Exec probe
An exec probe is a Kubernetes probe that runs a command inside a container and evaluates whether it exits successfully.
Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition
An exec probe is a Kubernetes liveness-check mechanism that runs a command inside a container and succeeds when the command exits with code zero before its timeout.
- How it is used
- Uses an in-container command as a liveness check for applications without HTTP endpoints or TCP connections.
- How deep it goes
- Defines exit-code and timeout semantics, shows a manifest, and notes resource costs without detailing implementation internals.
- Examples
- Runs /usr/bin/healthcheck every two seconds with a one-second timeout and failureThreshold of one.
- What you can do after
- Configure an exec liveness probe and select lightweight command, timeout, and failure-threshold settings.
Read how Kubernetes in Action, Second Edition explains exec probe →
Kubernetes for Developers
A command-based probe is a Kubernetes probe that runs a command in a container and evaluates its exit status.
- How it is used
- Detects stuck or hung background-task containers so Kubernetes can restart them.
- How deep it goes
- Explains exit-status semantics and gives a heartbeat-file implementation with worker, script, and Deployment configuration.
- Examples
- Uses a worker timestamp file, a Bash freshness script, and a Kubernetes Deployment probe.
- What you can do after
- Configure an exec-based liveness check for a background worker and tune its freshness and probe timing.
Related concepts
- liveness checkkind of · A liveness check is an automated health test that determines whether a running workload remains functional or should be restarted.
- readiness checkkind of · A readiness check is a health probe that determines whether a running service or workload is prepared to receive requests or traffic.
- shell scriptuses · Bash is a Unix command-line shell and scripting language for executing commands interactively and through scripts.
- http get probealternative to · An HTTP GET probe is a Kubernetes liveness-check mechanism that sends an HTTP GET request to a specified path and port in a container and succeeds for a non-error response.
- file systemuses · A file system is a software-managed structure and interface for organizing, naming, storing, and accessing files and directories on storage.
- thresholdconfigured by · A threshold is a boundary value against which a quantity is compared to determine a decision, classification, or action.
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