Self-hosted container monitoring on a budget
How to monitor Docker and Kubernetes containers self-hosted without SaaS bills: logs, metrics, uptime, and alerts on a single VPS or homelab.
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8 articles
How to monitor Docker and Kubernetes containers self-hosted without SaaS bills: logs, metrics, uptime, and alerts on a single VPS or homelab.
Kubernetes monitoring tools explained for small clusters: kubectl, metrics-server, Prometheus, Lens, K9s, and log tailing with DockLog before you buy a platform.
K9s for operators with kubeconfig. DockLog for everyone who shouldn't have one.
allowed_containers syntax for Docker and Kubernetes, plus the two-layer action model, with setups we've used on shared hosts.
Running DockLog in kubernetes mode, kubeconfig mount, in-cluster deploy, WebSockets through ingress.
Portainer runs your infrastructure. DockLog is for people who mostly need logs, with team scoping and audit in the free image.
Dozzle got good. DockLog is still what we reach for on shared hosts, audit, team permissions, hybrid K8s, and a phone app.
The gap between docker logs and a full observability stack, and where DockLog actually fits.