Service Mesh Observability

---
version: 4.1.0-fractal
name: service-mesh-observability-ef2300ba7fac
description: Implement comprehensive observability for service meshes including distributed tracing, metrics, and visualization. Use when setting up mesh monitoring, debugging latency issues, or implementing SLOs for service communication.
---

# Service Mesh Observability

Complete guide to observability patterns for Istio, Linkerd, and service mesh deployments.

## Do not use this skill when

- The task is unrelated to service mesh observability
- You need a different domain or tool outside this scope

## Instructions

- Clarify goals, constraints, and required inputs.
- Apply relevant best practices and validate outcomes.
- Provide actionable steps and verification.
- If detailed examples are required, open `resources/implementation-playbook.md`.

## Use this skill when

- Setting up distributed tracing across services
- Implementing service mesh metrics and dashboards
- Debugging latency and error issues
- Defining SLOs for service communication
- Visualizing service dependencies
- Troubleshooting mesh connectivity

## Core Concepts

## 🧠 Knowledge Modules (Fractal Skills)

### 1. [1. Three Pillars of Observability](./sub-skills/1-three-pillars-of-observability.md)
### 2. [2. Golden Signals for Mesh](./sub-skills/2-golden-signals-for-mesh.md)
### 3. [Template 1: Istio with Prometheus & Grafana](./sub-skills/template-1-istio-with-prometheus-grafana.md)
### 4. [Template 2: Key Istio Metrics Queries](./sub-skills/template-2-key-istio-metrics-queries.md)
### 5. [Template 3: Jaeger Distributed Tracing](./sub-skills/template-3-jaeger-distributed-tracing.md)
### 6. [Template 4: Linkerd Viz Dashboard](./sub-skills/template-4-linkerd-viz-dashboard.md)
### 7. [Template 5: Grafana Dashboard JSON](./sub-skills/template-5-grafana-dashboard-json.md)
### 8. [Template 6: Kiali Service Mesh Visualization](./sub-skills/template-6-kiali-service-mesh-visualization.md)
### 9. [Template 7: OpenTelemetry Integration](./sub-skills/template-7-opentelemetry-integration.md)
### 10. [Do's](./sub-skills/dos.md)
### 11. [Don'ts](./sub-skills/donts.md)