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Restore Azure Kubernetes Service using Azure Backup (preview)

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This article describes how to restore backed-up Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

Azure Backup now allows you to back up AKS clusters (cluster resources and persistent volumes attached to the cluster) using a backup extension, which must be installed in the cluster. Backup vault communicates with the cluster via this Backup Extension to perform backup and restore operations.

Before you start

  • AKS backup allows you to restore to original AKS cluster (that was backed up) and to an alternate AKS cluster. AKS backup allows you to perform a full restore and item-level restore. You can utilize restore configurations to define parameters based on the cluster resources that will be picked up during the restore.

  • You must install the Backup Extension in the target AKS cluster. Also, you must enable Trusted Access between the Backup vault and the AKS cluster.

For more information on the limitations and supported scenarios, see the support matrix.

Restore the AKS clusters

To restore the backed-up AKS cluster, follow these steps:

  1. Go to Backup center and select Restore.

    Screenshot shows how to start the restore process.

  2. On the next page, click Select backup instance, select the instance that you want to restore, and then select Continue.

    Screenshot shows selection of backup instance for restore.

    Screenshot shows choosing instances for restore.

    Screenshot shows starting restore.

  3. Click Select restore point to select the restore point you want to restore.

    Screenshot shows how to view the restore points.

    Screenshot shows selection of a restore point.

  4. In the Restore parameters section, click Select Kubernetes Service and select the AKS cluster to which you want to restore the backup to.

    Screenshot shows how to initiate parameter selection.

    Screenshot shows selection of parameter Kubernetes Service.

    Screenshot shows the Restore page with the selection of Kubernetes parameter.

  5. To select the backed-up cluster resources for restore, click Select resources.

    Learn more about restore configurations.

    Screenshot shows the Select Resources to restore page.

  6. Select Validate to run validation on the backed-up cluster selections.

    Screenshot shows how to run validation for restore.

    If the validation shows missing permission or roles, select Grant Permission to assign them.

    Screenshot shows how to grant permissions for restore.

  7. Once the validation is successful, select Review + restore and restore the backups to the selected cluster.

    Screenshot shows the Review + restore tab for restore.

Restore configurations

As part of item-level restore capability of AKS backup, you can utilize multiple restore configuration filters to perform restore.

  • Select the Namespaces that you want to restore from the list. The list shows only the backed-up Namespaces.

    Screenshot shows selection of Namespace.

    You can also select the checkboxes if you want to restore cluster scoped resources and persistent volumes (of Azure Disk only).

    To restore specific cluster resources, use the labels attached to them in the textbox. Only resources with the entered labels are backed up.

  • You can provide API Groups and Kinds to restore specific resource types. The list of API Group and Kind is available in the Appendix. You can enter multiple API Groups.

    Screenshot shows the usage of API for restore.

  • To restore a workload, such as Deployment from a backup via API Group, the entry should be:

    • Kind: Select Deployment.

    • Group: Select Group.

    • Namespace Mapping: To migrate the backed-up cluster resources to a different Namespace, select the backed-up Namespace, and then enter the Namespace to which you want to migrate the resources.

      If the Namespace doesn't exist in the AKS cluster, it gets created. If a conflict occurs during the cluster resources restore, you can skip or patch the conflicting resources.

      Screenshot shows the selection of namespace for migration.

Next steps