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Exposing TCP Ports Using Istio Ingress Gateway
Istio has become an essential tool for managing HTTP traffic within Kubernetes clusters, offering advanced features such as Canary Deployments, mTLS, and end-to-end visibility. However, some tasks, like exposing a TCP port using the Istio IngressGateway, can be challenging if you’ve never done it before. This article will guide you through the process of exposing TCP ports with Istio Ingress Gateway, complete with real-world examples and practical use cases.
Understanding the Context
Istio is often used to manage HTTP traffic in Kubernetes, providing powerful capabilities such as traffic management, security, and observability. The Istio IngressGateway serves as the entry point for external traffic into the Kubernetes cluster, typically handling HTTP and HTTPS traffic. However, Istio also supports TCP traffic, which is necessary for use cases like exposing databases or other non-HTTP services running in the cluster to external consumers.
Exposing a TCP port through Istio involves configuring the IngressGateway to handle TCP traffic and route it to the appropriate service. This setup is particularly useful in scenarios where you need to expose services like TIBCO EMS or Kubernetes-based databases to other internal or external applications.