---
title: Working with Istio on flat network
---

This document uses an example to demonstrate how to use [Istio](https://istio.io/) on Karmada.

Follow this guide to install the Istio control plane on `karmada-host` (the primary cluster) and configure `member1` and `member2` (the remote cluster) to use the control plane in `karmada-host`. All clusters reside on the network1 network, meaning there is direct connectivity between the pods in both clusters.

![Istio on Karmada](../../resources/userguide/service/istio/istio-on-karmada.png)

## Install Karmada

### Install karmada control plane

Following the steps [Install karmada control plane](https://github.com/karmada-io/karmada#install-karmada-control-plane) in Quick Start, you can get a Karmada. 

## Deploy Istio

***
If you are testing multicluster setup on `kind` you can use [MetalLB](https://metallb.universe.tf/installation/) to make use of `EXTERNAL-IP` for `LoadBalancer` services.
***

### Install istioctl
Please refer to the [istioctl](https://istio.io/latest/docs/setup/getting-started/#download) Installation.

### Prepare CA certificates

Following the steps [plug-in-certificates-and-key-into-the-cluster](https://istio.io/latest/docs/tasks/security/cert-management/plugin-ca-cert/#plug-in-certificates-and-key-into-the-cluster) to configure Istio CA.

Replace the cluster name `cluster1` with `primary`, the output will looks like as following:
```bash
root@karmada-demo  istio-on-karmada# tree certs
certs
├── primary
│   ├── ca-cert.pem
│   ├── ca-key.pem
│   ├── cert-chain.pem
│   └── root-cert.pem
├── root-ca.conf
├── root-cert.csr
├── root-cert.pem
├── root-cert.srl
└── root-key.pem
```
### Install Istio on karmada-apiserver

Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada apiserver`:

```
# export KUBECONFIG=$HOME/.kube/karmada.config

# kubectl config use-context karmada-apiserver 
```

Create a secret `cacerts` in `istio-system` namespace:
```bash
kubectl create namespace istio-system
kubectl create secret generic cacerts -n istio-system \
    --from-file=certs/primary/ca-cert.pem \
    --from-file=certs/primary/ca-key.pem \
    --from-file=certs/primary/root-cert.pem \
    --from-file=certs/primary/cert-chain.pem
```

Create a  propagation policy for `cacert` secret:
```bash
cat <<EOF | kubectl apply -f -
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: cacerts-propagation
  namespace: istio-system
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: Secret
      name: cacerts
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member1
        - member2
EOF
```

Run the following command to install istio CRDs on karmada apiserver: 
```bash
cat <<EOF | istioctl install -y --set profile=minimal -f -
apiVersion: install.istio.io/v1alpha1
kind: IstioOperator
spec:
  meshConfig:
    accessLogFile: /dev/stdout
  values:
    global:
      meshID: mesh1
      multiCluster:
        clusterName: primary
      network: network1
EOF
```
Karmada apiserver will not deploy a real istiod pod, you should press `ctrl+c` to exit installation when `Processing resources for Istiod`.
```bash
✔ Istio core installed                                                                                                                                                         
- Processing resources for Istiod.  
```


### Install Istio on karmada host

1. Create secret on karmada-host

Karmada host is not a member cluster, we need create the `cacerts` secret for `istiod`.

Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada host`:

```bash
export KUBECONFIG=$HOME/.kube/karmada.config
kubectl config use-context karmada-host
```

Create a secret `cacerts` in `istio-system` namespace:
```bash
kubectl create namespace istio-system
kubectl create secret generic cacerts -n istio-system \
    --from-file=certs/primary/ca-cert.pem \
    --from-file=certs/primary/ca-key.pem \
    --from-file=certs/primary/root-cert.pem \
    --from-file=certs/primary/cert-chain.pem
```

2. Create istio-kubeconfig on karmada-host

```bash
kubectl get secret -nkarmada-system kubeconfig --template={{.data.kubeconfig}} | base64 -d > kind-karmada.yaml
```

```bash
kubectl create secret generic istio-kubeconfig --from-file=config=kind-karmada.yaml -nistio-system
```

3. Install istio control plane

```bash
cat <<EOF | istioctl install -y --set profile=minimal -f -
apiVersion: install.istio.io/v1alpha1
kind: IstioOperator
spec:
  meshConfig:
    accessLogFile: /dev/stdout
  values:
    global:
      meshID: mesh1
      multiCluster:
        clusterName: primary
      network: network1
EOF
```

4. Expose istiod service

Run the following command to create a service for the `istiod` service:
```bash
cat <<EOF | kubectl apply -f -
apiVersion: v1
kind: Service
metadata:
  name: istiod-elb
  namespace: istio-system
spec:
  ports:
  - name: https-dns
    port: 15012
    protocol: TCP
    targetPort: 15012
  selector:
    app: istiod
    istio: pilot
  sessionAffinity: None
  type: LoadBalancer
EOF
```

Export DISCOVERY_ADDRESS:
```bash
export DISCOVERY_ADDRESS=$(kubectl get svc istiod-elb -nistio-system -o jsonpath='{.status.loadBalancer.ingress[0].ip}')
# verify
echo $DISCOVERY_ADDRESS
```

