CKA Practice Question: Cluster Architecture, Installation and Configuration
Which TWO commands can be used to interact with etcd snapshot operations? (Select TWO.)
⚠ Common exam trap
A common mix-up: candidates confuse `etcdctl snapshot save` with the non-existent `etcdctl backup` command, or think `etcdctl migrate` is related to snapshot operations when it is actually for version migration.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
etcdctl snapshot restore
Option B, `etcdctl snapshot restore`, is correct because it is the etcdctl subcommand used to rebuild an etcd member's data directory from a previously taken snapshot file, typically with flags such as --data-dir and --initial-cluster. Option D, `etcdctl snapshot save`, is correct because it is the etcdctl subcommand that creates a point-in-time snapshot of the etcd key-value store and writes it to a file for backup purposes. Both commands belong to the `snapshot` subcommand group in etcdctl and are the standard tools for backup and recovery of etcd data. Option A, `etcdctl import`, is not a valid etcdctl snapshot operation, and option E, `etcdctl backup`, was a legacy command that has been replaced by `etcdctl snapshot save`. Option C, `etcdctl migrate`, is used to migrate etcd data formats or versions, not to perform snapshot save or restore operations.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✗
etcdctl import
Why it's wrong here
etcdctl import is not a recognized subcommand in the etcdctl CLI. The etcdctl binary provides commands such as 'member', 'endpoint', 'auth', 'lease', and 'snapshot', but no 'import' action exists. It likely appears as a plausible but fictitious option because a snapshot restore involves importing data into a fresh data directory, yet the actual command is 'snapshot restore', not 'import'.
- ✓
etcdctl snapshot restore
Why this is correct
etcdctl snapshot restore is the correct command to recover etcd data from a previously saved snapshot. It creates a new etcd data directory from the snapshot file, and can be used with flags such as --name, --initial-cluster, and --initial-advertise-peer-urls to configure a restored member for a new cluster. This is the standard approach for disaster recovery or migrating an etcd cluster to a new set of nodes.
- ✗
etcdctl migrate
Why it's wrong here
etcdctl migrate is a real etcdctl command, but it is not a snapshot operation. It migrates data between the etcd v2 store and the v3 key-value storage format, typically for upgrading clusters from API v2 to v3. Because it operates on the live data store and does not use snapshot files, it is not a valid way to interact with etcd snapshots.
- ✓
etcdctl snapshot save
Why this is correct
etcdctl snapshot save is the correct command for creating a backup of etcd's data. It writes a point-in-time snapshot file from the etcd database to a specified path, and it is typically invoked as 'etcdctl snapshot save <filename>' while the etcd cluster is running. This is the primary method for taking a consistent, restorable backup of etcd in an etcd v3 environment.
- ✗
etcdctl backup
Why it's wrong here
etcdctl backup is a legacy command from the etcd v2 API and is deprecated or unavailable in modern etcdctl versions that default to the v3 API. It was used for backup and restore operations against the old v2 store, but it does not manage v3 snapshot files. In current etcd, the v3 command 'snapshot save' and 'snapshot restore' replace this deprecated tool entirely.
Go deeper
Related to this question
About these practice questions
Courseiva writes every CKA question from scratch — 726 in total, each with an explanation and a wrong-answer breakdown. None are copied from real exams or dumps. Learn why practice questions differ from exam dumps →
JA
Written by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
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.