This CKA practice question tests your understanding of cluster architecture, installation and configuration. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
Which command is used to create a backup of etcd data using etcdctl?
Clue words in this question
Noticing these words before you look at the options changes how you read each choice.
Clue: "which command"
Why it matters: Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
etcdctl endpoint status
Why wrong: This command checks the health status of etcd endpoints.
etcdctl snapshot restore /backup/snapshot.db
Why wrong: This command restores from a snapshot, not creates a backup.
etcdctl snapshot save /backup/snapshot.db
This command creates a snapshot backup of etcd data.
etcdctl member list
Why wrong: This command lists etcd cluster members.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
etcdctl snapshot save /backup/snapshot.db
Option C is correct because `etcdctl snapshot save` is the command used to create a point-in-time backup of etcd data. This command captures the entire key-value store and writes it to a specified file path, which is essential for disaster recovery in Kubernetes clusters that use etcd as their backing store.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
etcdctl endpoint status
Why it's wrong here
This command checks the health status of etcd endpoints.
etcdctl snapshot restore /backup/snapshot.db
Why it's wrong here
This command restores from a snapshot, not creates a backup.
etcdctl snapshot save /backup/snapshot.db
Why this is correct
This command creates a snapshot backup of etcd data.
Clue confirmation
The clue word "which command" in the question point toward this answer.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
etcdctl member list
Why it's wrong here
This command lists etcd cluster members.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates confuse the `save` and `restore` subcommands, often selecting `snapshot restore` (Option B) because they think 'backup' implies 'restore', but `save` is the correct verb for creating a backup.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
This command checks the health status of etcd endpoints.
Detailed technical explanation
The `etcdctl snapshot save` command uses the etcd v3 API to perform a consistent snapshot of the entire key-value store, including all keys, values, and metadata. This snapshot can be restored on a different node or cluster using `etcdctl snapshot restore`, which rewrites the etcd data directory. In production, it is critical to run this command against a healthy etcd member to avoid corruption, and backups should be taken regularly (e.g., via cron) to ensure recoverability in case of cluster failure.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
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What to study next
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FAQ
Cluster Architecture, Installation and Configuration — This question tests Cluster Architecture, Installation and Configuration — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
The correct answer is: etcdctl snapshot save /backup/snapshot.db — Option C is correct because `etcdctl snapshot save` is the command used to create a point-in-time backup of etcd data. This command captures the entire key-value store and writes it to a specified file path, which is essential for disaster recovery in Kubernetes clusters that use etcd as their backing store.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
Yes — watch for: "which command". Tests specific CLI syntax. Recall the exact command and its required context — near-synonyms and partial matches are common distractors.
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
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Last reviewed: Jun 24, 2026
This CKA practice question is part of Courseiva's free CNCF certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the CKA exam.
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