cluster-remove.md

copyright	lastupdated	keywords	subcollection
years 2014, 2023	2023-08-16	containers, kubernetes, clusters, worker nodes, worker pools, delete	containers

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Removing clusters

{: #remove}

[Virtual Private Cloud]{: tag-vpc} [Classic infrastructure]{: tag-classic-inf}

Clusters that are created with a billable account must be removed manually when they are not needed anymore so that those clusters are no longer consuming resources. {: shortdesc}

When you delete the cluster, all worker nodes, apps, and containers are permanently deleted. This action can't be undone. Before you proceed, make sure to back up all required data and configuration files. {: important}

No backups are created of your cluster or your data in your persistent storage. When you delete a cluster, you can choose to delete your persistent storage. Persistent storage that you provisioned by using a delete storage class is permanently deleted in IBM Cloud infrastructure if you choose to delete your persistent storage. If you provisioned your persistent storage by using a retain storage class and you choose to delete your storage, the cluster, the PV, and PVC are deleted, but the persistent storage instance in your IBM Cloud infrastructure account remains. {: important}

Classic clusters only: When you remove a cluster, you also remove any subnets that were automatically provisioned when you created the cluster and that you created by using the ibmcloud ks cluster subnet create command. However, if you manually added existing subnets to your cluster by using the ibmcloud ks cluster subnet add command, these subnets are not removed from your IBM Cloud infrastructure account and you can reuse them in other clusters. {: note}

Before you begin:

• Note your cluster ID. You might need the cluster ID to investigate and remove related IBM Cloud infrastructure resources that are not automatically deleted with your cluster.
• Make sure that you have the Administrator {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} IAM platform access role.
• If you want to delete the data in your persistent storage, review the delete options for the type of storage that you use.
  • File storage
  • Block storage for classic clusters
  • Block storage for VPC clusters
  • Object storage
  • Portworx

To remove a cluster:

1. Optional: From the CLI, save a copy of all data in your cluster to a local YAML file.

   kubectl get all --all-namespaces -o yaml

   {: pre}

2. Remove the cluster.

   • From the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} console

     1. Select your cluster and click Delete from the More actions menu.

   • From the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} CLI

     1. List the available clusters.

        ibmcloud ks cluster ls

        {: pre}

     2. Delete the cluster.

        ibmcloud ks cluster rm --cluster <cluster_name_or_ID>

        {: pre}

3. Follow the prompts and choose whether to delete cluster resources, which include containers, pods, bound services, persistent storage, and secrets.

   • Persistent storage: If you dynamically provisioned storage with a storage class that sets reclaimPolicy: Delete, your persistent volume claim (PVC), persistent volume (PV), and the storage instance are automatically deleted when you delete the cluster. However, depending on when you delete the cluster, you might still see your storage instance in the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} console for up to 72 hours or until the new billing cycle begins. VPC Block Storage is not removed automatically, even if you used a Delete storage class.

     For storage that was statically provisioned or storage that you provisioned with a storage class that sets reclaimPolicy: Retain, the PVC and the PV are removed when you delete the cluster, but your storage instance and your data remain. You are still charged for your storage instance.

     To manually remove the storage and find frequently asked questions about storage removal, review the documentation for each storage type in the links in the Before you begin section.

Next steps:

• After it is no longer listed in the available clusters list when you run the ibmcloud ks cluster ls command, you can reuse the name of a removed cluster.
• Classic clusters only: If you kept the subnets, you can reuse them in a new cluster or manually delete them later from your IBM Cloud infrastructure portfolio.
• VPC clusters only: If you have infrastructure resources that you no longer want to use, such as the VPC or subnets, remove these resources in the VPC portal.
• If you kept the persistent storage, you can delete your storage later through the {{site.data.keyword.cloud_notm}} console for the corresponding storage service.