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Which Istio installation method should I use?

content/en/about/faq/setup/install-method-selection.md

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In addition to the simple getting started evaluation install, there are several different methods you can use to install Istio. Which one you should use depends on your production requirements. The following lists some of the pros and cons of each of the available methods:

  1. istioctl install

    The simplest and most qualified installation and management path with high security. This is the community recommended method for most use cases.

    Pros:

    • Thorough configuration validation and health verification.
    • Uses the IstioOperator API which provides extensive configuration/customization options.

    Cons:

    • Multiple binaries must be managed, one per Istio minor version.
    • The istioctl command can set values automatically based on your running environment, thereby producing varying installations in different Kubernetes environments.

  2. Install using Helm

    Allows easy integration with Helm-based workflows and automated resource pruning during upgrades.

    Pros:

    • Familiar approach using industry standard tooling.
    • Helm native release and upgrade management.

    Cons:

    • Fewer checks and validations compared to istioctl install.
    • Some administrative tasks require more steps and have higher complexity.

  3. Apply a generated Kubernetes manifest

    This method is suitable where strict auditing or augmentation of output manifests is required, or there are third-party tooling constraints.

    Pros:

    • Easier to integrate with tooling that doesn't use helm or istioctl.
    • No installation tools required other than kubectl.

    Cons:

    • No install-time checks, environment detection, or validations supported by either of the above methods are performed.
    • No installation management or upgrade capability is supported.
    • UX is less streamlined.
    • Error reporting during installation is not as robust.

Installation instructions for all of these methods are available on the Istio install page.