---
title: Install Istio using the IBM Cloud
linktitle: IBM Cloud
description: Instructions to install Istio using IBM Cloud Public or IBM Cloud Private.
weight: 70
keywords: [kubernetes,ibm,icp]
aliases:
    - /docs/setup/kubernetes/quick-start-ibm/
---

Follow this flow to install and configure an Istio mesh in IBM Cloud.

You can use the [managed Istio add-on for IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service](#managed-istio-add-on)
in IBM Cloud Public, use Helm to install Istio in [IBM Cloud Public](#ibm-cloud-public),
or install Istio in [IBM Cloud Private](#ibm-cloud-private).

## Managed Istio add-on

Istio on IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service provides a seamless installation of Istio, automatic updates and lifecycle management of Istio control plane components, and integration with platform logging and monitoring tools. With one click, you can get all Istio core components, additional tracing, monitoring, and visualization, and the Bookinfo sample app up and running. Istio on IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service is offered as a managed add-on, so IBM Cloud automatically keeps all your Istio components up to date.

To install the managed Istio add-on in IBM Cloud Public, see the [IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service documentation](https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/containers?topic=containers-istio).

## IBM Cloud Public

Follow [these instructions](/docs/setup/kubernetes/install/helm/) to install and run the current release version of Istio in [IBM Cloud Public](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/) using Helm and the IBM Cloud Kubernetes Service (IKS).

To upgrade Istio in an existing IKS cluster, follow the [upgrade instructions](/docs/setup/kubernetes/upgrade) instead.

## IBM Cloud Private

Follow these instructions to install and run Istio in
[IBM Cloud Private](https://www.ibm.com/cloud/private)
using the `Catalog` module.

This guide installs the current release version of Istio.

### Prerequisites - IBM Cloud Private

- You need to have an available IBM Cloud Private cluster. Otherwise, you can follow [Installing IBM Cloud Private-CE](https://www.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/SSBS6K_2.1.0.3/installing/install_containers_CE.html) to create an IBM Cloud Private cluster.

### Deploy Istio via the Catalog module

- Log in to the **IBM Cloud Private** console.
- Click `Catalog` on the right side of the navigation bar.
- Click `Filter` on the right side of the search box and select the `ibm-charts` check box.
- Click `Operations` in the left navigation pane.

{{< image link="./istio-catalog-1.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Catalog" >}}

- Click `ibm-istio` in the right panel.

{{< image link="./istio-catalog-2.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Catalog" >}}

- (Optional) Change the Istio version using the `CHART VERSION` drop-down.
- Click the `Configure` button.

{{< image link="./istio-installation-1.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Installation" >}}

- Input the Helm release name (e.g. `istio-1.0.3`) and select `istio-system` as the target namespace.
- Agree to the license terms.
- (Optional) Customize the installation parameters by clicking `All parameters`.
- Click the `Install` button.

{{< image link="./istio-installation-2.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Installation" >}}

After it is installed, you can find it by searching for its release name on the **Helm Releases** page.

{{< image link="./istio-release.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Installation" >}}

### Upgrade or Rollback

- Log in to the **IBM Cloud Private** console.
- Click the menu button on the left side of the navigation bar.
- Click `Workloads` and select `Helm Releases`.
- Find the installed Istio using its release name.
- Click `Action` and select `Upgrade` or `Rollback`.

{{< image link="./istio-upgrade-1.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Upgrade or Rollback" >}}

{{< image link="./istio-upgrade-2.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Upgrade or Rollback" >}}

### Uninstalling

- Log in to the **IBM Cloud Private** console.
- Click the menu button on the left side of the navigation bar.
- Click `Workloads` and select `Helm Releases`.
- Find the installed Istio using its release name.
- Click `Action` and select `Delete`.

{{< image link="./istio-deletion.png" caption="IBM Cloud Private - Istio Uninstalling" >}}