---
title: IBM Cloud
slug: ibm-cloud
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-05-28T13:01:34.944Z
---

Improve your IBM Cloud infrastructure monitoring by integrating Prometheus. This straightforward guide walks you through the configuration process, making it simpler and more user-focused. Let’s jump right in!

# Initial setup and tool installation

- Begin by installing the `ibmcloud` tool on your machine. Get it [here](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/cli?topic=cli-install-ibmcloud-cli).
- If you're using an RHEL machine, opt for this version: [RHEL ibmcloud tool](https://download.clis.cloud.ibm.com/ibm-cloud-cli/2.2.0/IBM_Cloud_CLI_2.2.0_amd64.tar.gz).

# Plugin installation

- Enhance the functionality of the ibmcloud tool by installing the following plugins:
  - `ibmcloud plugin install container-service`
  - `ibmcloud plugin install container-registry`
  - `ibmcloud plugin install observe-service`

# Connection and configuration

- Ensure `kubectl` is installed on your system.
- Connect to the IBM Cloud CLI with this command: `ibmcloud login -a cloud.ibm.com -r jp-tok -g Default --sso` (Note: Include `--sso` only if you're using a federated ID.)
- To focus on your specific cluster for this session, use: `ibmcloud ks cluster config --cluster c50pifut05bcc7pangi0`.
- Check if the connection to your cluster is successfully established: `kubectl config current-context`.

# Integrating Prometheus with IBM Cluster

- Ensure the Helm package manager for Kubernetes is installed. Helm streamlines Prometheus installation and management.
- Next, add the Prometheus repository to your Helm list and update it:

```c
csharpCopy codehelm repo add prometheus-community https://prometheus-community.github.io/helm-charts
helm repo update
```

- Install the Prometheus Helm chart into the 'monitoring' namespace (this will be created automatically if it does not exist): `helm install prometheus prometheus-community/kube-prometheus-stack --namespace monitoring --create-namespace`.
- Validate Prometheus installation by checking the status of the pods: `kubectl --namespace monitoring get pods -l "release=prometheus"`.

# Dive into Prometheus dashboard

- Access the Prometheus dashboard on IBM cluster using port forwarding: `kubectl port-forward --namespace monitoring svc/prometheus-kube-prometheus-prometheus 9090`.