OpenTelemetry Collector deployment modes in Kubernetes

Deploying the OpenTelemetry Collector in Kubernetes to achieve comprehensive telemetry coverage requires understanding both deployment modes and patterns, which are distinct yet often confused. Deployment modes refer to the specific Kubernetes mechanisms such as Deployments, DaemonSets, and StatefulSets used to implement telemetry collection, while deployment patterns are the architectural strategies for telemetry data flow, like Agent, Gateway, and Layered patterns. Each mode offers unique benefits and trade-offs depending on factors like scalability, performance, and resource utilization, and can be combined to meet various observability needs. For instance, Deployment mode is used for centralized data collection, DaemonSet mode runs on every node for low-latency local data collection, and StatefulSet is ideal for cases requiring persistent storage or stable network identities. Understanding these concepts allows for designing a robust Kubernetes observability strategy, which may involve layering or chaining collectors to satisfy diverse use cases.