Nutanix Data Services for Kubernetes (NDK) 2.0: Advancing Kubernetes Disaster Recovery with Synchronous and Asynchronous Replication for File Storage

As enterprises accelerate their adoption of Kubernetes^® for modern applications, the need for robust, enterprise-grade data services has never been more critical. With the release of Nutanix Data Services for Kubernetes 2.0, we’re taking a major leap forward in delivering cloud-native data protection for stateful workloads now with synchronous and asynchronous replication support for file storage.

This release builds on our existing support for synchronous and asynchronous replication for block storage, giving customers the flexibility to design tiered disaster recovery (DR) strategies that align with their applications while maintaining the simplicity and resilience Nutanix is known for. It now extends protection to both block and file replication.

Why It Matters: The DR Gap with Kubernetes

Disaster recovery is a cornerstone of business continuity. Yet, for Kubernetes environments, DR solutions have lagged behind, especially for stateful applications that require zero data loss (RPO=0) and minimal downtime (RTO) across failure domains.

Traditional DR tooling often lacks the granularity, performance, and ease-of-use needed to protect mission-critical workloads running in Kubernetes. This is especially true when it comes to multi-cluster failover, persistent volume replication, and application-aware recovery.

With NDK 2.0, we’re closing that gap by expanding DR capabilities for Kubernetes apps using not only block based storage (supported with NDK 1.3), but also files based storage.

What’s New in NDK 2.0

NDK 2.0 introduces synchronous and asynchronous replication for ReadWriteMany (RWX) volumes backed by Nutanix Files Storage, complementing the existing support for Nutanix Volumes (block storage). This means you can:

• Provide data consistency and instant failover for both file and block storage across multiple sites
• Support enterprise governance and compliance objectives with geographically distributed data protection for both storage types
• Centrally managed replication policies and recovery plans across storage types

NDK 2.0 makes it easier than ever to restore your Kubernetes applications. With new NDK recipes, platform teams can now automate both planned and unplanned failovers across clusters, whether applications use Nutanix Files Storage or Nutanix Volumes for persistent storage. Each NDK recipe automatically executes and sequences every required step, minimizing human error and saving valuable time during critical operations.

This enhanced replication support empowers platform teams to tailor protection levels based on application needs, from zero data loss for mission-critical apps to configurable RPOs for general business workloads.

Pick the Tiered Protection Needed

With NDK 2.0, Nutanix introduces a tiered data protection model for Kubernetes:

• Tier 0- Mission-Critical Apps
  Use synchronous replication to achieve zero RPO and instant failover across Nutanix clusters or regions.
  
• Tier 1- Business-Critical Apps
  Use asynchronous replication to balance performance and protection, with configurable RPOs (e.g., ~1 hour) and predictable recovery times.

Sync and async support now mirrors the disaster recovery strategies enterprises have long trusted in their on-prem environments, while giving them the freedom to choose the right level of protection for each workload without compromising on simplicity or operational consistency.

Unified Simplicity

NDK 2.0 continues to deliver on the Nutanix promise of data services simplicity, now extended to cloud-native environments.  When running Kubernetes on-prem with Nutanix Kubernetes Platform (NKP), NDK provides a unified platform that supports both block and file storage. It offers a single control plane to manage data services, replication and failover operations, streamlining protection workflows across environments. Additionally, it delivers a consistent experience for application owners, platform engineers, and IT administrators alike. This unified approach is designed to reduce complexity, accelerate recovery, and ensure that stateful Kubernetes applications are treated as first-class citizens in your hybrid cloud strategy.

Next Steps

With NDK 2.0, Nutanix is setting a new standard for Kubernetes native data services. By combining enterprise-grade replication with cloud-native flexibility, we’re enabling customers to confidently run and protect their most critical applications anywhere.

Whether you're modernizing legacy apps, building new cloud-native services, or operating across hybrid environments, NDK 2.0 gives you the tools to protect, recover, and scale with confidence.

Current customers can take advantage of these new capabilities by upgrading to NDK 2.0 today and immediately begin leveraging synchronous and asynchronous replication for block and files for enhanced disaster recovery.

For organizations exploring the Nutanix Cloud Platform for Kubernetes, NDK makes it easy to run stateful applications with built-in data protection, simplified operations, and hybrid cloud flexibility all from day one. Try Test Drive today to see what Nutanix Kubernetes Platform and Nutanix Data Services for Kubernetes are all about.

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