Rethinking Infrastructure Monitoring: Kubernetes in Virtual Reality
At Redev Ltd, we’ve recently been exploring more effective ways to monitor and manage complex Kubernetes clusters. For many of our clients—particularly those in finance—moving to Kubernetes has provided greater control and flexibility. However, when we looked into some of our clients’ clusters, we noticed several issues with cluster management—especially in areas like visibility, optimisation, and cost-efficiency.
The Challenge
Traditional dashboards are limited. While tools like Grafana and the Kubernetes Dashboard provide 2D metrics, they can quickly become overwhelming in large-scale environments. Misconfigured resources – either over or under-allocated – lead to unnecessary infrastructure costs and, in many cases, increased carbon footprints.
Clients often respond by over-provisioning resources as a safety net. This results in overspending and inefficiency.
Our Solution: A VR-Based Monitoring Tool
We set out to develop a proof-of-concept that brings Kubernetes monitoring into virtual reality. The aim was simple: allow users to step inside their cluster.
Using Unity, the Oculus Quest, and the Kubernetes API, we built a VR experience where users can walk through a 3D representation of their cluster – visualising pods, nodes, memory usage, and CPU load in real time.
Instead of reading metrics from a table, users can now see where resources are being underused or overallocated, using intuitive visual cues such as height, colour, and spatial layout.
Key Outcomes
- The prototype revealed resource inefficiencies in a live cluster with over 870 pods.
- Clients were able to reallocate CPU and memory more effectively.
- Feedback showed that the immersive experience helped users quickly identify performance issues that were previously hard to spot in a traditional dashboard.
What We Learned
This approach is not without its challenges. Real-time metric integration, user interface optimisation, and performance at scale still need refinement. But early testing suggests that immersive environments offer a valuable complement to conventional monitoring tools – especially for users who prefer visual learning and spatial awareness.
Results
These are examples captured directly from the VR environment:
Over specified Pod:
This pod was allocated significantly more memory and CPU than required, leading to unnecessary infrastructure spend.
Underspecified Pod:
Here, the pod lacked sufficient resources, impacting performance until it was reconfigured after being identified in the VR view.
This visual feedback would be useful for clients to immediately spot and resolve inefficiencies in their resource allocation when manging their Kubernetes Clusters.
What’s Next
We’re exploring further development in the following areas:
- Real-time metric streaming
- Enhanced visual metaphors (e.g. skeuomorphic design)
- Multi-user collaboration in VR environments
- Integration with cloud APIs for predictive insights
Final Thoughts
This project blends emerging technology with real-world infrastructure challenges. By bringing Kubernetes into VR, we’re not just visualising data – we’re making it more accessible, more intuitive, and ultimately more actionable.