Troubleshooting AKS Clusters

Running workloads on Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) brings agility and scalability, but also introduces new layers of complexity. In a distributed, containerised environment, issues can arise from many sources — ranging from infrastructure and networking to application code and configuration. As a result, effective troubleshooting is a critical skill for anyone responsible for maintaining AKS clusters.

Troubleshooting in Kubernetes is often different from traditional infrastructure or application support. The platform’s abstraction and automation can make it harder to see what’s happening under the surface, and problems can propagate quickly across multiple services or nodes. Rapid identification and resolution of issues is essential to minimise downtime and maintain a reliable service for users.

A systematic approach to troubleshooting involves:

• Observing symptoms and gathering relevant data,
• Isolating the root cause using the right tools,
• Applying targeted fixes,
• And learning from incidents to prevent recurrence.

In this section, we will explore the core tools and techniques for diagnosing and resolving common issues in AKS. You will learn how to use Kubernetes-native commands, Azure’s diagnostic features, and best practices for efficient problem-solving in production environments.