KUBECTL DEBUG EXAMPLES

1. DEBUGGING A RUNNING POD

• Command: kubectl debug pod/my-pod -it --image=busybox
• Use Case: Debug a running pod by creating a new container in the
context of the original pod.

2. COPYING FILES FROM A POD

• Command: kubectl debug pod/my-pod -it --image=busybox --
copy-to=/tmp/my-pod-debug
• Use Case: Copy files from a running pod to your local machine for
analysis.

3. DEBUGGING PODS IN A DIFFERENT NAMESPACE

• Command: kubectl debug pod/my-pod --namespace=other-
namespace -it --image=ubuntu
• Use Case: Debug pods in a different namespace using a specific image.

4. INSPECTING NETWORK ISSUES

• Command: kubectl debug pod/my-pod -it --image=nicolaka/
netshoot
• Use Case: Troubleshoot network-related issues within a pod.

5. DEBUGGING WITH A SPECIFIC SERVICE ACCOUNT

• Command: kubectl debug pod/my-pod -it --image=alpine --
serviceaccount=my-service-account
• Use Case: Debug using a specific service account for necessary
permissions and access.
6. DEBUGGING INIT CONTAINERS
• Command: kubectl debug pod/my-pod --target=my-init-
container -it --image=busybox
• Use Case: Debug init containers in a pod.

7. DEBUGGING NODE-LEVEL ISSUES

• Command: kubectl debug node/my-node -it --image=ubuntu
• Use Case: Create a debugging session at the node level for broader
diagnostics.