--- title: "A visual guide to Calico eBPF data plane validation" source: "https://www.tigera.io/blog/a-visual-guide-to-calico-ebpf-data-plane-validation/" --- [Technical Blog](https://www.tigera.io/category/technical-blog/) # A visual guide to Calico eBPF data plane validation By [Chris Tomkins](https://www.tigera.io/blog/author/chris-tomkins/) on Mar 31, 2022 • 1 min read ## Validating the Calico eBPF Data Plane In previous blog posts, my colleagues and I have introduced and explored the Calico eBPF data plane in detail, including learning how to validate that it is configured and running correctly. If you have the time, those are still a great read; you could dive in with the [Calico eBPF Data Plane Deep-Dive](https://www.tigera.io/blog/calico-ebpf-data-plane-deep-dive/). However, sometimes a picture paints a thousand words! I was inspired by Daniele Polencic’s wonderful [A Visual Guide on Troubleshooting Kubernetes Deployments](https://learnkube.com/troubleshooting-deployments). With his permission and kind encouragement, I decided to adapt the validation part of my previous deep-dive post to this easy-to-digest flowchart. Feel free to share it far and wide; wherever you think a Calico-learning colleague might benefit! It includes a link back here in case the diagram is updated in the future. [![Calico eBPF data plane validation diagram V4](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2022/03/Calico_eBPF_validation_v4-scaled.jpg)](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2022/03/Calico_eBPF_validation_v4-scaled.jpg) ## **Next Steps** Did you know you can become a certified Calico operator? Learn container and Kubernetes networking and security fundamentals using Calico in this [free, self-paced certification course](https://academy.tigera.io/course/certified-calico-operator-level-1/). There are additional level-two courses as well. One of them specifically addresses [eBPF and the Calico eBPF data plane](https://academy.tigera.io/course/certified-calico-operator-ebpf/)! [eBPF](https://www.tigera.io/tags/ebpf/)[How-To](https://www.tigera.io/tags/how-to/)[Project Calico](https://www.tigera.io/tags/project-calico/) ## Related posts [![Save the Address, Save the Cloud: A Hands-on KubeVirt Live Migration Workshop](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/07/Save-the-Address-Save-the-Cloud-A-Hands-on-KubeVirt-Live-Migration-Workshop.png)](https://www.tigera.io/blog/save-the-address-save-the-cloud-a-hands-on-kubevirt-live-migration-workshop/) #### [Save the Address, Save the Cloud: A Hands-on KubeVirt Live Migration Workshop](https://www.tigera.io/blog/save-the-address-save-the-cloud-a-hands-on-kubevirt-live-migration-workshop/) By [Reza Ramezanpour](https://www.tigera.io/blog/author/rezar/) on Jul 9, 2026 In the previous post in this series, we covered why Virtual Machine (VM) Live Migration in Kubernetes is difficult: a VM’s IP is its identity, and the “new” VM on the destination node has to... [Read more](https://www.tigera.io/blog/save-the-address-save-the-cloud-a-hands-on-kubevirt-live-migration-workshop/) [![Kubernetes Operational Maturity: Secure and Resilient Cluster Federation with Cluster Mesh](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/05/Kubernetes-Operational-Maturity-Secure-and-Resilient-Cluster-Federation-with-Cluster-Mesh.png)](https://www.tigera.io/blog/kubernetes-operational-maturity-secure-and-resilient-cluster-federation-with-cluster-mesh/) #### [Kubernetes Operational Maturity: Secure and Resilient Cluster Federation with Cluster Mesh](https://www.tigera.io/blog/kubernetes-operational-maturity-secure-and-resilient-cluster-federation-with-cluster-mesh/) By [Veronika Smolik](https://www.tigera.io/blog/author/veronika-smolik/) on May 25, 2026 Practically no one runs a single Kubernetes cluster in production these days. Maybe that’s how it started but data sovereignty requirements, acquisitions, AI initiatives and the need for edge servers, among other considerations, have pulled... [Read more](https://www.tigera.io/blog/kubernetes-operational-maturity-secure-and-resilient-cluster-federation-with-cluster-mesh/) [![What’s New in Calico v3.32](https://www.tigera.io/app/uploads/2026/05/Green-Please-use-a-different-background-color-alternately-1.png)](https://www.tigera.io/blog/whats-new-in-calico-v3-32/) [Company Blog](https://www.tigera.io/category/company-blog/) #### [What’s New in Calico v3.32](https://www.tigera.io/blog/whats-new-in-calico-v3-32/) By [Reza Ramezanpour](https://www.tigera.io/blog/author/rezar/) on May 13, 2026 We’re excited to announce the release of Calico Open Source v3.32! 🎉 This release corresponds with Kubernetes v1.36 (Codename Haru) and it goes beyond just sharing a cat as the mascot of the release, it... [Read more](https://www.tigera.io/blog/whats-new-in-calico-v3-32/)