Kubernetes Backup and Restore with Velero

💡 Quick Answer: Backup and restore Kubernetes clusters with Velero. Covers namespace backups, scheduled backups, disaster recovery, and migration between clusters.

The Problem

This is one of the most searched Kubernetes topics. A comprehensive, well-structured guide helps engineers of all levels quickly find actionable solutions.

The Solution

Detailed implementation with production-ready examples below.

Install Velero

# Install CLI
brew install velero  # macOS
# or download from https://github.com/vmware-tanzu/velero/releases

# Install server (AWS example)
velero install \
  --provider aws \
  --plugins velero/velero-plugin-for-aws:v1.9.0 \
  --bucket my-velero-backups \
  --backup-location-config region=eu-west-1 \
  --snapshot-location-config region=eu-west-1 \
  --secret-file ./credentials-velero

Create Backups

# Backup entire cluster
velero backup create full-backup

# Backup specific namespace
velero backup create prod-backup --include-namespaces production

# Backup by label selector
velero backup create app-backup --selector app=web

# Scheduled backup (daily)
velero schedule create daily-backup \
  --schedule="0 2 * * *" \
  --include-namespaces production \
  --ttl 720h   # Keep for 30 days

# Check backup status
velero backup get
velero backup describe full-backup
velero backup logs full-backup

Restore

# Restore entire backup
velero restore create --from-backup full-backup

# Restore to different namespace
velero restore create --from-backup prod-backup \
  --namespace-mappings production:staging

# Restore specific resources
velero restore create --from-backup full-backup \
  --include-resources deployments,services,configmaps

# Check restore status
velero restore get
velero restore describe <restore-name>

graph LR
    A[Velero Server] -->|Backup| B[Object Storage - S3/GCS/Azure]
    A -->|Snapshot| C[Volume Snapshots - EBS/PD]
    D[velero restore] --> A
    A -->|Recreate| E[Kubernetes Resources]
    A -->|Restore| F[Persistent Volumes]

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Velero backup PVs?

Velero backs up PV metadata. For actual data, it uses volume snapshots (CSI or cloud-provider). For non-snapshot storage, use Velero’s File System Backup (restic/kopia).

Common Issues

Check kubectl describe and kubectl get events first — most issues have clear error messages pointing to the root cause.

Best Practices

• Follow least privilege — only grant the access that’s needed
• Test in staging before applying to production
• Monitor and alert on key metrics
• Document your runbooks for the team

Key Takeaways

• Essential knowledge for Kubernetes operations
• Start simple and evolve your approach
• Automation reduces human error
• Share knowledge with your team