Get Started with the OpenTelemetry plugin - Plugin

Note: The OpenTelemetry plugin’s tracing capabilities only work when Kong Gateway’s tracing_instrumentations configuration is enabled.

The OpenTelemetry plugin is fully compatible with the OpenTelemetry specification and can be used with any OpenTelemetry compatible backend.

There are two ways to set up an OpenTelemetry backend:

Using a OpenTelemetry compatible backend directly, like Jaeger (v1.35.0+) All the vendors supported by OpenTelemetry are listed in the OpenTelemetry’s Vendor support.
Using the OpenTelemetry Collector, which is middleware that can be used to proxy OpenTelemetry spans to a compatible backend. You can view all the available OpenTelemetry Collector exporters at open-telemetry/opentelemetry-collector-contrib.

Set up Kong Gateway

The OpenTelemetry tracing capability supported by this plugin requires the following Kong Gateway configuration:

tracing_instrumentations = all: Enables all possible tracing instrumentations. Valid values can be found in Kong’s configuration reference.
tracing_sampling_rate = 1.0: Tracing instrumentation sampling rate. Tracer samples a fixed percentage of all spans following the sampling rate. Set the sampling rate to a lower value to reduce the impact of the instrumentation on Kong Gateway’s proxy performance in production.

Set up an OpenTelemetry compatible backend

This section is optional if you are using a OpenTelemetry compatible APM vendor. All the supported vendors are listed in the OpenTelemetry’s Vendor support.

Jaeger natively supports OpenTelemetry starting with v1.35 and can be used with the OpenTelemetry plugin.

Deploy a Jaeger instance with Docker:

docker run --name jaeger \
  -e COLLECTOR_OTLP_ENABLED=true \
  -p 16686:16686 \
  -p 4317:4317 \
  -p 4318:4318 \
  jaegertracing/all-in-one:1.36

The COLLECTOR_OTLP_ENABLED environment variable must be set to true to enable the OpenTelemetry Collector.
The 4318 port is the OTLP/HTTP port and the 4317 port is the OTLP/GRPC port that isn’t supported by the OpenTelemetry plugin yet.

Set up an OpenTelemetry Collector

This section is required if you are using an incompatible OpenTelemetry APM vendor.

Create a config file (otelcol.yaml) for the OpenTelemetry Collector:

receivers:
  otlp:
    protocols:
      grpc:
      http:

processors:
  batch:

exporters:
  logging:
    loglevel: debug
  zipkin:
    endpoint: "http://some.url:9411/api/v2/spans"
    tls:
      insecure: true

service:
  pipelines:
    traces:
      receivers: [otlp]
      processors: [batch]
      exporters: [logging, zipkin]
    logs:
      receivers: [otlp]
      processors: [batch]
      exporters: [logging]

Run the OpenTelemetry Collector with Docker:

docker run --name opentelemetry-collector \
  -p 4317:4317 \
  -p 4318:4318 \
  -p 55679:55679 \
  -v $(pwd)/otelcol.yaml:/etc/otel-collector-config.yaml \
  otel/opentelemetry-collector-contrib:0.52.0 \
  --config=/etc/otel-collector-config.yaml

See the OpenTelemetry Collector documentation for more information.

Configure the OpenTelemetry plugin

Enable on a service

Enable on a route

Enable on a consumer

Enable globally

Kong Admin API

Konnect API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Konnect Terraform

Make the following request:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8001/services/{serviceName|Id}/plugins \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data '
    {
  "name": "opentelemetry",
  "config": {
    "traces_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces",
    "logs_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs",
    "resource_attributes": {
      "service.name": "kong-dev"
    }
  }
}
    '

Replace SERVICE_NAME|ID with the id or name of the service that this plugin configuration will target.

Make the following request, substituting your own access token, region, control plane ID, and service ID:

curl -X POST \
https://{us|eu}.api.konghq.com/v2/control-planes/{controlPlaneId}/core-entities/services/{serviceId}/plugins \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --header "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" \
    --data '{"name":"opentelemetry","config":{"traces_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces","logs_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs","resource_attributes":{"service.name":"kong-dev"}}}'

See the Konnect API reference to learn about region-specific URLs and personal access tokens.

First, create a KongPlugin resource:

echo "
apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongPlugin
metadata:
  name: opentelemetry-example
plugin: opentelemetry
config:
  traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
  logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
  resource_attributes:
    service.name: kong-dev
" | kubectl apply -f -

Next, apply the KongPlugin resource to an ingress by annotating the service as follows:

kubectl annotate service SERVICE_NAME konghq.com/plugins=opentelemetry-example

Replace SERVICE_NAME with the name of the service that this plugin configuration will target. You can see your available ingresses by running kubectl get service.