### Prepare member1 cluster secret

1. Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada member1`:
```bash
export KUBECONFIG="$HOME/.kube/members.config"
kubectl config use-context member1
```

2. Create istio remote secret for member1:
```bash
istioctl create-remote-secret --name=member1 > istio-remote-secret-member1.yaml
```

### Prepare member2 cluster secret

1. Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada member2`:
```bash
export KUBECONFIG="$HOME/.kube/members.config"
kubectl config use-context member2
```

2. Create istio remote secret for member1:
```bash
istioctl create-remote-secret --name=member2 > istio-remote-secret-member2.yaml
```

### Apply istio remote secret

Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada apiserver`:

```bash
export KUBECONFIG=$HOME/.kube/karmada.config
kubectl config use-context karmada-apiserver 
```

Apply istio remote secret:
```bash 
kubectl apply -f istio-remote-secret-member1.yaml

kubectl apply -f istio-remote-secret-member2.yaml
```


### Install istio remote

1. Install istio remote member1

Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada member1`:
```bash
export KUBECONFIG="$HOME/.kube/members.config"
kubectl config use-context member1
```

```bash
cat <<EOF | istioctl install -y -f -
apiVersion: install.istio.io/v1alpha1
kind: IstioOperator
spec:
  values:
    global:
      meshID: mesh1
      multiCluster:
        clusterName: member1
      network: network1
      remotePilotAddress: ${DISCOVERY_ADDRESS}
EOF
```

2. Install istio remote member2

Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada member2`:
```bash
export KUBECONFIG="$HOME/.kube/members.config"
kubectl config use-context member2
```

```bash
cat <<EOF | istioctl install -y -f -
apiVersion: install.istio.io/v1alpha1
kind: IstioOperator
spec:
  values:
    global:
      meshID: mesh1
      multiCluster:
        clusterName: member2
      network: network1
      remotePilotAddress: ${DISCOVERY_ADDRESS}
EOF
```

## Deploy bookinfo application

Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada apiserver`:

```bash
export KUBECONFIG=$HOME/.kube/karmada.config
kubectl config use-context karmada-apiserver 
```

Create an `istio-demo` namespace:

```bash
kubectl create namespace istio-demo
```

Label the namespace that will host the application with `istio-injection=enabled`:
```bash
kubectl label namespace istio-demo istio-injection=enabled
```

Deploy your application using the `kubectl` command:
```bash
kubectl apply -nistio-demo -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/istio/istio/release-1.12/samples/bookinfo/platform/kube/bookinfo.yaml
```

Run the following command to create default destination rules for the Bookinfo services:
```bash
kubectl apply -nistio-demo -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/istio/istio/release-1.12/samples/bookinfo/networking/destination-rule-all.yaml
```

Run the following command to create virtual service for the Bookinfo services:
```bash
kubectl apply -nistio-demo -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/istio/istio/release-1.12/samples/bookinfo/networking/virtual-service-all-v1.yaml
```

Run the following command to create propagation policy for the Bookinfo services:
```bash
cat <<EOF | kubectl apply -nistio-demo -f -
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: service-propagation
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: Service
      name: productpage
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: Service
      name: details
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: Service
      name: reviews
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: Service
      name: ratings
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member1
        - member2
---
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: produtpage-propagation
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: productpage-v1
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: ServiceAccount
      name: bookinfo-productpage
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member1
---
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: details-propagation
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: details-v1

    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: ServiceAccount
      name: bookinfo-details
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member2
---
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: reviews-propagation
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: reviews-v1
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: reviews-v2
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: reviews-v3
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: ServiceAccount
      name: bookinfo-reviews
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member1
        - member2
---
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: ratings-propagation
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: ratings-v1
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: ServiceAccount
      name: bookinfo-ratings
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member2
EOF

```

Deploy `fortio` application using the `kubectl` command:
```bash
kubectl apply -nistio-demo -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/istio/istio/release-1.12/samples/httpbin/sample-client/fortio-deploy.yaml
```

Run the following command to create propagation policy for the `fortio` services:
```bash
cat <<EOF | kubectl apply -nistio-demo -f -
apiVersion: policy.karmada.io/v1alpha1
kind: PropagationPolicy
metadata:
  name: fortio-propagation
spec:
  resourceSelectors:
    - apiVersion: v1
      kind: Service
      name: fortio
    - apiVersion: apps/v1
      kind: Deployment
      name: fortio-deploy
  placement:
    clusterAffinity:
      clusterNames:
        - member1
        - member2
EOF
```


Export `KUBECONFIG` and switch to `karmada member1`:
```bash
export KUBECONFIG="$HOME/.kube/members.config"
kubectl config use-context member1
```

Run the following command to verify `productpage` application installation:
```bash
export FORTIO_POD=`kubectl get po -nistio-demo | grep fortio | awk '{print $1}'`
kubectl exec -it ${FORTIO_POD} -nistio-demo -- fortio load -t 3s productpage:9080/productpage
```

## What's next

Following the [guide](https://istio.io/latest/docs/examples/bookinfo/#confirm-the-app-is-accessible-from-outside-the-cluster) to confirm the app is accessible from outside the cluster.