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OOMKilled Kubernetes Error: Complete Troubleshooting Guide

Jul 17, 2025
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Evan Witmer
Growth Lead
Testkube
Read more from
Evan Witmer
Evan Witmer
Growth Lead
Testkube
Learn how to troubleshoot and fix OOMKilled errors in Kubernetes. Complete guide with kubectl commands, memory monitoring tips, and prevention strategies for container memory issues.

Table of Contents

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Jul 17, 2025
read
Evan Witmer
Growth Lead
Testkube
Read more from
Evan Witmer
Evan Witmer
Growth Lead
Testkube
Learn how to troubleshoot and fix OOMKilled errors in Kubernetes. Complete guide with kubectl commands, memory monitoring tips, and prevention strategies for container memory issues.

Table of Contents

If you are experiencing OOMKilled errors and your tests won't run because of this Kubernetes error, here is an article to help you troubleshoot.

OOMKilled is an error that occurs when a container or pod in Kubernetes uses more memory than it is allowed. This can happen for a variety of reasons, such as a memory leak, a bug in the application, or a spike in traffic. When a container or pod is terminated due to OOMKilled, it will not be able to recover and will need to be restarted.

How to View the OOMKilled Error Message

If you see an OOMKilled error, you can view the error message by running the following command:kubectl logs <pod_name>The error message will show you the name of the container that was terminated and the reason for the termination.

Kubernetes Log Analysis for OOMKilled Troubleshooting

When running continuous testing with Testkube's cloud-native platform, proper log analysis becomes crucial for identifying memory-related issues that can disrupt your test execution workflows. Since Testkube executes tests directly in your Kubernetes clusters, understanding how to quickly access and interpret logs helps maintain reliable testing pipelines.

What is Error Code 137 in Kubernetes?

Error Code 137 is the exit code that is returned when a container or pod is terminated due to OOMKilled. You can see the error code by running the following command:kubectl get pod <pod_name> -o yamlThe error code will be listed in the "Status" section of the pod's YAML definition.

How to Prevent OOMKilled in Kubernetes

There are a few things that can be done to prevent OOMKilled in Kubernetes. One is to set memory limits on containers and pods. This will prevent containers from using more memory than they are allowed. Another is to use a memory profiler to identify and fix memory leaks. Finally, it is important to monitor your Kubernetes cluster for signs of OOMKilled errors. If you see an OOMKilled error, you can take steps to troubleshoot the issue and prevent it from happening again.

Memory Management Best Practices for Kubernetes Testing

When implementing continuous testing strategies with Testkube, proper memory management ensures your testing infrastructure scales efficiently. Setting appropriate resource limits for test execution pods prevents OOMKilled errors from disrupting your CI/CD pipelines and maintains consistent test results across different environments.

Kubernetes Memory Monitoring and Resource Allocation

Effective memory monitoring is essential for maintaining healthy Kubernetes clusters, especially when running comprehensive test suites. Monitor memory usage patterns, set up alerts for high memory consumption, and implement proper resource quotas to prevent OOMKilled errors from affecting your application and testing workloads.

How to Troubleshoot OOMKilled Errors

If you see an OOMKilled error, you can take the following steps to troubleshoot the issue:

  1. Identify the container or pod that was terminated.
  2. Check the memory usage of the container or pod.
  3. Look for any errors in the container or pod logs.
  4. Update the container or pod image.
  5. Increase the memory limit for the container or pod.

Advanced Kubernetes Debugging Techniques

When troubleshooting OOMKilled errors in testing environments, consider using additional debugging tools and techniques. Analyze memory usage trends, review application performance metrics, and optimize your test execution strategies to work within your cluster's resource constraints.

Conclusion

OOMKilled is an error that can cause significant disruptions to your Kubernetes applications and continuous testing workflows. By following the tips in this article, you can help to prevent OOMKilled errors and keep your applications and testing pipelines running smoothly.

Additional Tips for Troubleshooting OOMKilled

Here are some additional tips for troubleshooting OOMKilled errors:

  • Use monitoring tools like Prometheus to collect metrics about your Kubernetes cluster.
  • Implement proper resource quotas and limits for your test execution environments.
  • Set up automated alerts for memory usage thresholds.
  • Use horizontal pod autoscaling to handle memory-intensive workloads.
  • Regularly review and optimize your container images for memory efficiency.

Kubernetes Performance Optimization for Testing

Testkube's Kubernetes-native approach to continuous testing means optimizing your cluster's performance directly impacts your testing capabilities. By implementing proper memory management, monitoring strategies, and resource allocation policies, you ensure reliable test execution while maximizing the cost-efficiency of your existing infrastructure.

Frequently Asked Questions About OOMKilled Errors

Q: What causes OOMKilled errors in Kubernetes?

A: OOMKilled errors occur when containers exceed their allocated memory limits, often due to memory leaks, inefficient code, traffic spikes, or insufficient resource allocation.

Q: How do I check memory usage in Kubernetes?

A: Use kubectl top pods to view current memory usage or kubectl describe pod <pod_name> to see detailed resource information and limits.

Q: Can OOMKilled errors affect my testing workflows?

A: Yes, when using Kubernetes-native testing platforms like Testkube, OOMKilled errors can interrupt test execution and cause false negatives in your continuous testing pipelines.Retry

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