Containerization has revolutionized the way applications are deployed, making the process more flexible, scalable, and manageable. Kubernetes, as the leading container orchestration system, has become the standard for running cloud-native services. However, as the number of services and microservices grows, so does the need for efficient monitoring. This is why the combination of Prometheus + Grafana has become the go-to solution for observing infrastructure health.

In this article, we’ll explore how to set up Kubernetes cluster monitoring on a VPS using Prometheus and Grafana, the benefits of this approach, and why it’s essential for maintaining project stability.

Why Monitoring is a Critical Component of Modern Infrastructure

Container-based architecture has its own specifics:

  • Services scale automatically.
  • Pods are launched and terminated dynamically.
  • A single failing microservice can trigger a cascading failure.

Without comprehensive monitoring, it’s impossible to react promptly to performance issues, memory leaks, or service crashes. Prometheus allows you to collect, store, and process metrics, while Grafana helps visualize them in a clear and structured way.

Why VPS is a Suitable Environment for Monitoring Kubernetes

A Virtual Private Server (VPS) is a flexible and affordable solution for hosting Kubernetes clusters, especially for small and medium-sized projects. It allows you to:

  • control the configuration and security settings;
  • avoid unnecessary cloud service costs;
  • deploy your own monitoring system without limitations.

You can rent a VPS with the required configuration at server.ua, selecting an optimal setup for your cluster and monitoring needs.

How Prometheus + Grafana Work Together

  1. Prometheus scrapes endpoints from your services and collects time-series metrics.
  2. Metrics are stored in Prometheus’s built-in database.
  3. Grafana connects to Prometheus as a data source and displays metrics using interactive dashboards.
  4. Alerts are configured to notify you when metrics deviate from normal values.

Installing and Configuring on a VPS

1. Prepare the Environment

Before you begin, make sure:

  • Your Kubernetes cluster is successfully deployed on your VPS;
  • The cluster has internet access (to download Docker images);
  • kubectl is installed and configured for cluster management.

2. Installing Prometheus

The recommended approach is to use a Helm chart:

bash

helm repo add prometheus-community https://prometheus-community.github.io/helm-charts
helm repo update
helm install prometheus prometheus-community/kube-prometheus-stack

This bundle includes:

  • Prometheus;
  • Grafana;
  • node-exporter (system-level metrics);
  • kube-state-metrics (Kubernetes object metrics);
  • default alerting rules.

3. Configuring Grafana

After installation, retrieve the Grafana service address:

bash

kubectl get svc --namespace default prometheus-grafana

Grafana is usually available via NodePort or Ingress. The default login is admin, and the password can be retrieved using kubectl get secret.

4. Import Dashboards

Grafana supports hundreds of ready-made dashboards available in the official library. Popular ones include:

  • Kubernetes Cluster Monitoring;
  • Node Exporter Full;
  • Pod Resource Usage.

5. Set Up Alerts

Prometheus allows you to define custom alert rules using Alertmanager. For example, you can receive alerts via Telegram or email when CPU usage spikes or pods go down.

Advantages of This Setup

  • Transparency: Gain full visibility into the state of all cluster components.
  • Forecasting: Analyze historical data to predict potential failures.
  • Automation: Alerts react to issues without requiring human intervention.
  • Scalability: Suitable for both single VPS deployments and larger multi-node infrastructures.

Securing Your Monitoring Setup

To keep your dashboards safe:

  • Use an SSL certificate (for example, an SSL certificate);
  • Restrict access via a firewall or VPN;
  • Change default admin credentials;
  • Enable Basic Auth or OAuth2 authentication.

Hosting Recommendations

For optimal monitoring performance, we recommend server colocation in a reliable data center with low latency and high bandwidth. At server.ua, you can choose between dedicated servers or powerful VPS options, supported by robust infrastructure and expert technical support.

Final Thoughts

Monitoring Kubernetes using Prometheus and Grafana on a VPS is a smart and efficient solution for those who want to maintain control over their infrastructure, minimize downtime risks, and ensure high service availability. This approach helps you respond quickly to performance fluctuations, scale your workloads intelligently, and plan infrastructure growth with confidence.

By choosing VPS hosting from server.ua, you get not just a server — but a solid foundation for modern DevOps practices.