How to Copy Files from Kubernetes Pods to Local System

Introduction

Copying files from Kubernetes Pods to your local system is a common task for debugging and backups. In this guide, you'll learn how to use kubectl cp to transfer files efficiently.

Prerequisites

Before proceeding, make sure:

• You have kubectl installed and configured.
• You have access to the target Pod.

Copying Files from Pods

Using kubectl cp

The kubectl cp command allows you to copy files or directories from a Pod to your local system. Here's the syntax:

kubectl cp <namespace>/<pod-name>:<source-path> <destination-path>

Example

Suppose you want to copy a file named example.log from a Pod named example-pod in the default namespace to your local system. Run the following command:

kubectl cp default/example-pod:/var/log/example.log ./example.log

This copies the example.log file to your current directory.

Copying Directories

To copy an entire directory, specify the directory path:

kubectl cp default/example-pod:/var/log ./logs

This copies the /var/log directory to a local directory named logs.

Best Practices

• Use Namespaces: Always specify the namespace to avoid conflicts.
• Validate Paths: Ensure the source and destination paths are correct.
• Monitor Transfers: Use tools like ls and cat to verify copied files.

Conclusion

Copying files from Kubernetes Pods to your local system is straightforward with kubectl cp. By following these steps, you can efficiently transfer files for debugging and backups.