Observability for Dapr on AKS: Traces, Metrics, and Logs

A request can fail even when every Kubernetes pod is Running. The application may be waiting for a Dapr component, a retry may mask a slow dependency, or a call may reach the wrong app ID. Pod health tells us that the processes are alive; it does not explain the path a request takes. Dapr exposes three complementary signals. A trace reconstructs a single request across service boundaries. Metrics show whether a symptom is becoming a trend. Logs explain what a particular application or sidecar decided at a particular moment. The useful operational view comes from connecting all three. ...

October 18, 2026 · 12 min · 2338 words · Jurgen Allewijn

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