Note: The KongPlugin resource only needs to be defined once and can be applied to any service, consumer, or route in the namespace. If you want the plugin to be available cluster-wide, create the resource as a KongClusterPlugin instead of KongPlugin.

Add this section to your declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: opentelemetry
  service: SERVICE_NAME|ID
  config:
    traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
    logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
    resource_attributes:
      service.name: kong-dev

Replace SERVICE_NAME|ID with the id or name of the service that this plugin configuration will target.

Prerequisite: Configure your Personal Access Token

terraform {
  required_providers {
    konnect = {
      source  = "kong/konnect"
    }
  }
}

provider "konnect" {
  personal_access_token = "kpat_YOUR_TOKEN"
  server_url            = "https://us.api.konghq.com/"
}

Add the following to your Terraform configuration to create a Konnect Gateway Plugin:

resource "konnect_gateway_plugin_opentelemetry" "my_opentelemetry" {
  enabled = true

  config = {
    traces_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces"
    logs_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs"
    resource_attributes = {
      service.name = "kong-dev"
    }
  }

  control_plane_id = konnect_gateway_control_plane.my_konnect_cp.id
  service = {
    id = konnect_gateway_service.my_service.id
  }
}

Kong Admin API

Konnect API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Konnect Terraform

Make the following request:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8001/routes/{routeName|Id}/plugins \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data '
    {
  "name": "opentelemetry",
  "config": {
    "traces_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces",
    "logs_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs",
    "resource_attributes": {
      "service.name": "kong-dev"
    }
  }
}
    '

Replace ROUTE_NAME|ID with the id or name of the route that this plugin configuration will target.

Make the following request, substituting your own access token, region, control plane ID, and route ID:

curl -X POST \
https://{us|eu}.api.konghq.com/v2/control-planes/{controlPlaneId}/core-entities/routes/{routeId}/plugins \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --header "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" \
    --data '{"name":"opentelemetry","config":{"traces_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces","logs_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs","resource_attributes":{"service.name":"kong-dev"}}}'

See the Konnect API reference to learn about region-specific URLs and personal access tokens.

First, create a KongPlugin resource:

echo "
apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongPlugin
metadata:
  name: opentelemetry-example
plugin: opentelemetry
config:
  traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
  logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
  resource_attributes:
    service.name: kong-dev
" | kubectl apply -f -

Next, apply the KongPlugin resource to an ingress by annotating the ingress as follows:

kubectl annotate ingress INGRESS_NAME konghq.com/plugins=opentelemetry-example

Replace INGRESS_NAME with the name of the ingress that this plugin configuration will target. You can see your available ingresses by running kubectl get ingress.

Note: The KongPlugin resource only needs to be defined once and can be applied to any service, consumer, or route in the namespace. If you want the plugin to be available cluster-wide, create the resource as a KongClusterPlugin instead of KongPlugin.

Add this section to your declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: opentelemetry
  route: ROUTE_NAME|ID
  config:
    traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
    logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
    resource_attributes:
      service.name: kong-dev

Replace ROUTE_NAME|ID with the id or name of the route that this plugin configuration will target.

Prerequisite: Configure your Personal Access Token

terraform {
  required_providers {
    konnect = {
      source  = "kong/konnect"
    }
  }
}

provider "konnect" {
  personal_access_token = "kpat_YOUR_TOKEN"
  server_url            = "https://us.api.konghq.com/"
}

Add the following to your Terraform configuration to create a Konnect Gateway Plugin:

resource "konnect_gateway_plugin_opentelemetry" "my_opentelemetry" {
  enabled = true

  config = {
    traces_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces"
    logs_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs"
    resource_attributes = {
      service.name = "kong-dev"
    }
  }

  control_plane_id = konnect_gateway_control_plane.my_konnect_cp.id
  route = {
    id = konnect_gateway_route.my_route.id
  }
}

Kong Admin API

Konnect API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Konnect Terraform

Make the following request:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8001/consumers/{consumerName|Id}/plugins \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data '
    {
  "name": "opentelemetry",
  "config": {
    "traces_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces",
    "logs_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs",
    "resource_attributes": {
      "service.name": "kong-dev"
    }
  }
}
    '

Replace CONSUMER_NAME|ID with the id or name of the consumer that this plugin configuration will target.

