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Scenario #314
Storage
Kubernetes v1.21, NFS

PVs Stuck in Released Due to Missing Finalizer Removal

PVCs were deleted, but PVs remained stuck in Released, preventing reuse.

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What Happened

PVC deletion left behind PVs marked as Released, and the NFS driver didn’t remove finalizers, blocking clean-up.

Diagnosis Steps
  • 1Listed PVs: showed Released, with kubernetes.io/pv-protection finalizer still present.
  • 2Couldn’t bind new PVCs due to status: Released.
Root Cause

Driver didn’t implement Delete reclaim logic properly.

Fix/Workaround
• Patched PVs to remove finalizers.
• Recycled or deleted volumes manually.
Lessons Learned

Some drivers require manual cleanup unless fully CSI-compliant.

How to Avoid
  • 1Use CSI drivers with full lifecycle support.
  • 2Monitor PV statuses regularly.
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