open-consul/website/content/docs/connect/config-entries/mesh.mdx

---
layout: docs
page_title: 'Configuration Entry Kind: Mesh'
description: >-
  The mesh config entry kind allows for globally defining default
  configuration across all services mesh proxies.
  Settings in this config entry apply across all namespaces and federated datacenters.
  Currently, only one mesh entry is supported.
---

# Mesh <sup>Beta</sup>

-> **v1.10.0+:** This config entry is supported in Consul versions 1.10.0+.

The `mesh` config entry kind allows for globally defining
default configuration that applies to all service mesh proxies.
Settings in this config entry apply across all namespaces and federated datacenters.

## Sample Config Entries

### Only allow transparent proxies to dial addresses in the mesh.

<Tabs>
<Tab heading="HCL">

```hcl
Kind      = "mesh"

TransparentProxy {
  MeshDestinationsOnly = true
}
```

</Tab>
<Tab heading="HCL (Consul Enterprise)">

**NOTE:** The `mesh` config entry can only be created in the `default`
namespace and it will apply to proxies across **all** namespaces.

```hcl
Kind      = "mesh"
Namespace = "default" # Can only be set to "default".

TransparentProxy {
  MeshDestinationsOnly = true
}
```

</Tab>
</Tabs>

## Available Fields

- `Kind` - Must be set to `mesh`

- `Namespace` `(string: "default")` <EnterpriseAlert inline /> - Specifies the namespace the config entry will apply to.
  Must be set to `default`

- `Meta` `(map<string|string>: nil)` - Specifies arbitrary KV metadata pairs.

- `TransparentProxy` `(TransparentProxyConfig: <optional>)` - Controls configuration specific to proxies in
  `transparent` [mode](/docs/connect/config-entries/service-defaults#mode). Added in v1.10.0.

  - `MeshDestinationsOnly` `(bool: false)` - Determines whether sidecar proxies operating in transparent mode can
    proxy traffic to IP addresses not registered in Consul's mesh. If enabled, traffic will only be proxied
    to upstream proxies or Connect-native services. If disabled, requests will be proxied as-is to the
    original destination IP address. Consul will not encrypt the connection.

## ACLs

Configuration entries may be protected by [ACLs](/docs/security/acl).

Reading a `mesh` config entry requires no specific privileges.

Creating, updating, or deleting a `mesh` config entry requires
`operator:write`.