Kubernetes Dashboards - Complete Management UI Tools Guide

Comprehensive comparison and installation guide for Kubernetes dashboard tools including Official Dashboard, Lens IDE, and K9s terminal UI

Kubernetes Dashboard Options

Official Dashboard

Web-based UI

Lens

Kubernetes IDE

K9s

Terminal UI

Official Dashboard

Web-based general-purpose UI for Kubernetes clusters

Lens IDE

Powerful desktop application for Kubernetes management

K9s

Terminal-based UI to manage Kubernetes clusters

Official Kubernetes Dashboard

Web UI Dashboard

  • Kubernetes offers a Web UI as part of the project
  • General-purpose web-based user interface
  • Allows managing and troubleshooting applications
  • Provides cluster management capabilities
  • Deployed as a Kubernetes application

Not Installed by Default

The official dashboard is NOT installed by default on most platforms

Platforms Without Default Installation

Docker Desktop

AWS EKS

Azure AKS

GCP GKE

Linode LKE

Installation & Security

Installation Command

kubectl apply -f https://raw.githubusercontent.com/
kubernetes/dashboard/v2.7.0/aio/deploy/recommended.yaml

Apply the official dashboard manifest to install

Security Warning

The dashboard has full access to cluster resources. Proper RBAC configuration is essential. Don't install it if not needed.

Accessing the Dashboard

# Start proxy to access dashboard
kubectl proxy

# Access dashboard at
http://localhost:8001/api/v1/namespaces/kubernetes-dashboard/services/https:kubernetes-dashboard:/proxy/

# Create service account for authentication
kubectl create serviceaccount dashboard-admin-sa
kubectl create clusterrolebinding dashboard-admin-sa \
  --clusterrole=cluster-admin \
  --serviceaccount=default:dashboard-admin-sa

Lens - Kubernetes IDE

Lens Features

  • Kubernetes IDE: Integrated development environment for K8s
  • Runs locally: Desktop application for your machine
  • Multi-platform: Available for Mac, Windows, and Linux
  • Built-in terminal: Direct terminal access to pods and nodes
  • Cluster management: Manage multiple clusters easily
  • Real-time monitoring: Live metrics and logs

Maintained by Mirantis

Lens is actively maintained and supported by Mirantis

https://k8slens.dev

Lens Installation

Download

Download the installer for your platform from the official website

# Visit k8slens.dev and download
# the appropriate installer

Key Benefits

  • No cluster-side installation required
  • Works with any Kubernetes cluster
  • Excellent resource visualization
  • Extension ecosystem
  • Hotkey support for power users

Lens Workflow

1. Install Lens

2. Add Cluster

3. Monitor

4. Manage

K9s - Terminal Dashboard

K9s Features

  • Dashboard in a terminal: Full UI experience in your terminal
  • Lightweight: No heavy GUI, runs anywhere
  • Fast navigation: Keyboard-driven interface
  • Real-time monitoring: Live cluster state
  • Portable: Single binary, easy to install
  • Plugin support: Extensible with custom plugins

Open Source Project

K9s is an open-source project available on GitHub

https://github.com/derailed/k9s

K9s Installation

Installation Methods

Windows
choco install k9s
Mac
brew install k9s
Linux
# Download from GitHub
# or use package manager

K9s Usage & Navigation

# Start K9s
k9s

# Navigate between resources
# Use arrow keys or vim keys

# Common shortcuts:
#   :pod          - View pods
#   :deploy       - View deployments
#   :svc          - View services
#   :ns           - Switch namespace
#   Ctrl-a        - Show all resources
#   /             - Search
#   d             - Describe resource
#   l             - View logs
#   e             - Edit resource
#   Ctrl-d        - Delete resource

K9s Benefits

  • No cluster modifications: Works with existing kubeconfig
  • Fast: Instant response times
  • Resource efficient: Low memory and CPU usage
  • SSH friendly: Works over SSH connections
  • Scriptable: Can be integrated into scripts

Dashboard Comparison

Feature Official Dashboard Lens K9s
Interface Type Web UI Desktop GUI Terminal TUI
Installation Cluster-side Client-side Client-side
Platform Support Any browser Mac, Windows, Linux Mac, Windows, Linux
Resource Usage Medium (cluster) High (client) Low (client)
Learning Curve Low Medium Medium-High
Multi-cluster Manual switching Excellent Good
Real-time Updates Manual refresh Automatic Automatic
Terminal Access No Built-in Native

Choose Official Dashboard When:

  • You need a web-based solution
  • Multiple users need access
  • Basic monitoring needs
  • No client installation possible

Choose Lens When:

  • You want a full IDE experience
  • Managing multiple clusters
  • Need built-in terminal
  • Rich visualization needed

Choose K9s When:

  • You live in the terminal
  • Working over SSH
  • Need lightweight solution
  • Fast keyboard navigation

Dashboard Best Practices

Security Considerations

  • Official Dashboard: Implement proper RBAC and consider network policies
  • Lens & K9s: Secure your kubeconfig file and use context namespaces
  • All tools: Use least privilege principle for service accounts
  • Production clusters: Consider not installing the official dashboard
  • Access control: Restrict dashboard access to authorized users only

Operational Guidelines

  • Choose based on workflow: Match tool to your team's preferences
  • Training: Ensure team members are proficient with chosen tools
  • Backup plans: Always have kubectl as a fallback option
  • Version compatibility: Keep tools updated with cluster versions
  • Monitoring: Use dashboards alongside proper monitoring solutions

Final Recommendation

For most teams, we recommend using Lens for day-to-day development and cluster management, K9s for quick terminal-based operations, and avoiding the official dashboard in production unless specifically required. Always complement dashboard tools with proper monitoring solutions like Prometheus/Grafana for comprehensive observability.