This CKA practice question tests your understanding of cluster architecture, installation and configuration. This is a configuration task: choose the command set that satisfies every stated requirement. Small differences — like 'secret' vs 'password' or 'transport input ssh' vs 'all' — change whether the answer is correct. 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.
You need to upgrade a Kubernetes cluster from v1.28 to v1.29 using kubeadm. After upgrading the control plane, what should you do on each worker node?
kubeadm upgrade node config --kubelet-version v1.29.0
Why wrong: The correct command is 'kubeadm upgrade node'.
kubectl delete node <node>; kubeadm upgrade node
Why wrong: Deleting the node is incorrect; drain is used.
kubectl drain <node>; kubeadm upgrade node; kubectl uncordon <node>
Drain the node, upgrade, then uncordon.
kubeadm upgrade node; kubectl uncordon <node>
Why wrong: Missing drain step; should drain first.
Answer choices
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
kubectl drain <node>; kubeadm upgrade node; kubectl uncordon <node>
Option C is correct because the standard kubeadm upgrade workflow for worker nodes requires first draining the node to safely evict all pods, then running 'kubeadm upgrade node' to upgrade the kubelet and kube-proxy configuration, and finally uncordoning the node to make it schedulable again. This sequence ensures minimal disruption to workloads and follows the official Kubernetes upgrade documentation.
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.
kubeadm upgrade node config --kubelet-version v1.29.0
Why it's wrong here
The correct command is 'kubeadm upgrade node'.
kubectl delete node <node>; kubeadm upgrade node
Why it's wrong here
Deleting the node is incorrect; drain is used.
kubectl drain <node>; kubeadm upgrade node; kubectl uncordon <node>
Why this is correct
Drain the node, upgrade, then uncordon.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
kubeadm upgrade node; kubectl uncordon <node>
Why it's wrong here
Missing drain step; should drain first.
Common exam traps
The trap here is that candidates may assume 'kubeadm upgrade node' alone handles pod eviction, but it only upgrades the node's components and does not automatically drain pods, making the drain step essential to avoid workload disruption.
Trap categories for this question
Command / output trap
The correct command is 'kubeadm upgrade node'.
Detailed technical explanation
Under the hood, 'kubeadm upgrade node' on a worker node updates the kubelet configuration file (typically /var/lib/kubelet/config.yaml) and restarts the kubelet service to use the new version's API. The drain command uses the eviction API to respect PodDisruptionBudgets, ensuring graceful termination of pods, while uncordon updates the node's spec.unschedulable field to false, allowing the scheduler to place new pods. In a real-world scenario, failing to drain first can cause issues with stateful workloads like databases that rely on graceful shutdown hooks.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
A practitioner preparing for the CKA exam encounters this exact type of scenario on the job. The correct answer here is not the most general option — it is the best answer for the specific constraint described. Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option. Real exam questions reward reading the full scenario before eliminating options, because the constraint defines which answer fits.
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: kubectl drain <node>; kubeadm upgrade node; kubectl uncordon <node> — Option C is correct because the standard kubeadm upgrade workflow for worker nodes requires first draining the node to safely evict all pods, then running 'kubeadm upgrade node' to upgrade the kubelet and kube-proxy configuration, and finally uncordoning the node to make it schedulable again. This sequence ensures minimal disruption to workloads and follows the official Kubernetes upgrade documentation.
Identify which exam domain this question belongs to, review the core concept, then practise similar questions from the same domain.
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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