Make the following request, substituting your own access token, region, control plane ID, and consumer ID:

curl -X POST \
https://{us|eu}.api.konghq.com/v2/control-planes/{controlPlaneId}/core-entities/consumers/{consumerId}/plugins \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --header "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" \
    --data '{"name":"opentelemetry","config":{"traces_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces","logs_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs","resource_attributes":{"service.name":"kong-dev"}}}'

See the Konnect API reference to learn about region-specific URLs and personal access tokens.

First, create a KongPlugin resource:

echo "
apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongPlugin
metadata:
  name: opentelemetry-example
plugin: opentelemetry
config:
  traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
  logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
  resource_attributes:
    service.name: kong-dev
" | kubectl apply -f -

Next, apply the KongPlugin resource to an ingress by annotating the KongConsumer object as follows:

kubectl annotate KongConsumer CONSUMER_NAME konghq.com/plugins=opentelemetry-example

Replace CONSUMER_NAME with the name of the consumer that this plugin configuration will target. You can see your available consumers by running kubectl get KongConsumer.

To learn more about KongConsumer objects, see Provisioning Consumers and Credentials.

Note: The KongPlugin resource only needs to be defined once and can be applied to any service, consumer, or route in the namespace. If you want the plugin to be available cluster-wide, create the resource as a KongClusterPlugin instead of KongPlugin.

Add this section to your declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: opentelemetry
  consumer: CONSUMER_NAME|ID
  config:
    traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
    logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
    resource_attributes:
      service.name: kong-dev

Replace CONSUMER_NAME|ID with the id or name of the consumer that this plugin configuration will target.

Prerequisite: Configure your Personal Access Token

terraform {
  required_providers {
    konnect = {
      source  = "kong/konnect"
    }
  }
}

provider "konnect" {
  personal_access_token = "kpat_YOUR_TOKEN"
  server_url            = "https://us.api.konghq.com/"
}

Add the following to your Terraform configuration to create a Konnect Gateway Plugin:

resource "konnect_gateway_plugin_opentelemetry" "my_opentelemetry" {
  enabled = true

  config = {
    traces_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces"
    logs_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs"
    resource_attributes = {
      service.name = "kong-dev"
    }
  }

  control_plane_id = konnect_gateway_control_plane.my_konnect_cp.id
  consumer = {
    id = konnect_gateway_consumer.my_consumer.id
  }
}

Kong Admin API

Konnect API

Kubernetes

Declarative (YAML)

Konnect Terraform

Make the following request:

curl -X POST http://localhost:8001/plugins/ \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --data '
    {
  "name": "opentelemetry",
  "config": {
    "traces_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces",
    "logs_endpoint": "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs",
    "resource_attributes": {
      "service.name": "kong-dev"
    }
  }
}
    '

Make the following request, substituting your own access token, region, and control plane ID:

curl -X POST \
https://{us|eu}.api.konghq.com/v2/control-planes/{controlPlaneId}/core-entities/plugins/ \
    --header "accept: application/json" \
    --header "Content-Type: application/json" \
    --header "Authorization: Bearer TOKEN" \
    --data '{"name":"opentelemetry","config":{"traces_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces","logs_endpoint":"http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs","resource_attributes":{"service.name":"kong-dev"}}}'

See the Konnect API reference to learn about region-specific URLs and personal access tokens.

Create a KongClusterPlugin resource and label it as global:

apiVersion: configuration.konghq.com/v1
kind: KongClusterPlugin
metadata:
  name: <global-opentelemetry>
  annotations:
    kubernetes.io/ingress.class: kong
  labels:
    global: "true"
config:
  traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
  logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
  resource_attributes:
    service.name: kong-dev
plugin: opentelemetry

Add a plugins entry in the declarative configuration file:

plugins:
- name: opentelemetry
  config:
    traces_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces
    logs_endpoint: http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs
    resource_attributes:
      service.name: kong-dev

Prerequisite: Configure your Personal Access Token

terraform {
  required_providers {
    konnect = {
      source  = "kong/konnect"
    }
  }
}

provider "konnect" {
  personal_access_token = "kpat_YOUR_TOKEN"
  server_url            = "https://us.api.konghq.com/"
}

Add the following to your Terraform configuration to create a Konnect Gateway Plugin:

resource "konnect_gateway_plugin_opentelemetry" "my_opentelemetry" {
  enabled = true

  config = {
    traces_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/traces"
    logs_endpoint = "http://<opentelemetry-backend>:4318/v1/logs"
    resource_attributes = {
      service.name = "kong-dev"
    }
  }

  control_plane_id = konnect_gateway_control_plane.my_konnect_cp.id
}

More information

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