can enhance data management and performance.

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Network Engineer

With a background in computer science principles, a Network Engineer designs, implements, and maintains computer networks within an organization. This course can be helpful for Network Engineers who want to gain familiarity with the Istio service mesh and other topics like distributed tracing, as they would be closely involved in the setup, configuration, and troubleshooting of such systems.

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Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data to extract meaningful insights and patterns. This course can be helpful for Data Analysts who want to gain familiarity with techniques such as distributed tracing and monitoring, which are used for performance analysis and troubleshooting in service mesh architectures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst