<p><strong>Objective</strong>: Get some logging/monitoring on Googles
Stackdriver from a Kuberntes HA cluster
that is on premises, version 1.11.2.</p>

<p>I have been able to send logs to Elasticsearch using <a href="https://github.com/fluent/fluentd-kubernetes-daemonset" rel="noreferrer">Fluentd Daemonset for
Kubernetes</a>, but the
project is not supporting Stackdriver
(<a href="https://github.com/fluent/fluentd-kubernetes-daemonset/issues/6" rel="noreferrer">issue</a>).
That said, there is a docker image created for Stackdriver
(<a href="https://github.com/fluent/fluentd-kubernetes-daemonset/tree/master/docker-image/v1.2/debian-stackdriver" rel="noreferrer">source</a>),
but it does not have the daemonset.  Looking at other daemonsets in this
repository, there are similarities between the different <code>fluent.conf</code> files
with the exception of the Stackdriver <code>fluent.conf</code> file that is missing any
environment variables.</p>

<p>As noted in the <a href="https://github.com/fluent/fluentd-kubernetes-daemonset/issues/6" rel="noreferrer">GitHub
issue</a>
mentioned above there is a plugin located in the Kubernetes GitHub
<a href="https://github.com/kubernetes/kubernetes/tree/master/cluster/addons/" rel="noreferrer">here</a>,
but it is legacy.
The docs can be found
<a href="https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/debug-application-cluster/logging-stackdriver/" rel="noreferrer">here</a>.</p>

<p>It states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Warning: The Stackdriver logging daemon has known issues on
  platforms other than Google Kubernetes Engine. Proceed at your own risk."</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Installing in this manner fails, without indication of why.</p>

<p>Some other notes. There is <a href="https://cloud.google.com/kubernetes-monitoring/" rel="noreferrer">Stackdriver Kubernetes
Monitoring</a> that clearly
states:</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Easy to get started on any cloud or on-prem"</p>
</blockquote>

<p>on the front page, but
doesn't seem to explain how. This <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/50303093/setup-stackdriver-kubernetes-monitoring-for-aws">Stack Overflow
question</a>
has someone looking to add the monitoring to his AWS cluster. It seems that it is not yet supported.</p>

<p>Furthermore, on the actual Google
Stackdriver it is also stated that</p>

<blockquote>
  <p>"Works with multiple clouds and on-premises infrastructure".</p>
</blockquote>

<p>Of note, I am new to Fluentd and the Google Cloud Platform, but am pretty
familiar with administering an on-premise Kubernetes cluster.</p>

<p>Has anyone been able to get monitoring or logging to work on GCP from another platform? If so, what method was used? </p>

<p>Consider reviewing <a href="https://docs.bindplane.bluemedora.com/docs/kubernetes-1" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this documentation</a> for using the BindPlane managed fluentd service from Google partner Blue Medora. It is available in Alpha to all Stackdriver users. It parses/forwards Kubernetes logs to Stackdriver, with additional payload markup. 
<em>Disclaimer: I am employed by Blue Medora.</em></p>
