Velero

Overview: Velero (formerly Hark) is a popular open-source tool for backing up and restoring Kubernetes cluster resources and persistent volumes.

Strengths:

• Native Kubernetes resource understanding

• Supports persistent volume snapshots

• Can backup entire namespaces or specific resources

• Integrates with cloud provider storage (S3, GCS, Azure Blob)

• Supports scheduled backups and retention policies

• Can migrate between different Kubernetes distributions

Limitations:

• Requires installation and configuration on both clusters

• May not capture application-specific state correctly

• Persistent volume snapshots depend on storage provider support

• Learning curve for configuration and operation

Use Cases:

• Organizations already using Velero for disaster recovery

• Migrations between cloud providers

• Need for automated, scheduled backups

• Requirement to backup Kubernetes resources (ConfigMaps, Secrets, etc.)

Documentation: https://velero.io/docs/