Caretta vs Kerno
Caretta
github.comKerno
github.comSide by side
| Figure | Caretta | Kerno |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | — |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | — | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 0 |
| Spec score · eBPF Observability Tools | 8.3 (#7) | 7.0 (#25) |
| License | The repository provides Caretta under the Apache License, Version 2.0. | The repository identifies Kerno as licensed under Apache License 2.0. |
| Purpose | Caretta creates a visual network map of services running in a Kubernetes cluster. | Kerno is an eBPF-based incident diagnosis engine for production issues across Linux, Kubernetes, VMs, and bare metal. |
| Requirements | Caretta requires Linux kernel version 4.16 or later and CO-RE support; the README says Docker for Mac uses a distribution that is not supported. | Kubernetes use requires Linux kernel 5.8 or later with BTF, and raw manifests or Helm installation require cluster-admin access. |
| Support | The project directs users to its Slack channel or to create a GitHub issue for help. | The security policy directs general questions to GitHub Discussions and vulnerability reports to [email protected], with acknowledgment targeted within 48 hours. |
Plans
In their own words
Caretta
Caretta is a free, self-hosted Kubernetes tool from groundcover that creates a visual map of services and their network interactions. It uses eBPF for collection and is designed for Linux systems with kernel 4.16 or later and CO-RE support. The project describes a minimal footprint and says no cluster modifications are required. Installation is documented through a Helm chart, with a recommendation to use a new, unique namespace. The chart includes Grafana with a predefined Caretta dashboard and VictoriaMetrics for collecting and publishing metrics that Prometheus-compatible dashboards can consume. Both bundled services are enabled by default, as is a five-second metrics polling interval, while Helm values can disable either component. Persistent storage for VictoriaMetrics starts disabled but can be enabled. Grafana’s default setup enables anonymous mode and includes administrator credentials in the README. Caretta is self-hosted, Apache-2.0 licensed, and support is directed through Slack or repository issues.