Reference Guide: Optimizing Backup Strategies for Red Hat OpenShift Virtualization

Kubernetes on OpenStack solution brief

Kubernetes on OpenStack

Complete Backup Protection for Kubernetes Running on OpenStack

Kubernetes is still Kubernetes, regardless of where it runs. But when it runs on OpenStack, you need protection at two layers: the application layer and the infrastructure layer. Trilio delivers both.

Two Layers That Need Protection

When you deploy Kubernetes on OpenStack, your workloads span two distinct layers. The Kubernetes layer hosts your applications, containers, operators, and persistent data. Beneath it, the OpenStack layer provides the virtual infrastructure: VMs, networking, security groups, and storage. Standard backup tools protect one layer or the other. To fully protect Kubernetes on OpenStack, you need a solution that covers both.

A Two-Layer Backup Architecture

Each OpenStack tenant can run one or more Kubernetes clusters. Trilio provides dedicated protection at both the application and infrastructure levels.

Trilio for Kubernetes

Backs up everything running on top of Kubernetes

Application-centric backup that captures the full state of your Kubernetes workloads. Works on OpenStack or bare metal, and enables migration between cloud and bare metal environments.

Trilio for OpenStack

Backs up the virtual infrastructure that Kubernetes is deployed into

Captures the complete state of the OpenStack tenant, including all the infrastructure Kubernetes depends on. Trilio for OpenStack operates at the infrastructure level and does not need to be aware that Kubernetes is running above it.

Trilio for Kubernetes

Application-Centric Backup and Recovery

Trilio for Kubernetes provides application-centric backup for your Kubernetes workloads. It protects containers, VMs, operators, and Persistent Volume Claims (PVCs), capturing the full state of your applications regardless of the underlying infrastructure.

Application-Centric Backup

Backs up complete applications including containers, VMs, operators, Helm releases, and PVCs in a single operation.

Platform Flexibility

Works on OpenStack, bare metal, or any CNCF-compliant Kubernetes distribution. Your backup strategy is not tied to a single platform.

Cloud and Bare Metal Migration

Use Trilio for Kubernetes to migrate workloads between cloud and bare metal environments, enabling infrastructure flexibility without data risk.

Self-Service Recovery

Agentless architecture integrates with native Kubernetes RBAC, enabling teams to manage their own backups and recovery without waiting for IT tickets.

Trilio for OpenStack

Infrastructure-Level Backup and Recovery

Trilio for OpenStack backs up the Kubernetes infrastructure deployed into the OpenStack tenant. It captures VMs, networking, security groups, and all the permissions required to rebuild the environment, natively installed alongside your OpenStack services.

Complete Infrastructure Capture

Backs up VMs, Cinder volumes, network topology, security groups, SSH keys, and instance metadata in one orchestrated operation.

Native OpenStack Integration

Natively installed alongside OpenStack services using your distribution's deployment process. Integrates with Horizon for self-service backup management.

Infrastructure-Level Operation

Operates at the OpenStack infrastructure layer. It does not need to know that Kubernetes is running on top of the VMs it protects.

Full Project State Recovery

Captures the complete state of the OpenStack project, including disk images, instance metadata, Cinder volume configurations, and full network topology.

The Ultimate Kubernetes Backup on OpenStack

Trilio for Kubernetes

Application layer: containers, PVCs, Kubernetes metadata

Trilio for OpenStack

Infrastructure layer: VMs, networking, security groups, storage

When you combine Trilio for Kubernetes and Trilio for OpenStack, you get complete protection across both layers. Trilio for OpenStack handles the virtual infrastructure: VMs, networking, security groups, and storage. Trilio for Kubernetes handles the application layer: containers, PVCs, and Kubernetes metadata. Together, they deliver the ultimate Kubernetes backup on OpenStack.

Key Use Cases

Backup and Disaster Recovery

Protect both your Kubernetes applications and the OpenStack infrastructure they run on. Recover from outages at either layer with confidence.

Cloud to Bare Metal Migration

Use Trilio for Kubernetes to migrate workloads between cloud and bare metal. Move applications freely without rebuilding from scratch.

Compliance and Governance

Meet regulatory requirements with application-centric backups stored in industry-standard formats (QCOW2, JSON), ensuring long-term accessibility without vendor lock-in.

Multi-Tenant Infrastructure Protection

Each OpenStack tenant running Kubernetes gets full-stack protection. Trilio for OpenStack captures each tenant's infrastructure while Trilio for Kubernetes protects the workloads within.

Gartner Peer Insights: 4.9 out of 5 stars from 47 reviews

"My preferred Backup software to recommend when there is no incumbent vendor is Trilio. Trilio provides cloud-native backup capabilities and has implemented features like incremental backups without CSI dependencies."
Julio Villarreal Pelegrino
Kubernetes Expert
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.