This article details how to collect and visualize metrics from CoreDNS servers using the Prometheus plugin, which exposes metrics in the OpenMetrics format by default in Kubernetes clusters. It explains how to query the CoreDNS /metrics endpoint for a snapshot of performance and activity metrics and describes how Prometheus can store these metrics for historical analysis, while Grafana can be used to visualize and monitor trends. The document also highlights the importance of CoreDNS logs for deeper visibility into server activity, despite potential performance impacts from query logging, and provides guidance on handling these logs, including plugin-specific and status logs for troubleshooting and root cause analysis. Additionally, it mentions using tools like Datadog for comprehensive monitoring and alerts on CoreDNS metrics and logs, with a promise of further exploration in the next part of the series.