kubeskoop
KubeSkoop is an open-source Kubernetes network monitoring and diagnostics tool that uses eBPF to capture kernel-level events and troubleshoot network problems across pods, services, nodes, and ingress/egress traffic. It provides a web console for visualization, packet capture, latency detection, and anomaly event tracking.
Key facts
Objective fields from the source. Values we can't verify are shown as “Unknown” rather than guessed.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | alibaba/kubeskoop |
| Owner | alibaba |
| Primary language | Go |
| License | Apache-2.0 — OSI-approved |
| Stars | 690 |
| Forks | 90 |
| Open issues | 42 |
| Latest release | v1.0.1 (2025-05-13) |
| Last updated | 2026-06-17 |
| Source | https://github.com/alibaba/kubeskoop |
What kubeskoop is
KubeSkoop uses eBPF and BTF for CO-RE kernel instrumentation to monitor the Linux network stack (socket, bridge, veth, netfilter, sysctls). It constructs network traffic graphs, exports Prometheus metrics, sends anomaly events to Grafana Loki, and includes a web UI for connectivity diagnosis, packet capture, and latency mesh analysis. Written in Go, it supports multiple CNI plugins and IaaS providers.
Get the kubeskoop source
Clone the repository and explore it locally.
git clone https://github.com/alibaba/kubeskoop.gitcd kubeskoop# follow the project's README for install & configurationNeed it deployed, integrated, or customized instead? DEV.co ships production installs.
Best use cases
Implementation considerations
- Requires Linux kernel with eBPF and BTF support; verify kernel version compatibility (typically 5.8+) before cluster deployment.
- Deploy as a DaemonSet with appropriate RBAC, resource limits, and node affinities; production deployment requires tuning replica counts and resource requests beyond provided defaults.
- Integrate with existing Prometheus, Grafana, and Loki stacks or use provided skoopbundle.yaml as starting point; ensure storage and ingestion capacity for metrics and logs.
- Establish security group rules, network policies, and RBAC policies for webconsole access; default credentials (admin/kubeskoop) must be changed immediately.
- Plan for ongoing maintenance of eBPF programs and kernel compatibility; kernel upgrades may require program recompilation or updates.
When to avoid it — and what to weigh
- Non-Kubernetes Environments — KubeSkoop is purpose-built for Kubernetes; it will not provide value for non-containerized or non-orchestrated infrastructure.
- Minimal Operational Overhead Requirements — Requires eBPF kernel support, BTF, and deployment of multiple components (agent, controller, web console, Prometheus, Grafana, Loki); adds observability infrastructure burden.
- Air-Gapped or Restricted Linux Kernel Environments — Depends on eBPF and kernel helpers; older kernels or heavily locked-down systems may not support required features (CO-RE, BTF).
- Pre-Existing Comprehensive Network Observability Stack — If you already have mature eBPF-based observability (e.g., Cilium, Tetragon) or enterprise networking stacks, KubeSkoop may introduce redundancy.
License & commercial use
Dual-licensed: userspace code under Apache License 2.0 (permissive OSI license, commercial-friendly); eBPF code in /bpf directory under GPL v2.0 (required for Linux kernel compatibility). Review GPL v2.0 obligations if distributing or embedding BPF programs.
Apache 2.0 userspace component permits commercial use, modification, and distribution with appropriate attribution. GPL v2.0 eBPF code requires review of distribution and linking obligations. Consult legal counsel if bundling, modifying, or shipping BPF programs; pure consumption as-is in private clusters is unambiguous.
DEV.co evaluation signals
Editorial assessment — not user reviews. Directional, with an explicit confidence level.
| Signal | Assessment |
|---|---|
| Maintenance | Active |
| Documentation | Adequate |
| License clarity | Needs review |
| Deployment complexity | High |
| DEV.co fit | Good |
| Assessment confidence | High |
KubeSkoop requires cluster-admin or near-equivalent RBAC to instrument kernel and access all network traffic. Runs eBPF programs in kernel context; verify upstream code review and kernel module integrity. Webconsole exposes network topology and packet data; secure with strong authentication (change defaults), TLS, network policies, and RBAC. No security audit or CVE history provided in data. Project includes SECURITY.md with responsible disclosure contact.
Alternatives to consider
Cilium + Hubble
eBPF-native CNI with built-in observability; more mature ecosystem but tighter coupling to network policy; better for greenfield clusters with Cilium adoption.
Kubernetes Network Policy Logging + tcpdump + Wireshark
Lower-level but simpler baseline; less automated anomaly detection and no unified UI; suitable for ad-hoc troubleshooting rather than continuous monitoring.
Commercial observability platforms (Datadog, New Relic, Elastic)
Managed, enterprise-grade with deeper integrations, support, and compliance; higher cost; eliminates operational overhead of running KubeSkoop infra.
Build on kubeskoop with DEV.co software developers
Deploy KubeSkoop in your cluster to gain kernel-level network visibility, identify bottlenecks, and resolve connectivity problems with eBPF-powered diagnostics. Review kernel compatibility and production deployment requirements before rollout.
Talk to DEV.coRelated on DEV.co
Explore the category and the services that help you build with it.
kubeskoop FAQ
Does KubeSkoop support Windows containers or non-Linux nodes?
What are the minimum CPU and memory requirements for production?
Can KubeSkoop monitor traffic encrypted with mTLS or service mesh sidecars?
Is there commercial support or SLA available?
Custom software development services
Adopting kubeskoop is usually one piece of a larger software development effort. As a software development agency, DEV.co provides software development services and web development expertise — pairing senior software developers and web developers with your team to design, build, and operate open-source observability software in production.
Ready to Diagnose Kubernetes Network Issues?
Deploy KubeSkoop in your cluster to gain kernel-level network visibility, identify bottlenecks, and resolve connectivity problems with eBPF-powered diagnostics. Review kernel compatibility and production deployment requirements before rollout.