4 Things You Should Know About Kubernetes Back Up

If you are using Kubernetes for your cloud-native application, you should be aware of the various backup tools available. The primary tool for backing up a Kubernetes environment and a good backup solution such as Portworx should be able to restore components and handle local failures.

Pods Are The Smallest Deployable Unit In A Cluster

In Kubernetes, containers are deployed into Pods, small, independent containers. Each pod contains a single instance of a single application running on the cluster. Pods can be either single or tightly coupled. Containers in a pod share their IP address and share the same network namespace.

A pod can only execute when the cluster has all the resources needed to run it. A Pod’s state can change from time to time, depending on the cluster’s configuration. If a Pod is canceled, it will not restart. Similarly, a pod in a running state cannot start and terminate, but it can be restarted.

Pods have no upper limit on how much CPU and memory they can consume. However, Pods can be scheduled with limits lower than the amount of memory needed. Pods that exceed the limits may cause system instability or resource contention among other Pods on the same node.

They Must Be Able To Restore Components

To prevent downtime and ensure business continuity, a Kubernetes backup solution must be able to restore components. Kubernetes environments are dynamic and highly complex, complicating their backup and restore processes. As such, System Administrators must have centralized control over the backup and restore process. This helps improve compliance, manageability, speed, efficiency, and business continuity. Additionally, a backup solution must be able to protect sensitive data and comply with regulatory requirements.

Using Kubernetes backups is a critical component of disaster recovery for mission-critical applications.

They Must Be Able To Handle Local Failures

Kubernetes backup is crucial for mission-critical situations. It must be able to handle local failures and should have a flexible disaster recovery capability. For example, an RTO of zero implies no downtime, and an RPO of 15 minutes implies low-to-medium recovery requirements. Different applications can require different levels of RTO and RPO.

When implementing high local availability in Kubernetes, the main goal is to prevent failures within the same data center or availability zone as the failure. This failure typically occurs within the infrastructure, node, or app, which is why a Kubernetes backup solution must be able to handle local failures. A local failure can result from a stuck cloud volume or a failed node. In this case, a Kubernetes backup solution must be able to restore the app to the latest image.

They Must Be Scalable

If you are using Kubernetes as your application platform, it is essential to understand the importance of backups. A proper backup strategy ensures that your application will continue to run in the event of failure. Various backup techniques are available, and some are better than others, depending on your needs.

One crucial aspect to look for in a Kubernetes backup solution is its ability to support applications across different infrastructures. This means it must be able to transform and transport data between different infrastructures. Additionally, a backup solution should accommodate the dynamic nature of the Kubernetes environment and capture the application context.

Backups can be performed using various command-line tools. However, these tools require a deep understanding of the Kubernetes environment.