Istio Setup on Kubernetes Cluster

I need Istio installed and fully bootstrapped on a Kubernetes cluster running v1.22+. The cluster is already up, workloads are clean, and kubectl access is in place; what’s missing is a well-structured service mesh. Scope • Plan the deployment approach (istioctl or Helm) and outline any prerequisites I must prepare on the cluster. • Install the latest stable Istio release, enable automatic sidecar injection, and create a basic ingress gateway that can be expanded later. • Validate the installation with the built-in sample tests so we know the control plane is healthy. • Hand over the manifest files / Helm values you used, plus a short README so I can rerun or modify the setup confidently. Acceptance The job is done when the mesh shows all core components (istiod, ingress/egress gateways) in Running state, bookinfo (or an equivalent demo) passes the default verification script, and your README lets me replicate the process step by step. If you prefer specific tools—Helm, Kustomize, or pure istioctl—mention that in your proposal so we stay on the same page.

Project ID: 40203814