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docs: Document pod runtime status and specific SSH not-ready reasons in the runpodctl reference - #758

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runpodctl pod get and runpodctl pod list now report a derived runtimeStatus (plus a runtimeStatusReason token when there is more to say) alongside desiredStatus, so users can tell a Pod that is still pulling its image apart from one that is actually running. runpodctl ssh info now names the specific reason a Pod is unreachable instead of a generic "pod not ready" message.

This adds a "Pod runtime status" section to the runpodctl pod reference documenting the six runtimeStatus values and the reason tokens, a worked JSON example, and guidance on polling to readiness. It updates the ssh reference with a table of the specific not-ready causes and their remedies — including a warning that runpodctl pod update --ports replaces the entire port list and can restart the container — and adds a discoverability cross-link from the Pods SSH troubleshooting guide. The pod list --status flag description now clarifies that it filters desiredStatus (RUNNING/EXITED, matched case-insensitively) and does not accept runtimeStatus values like initializing, which return no results — a distinction that matters now that the same page teaches the runtimeStatus vocabulary.

Files touched:

  • runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
  • runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-ssh.mdx
  • pods/configuration/use-ssh.mdx

Revision for runpodctl PR #366 (REST v2 migration): runpodctl no longer reports lastStatusChange or the stopped_by_* / terminated_* / *_outbid reason tokens, because REST v2 doesn't return the status-change text they were derived from. This revision removes them, adds the new error runtime status (desiredStatus ERROR, which won't recover on its own and still bills) to the pod and ssh tables, updates stopped/terminated to map directly from EXITED/TERMINATED, and replaces the note about desiredStatus and runtimeStatus disagreeing, since both now come from one read. The branch is also merged up to current main.

Sources: runpodctl PR #315 (Linear CON-690); runpodctl PR #366.

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Add a Pod runtime status section to the runpodctl pod reference covering
the new runtimeStatus/runtimeStatusReason/lastStatusChange fields on
pod get and pod list, update the ssh reference with the specific
not-ready causes and the --ports remedy warning, and cross-link from the
SSH troubleshooting guide (runpodctl PR #315, CON-690).
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx Outdated

## Pod runtime status

`runpodctl pod get` and `runpodctl pod list` now report a Pod's real runtime state in their JSON and YAML output, alongside the existing `desiredStatus`. `desiredStatus` is the state you asked for (for example, `RUNNING`), while `runtimeStatus` is what the Pod is actually doing. For example, a Pod still pulling a large image and a Pod that has been serving traffic for an hour both show `desiredStatus: RUNNING`, but their `runtimeStatus` values differ.

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:279

desiredStatus vs runtimeStatus distinction (desiredStatus is what was requested, runtimeStatus is derived/actual) is documented verbatim in the podstate package comment, from open PR runpod/runpodctl#315 (CON-690, not yet merged).

Source: podstate.go:1–27 · ea017f6


`runpodctl pod get` and `runpodctl pod list` now report a Pod's real runtime state in their JSON and YAML output, alongside the existing `desiredStatus`. `desiredStatus` is the state you asked for (for example, `RUNNING`), while `runtimeStatus` is what the Pod is actually doing. For example, a Pod still pulling a large image and a Pod that has been serving traffic for an hour both show `desiredStatus: RUNNING`, but their `runtimeStatus` values differ.

<ResponseField name="runtimeStatus" type="string">

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:281

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podListOutput struct confirms runtimeStatus has no omitempty (always present); runtimeStatusReason and lastStatusChange both have omitempty. Same shape appears on pod get (cmd/pod/get.go response struct). From open PR runpodctl#315.

Source: list.go:34–53 · ea017f6

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Present when available. The backend's raw status text (for example, `Exited by user: <date>` or `Outbid: <date>`).
</ResponseField>

For example, `runpodctl pod list --output json` returns entries like this for a running Pod:

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:293

JSON example field names (id, name, desiredStatus, runtimeStatus, imageName, gpuCount, costPerHr, createdAt, uptimeSeconds) all match real podListOutput fields populated in runList; no fabricated field names. --output flag consumed via cmd.Flag("output") (persistent flag, StringVarP "output"/"o", default "json"), so --output json is a valid invocation form.

Source: list.go:182–200 · ea017f6


### Runtime status values

| Value | Meaning | What to do |

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:313

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Runtime status values table (running/initializing/stopped/terminated/unknown) matches the Status constants and doc comments exactly, including "does not imply a port is reachable" and the terminated pod's narrow drop-out-of-list window (getMyPods filters terminatedAt: null, see lines 77-81 of same file).

Source: podstate.go:90–120 · ea017f6


### Runtime status reasons

| Token | Paired status | Meaning |

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:323

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Runtime status reasons table matches the eight Reason constants and their doc comments verbatim (awaiting_container, stopped/terminated_by_user, stopped/terminated_by_runpod, stopped/terminated_outbid, runtime_unavailable).

Source: podstate.go:127–165 · ea017f6

Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx Outdated
</Tip>

<Note>
`runtimeStatus` and `desiredStatus` come from different sources, so a single command can briefly show them disagreeing (for example, `desiredStatus: RUNNING` next to `runtimeStatus: stopped`). When they disagree, trust `runtimeStatus`.

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:345

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Confirms runtimeStatus is derived from the GraphQL snapshot while desiredStatus is REST's, and that the two surfaces can momentarily disagree (matches PR README language "when they disagree, trust runtimeStatus").

Source: list.go:153–180 · ea017f6

Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx Outdated
`runtimeStatus` and `desiredStatus` come from different sources, so a single command can briefly show them disagreeing (for example, `desiredStatus: RUNNING` next to `runtimeStatus: stopped`). When they disagree, trust `runtimeStatus`.
</Note>

The `uptimeSeconds` field now reports the container's actual uptime and is omitted entirely when no container is reporting, instead of always showing `0`.

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx:348

uptimeSeconds is set only when runtimeStatus is running and runtime telemetry exists; otherwise left nil, which the omitempty tag drops from output instead of always reporting 0.

Source: list.go:176–180 · ea017f6

`runpodctl ssh info` explains which of the following cases applies. It also reports the Pod's `runtimeStatus`, so you can match a not-ready result to the runtime status vocabulary:

| Reason | Meaning | What to do |
| --- | --- | --- |

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-ssh.mdx:44

Not-ready reasons table (initializing/stopped/terminated via state.Explain; no port 22 published, no public IP, mapping not ready via sshPortDetail) matches NotReadyMessage/sshPortDetail exactly, including the three distinct running-pod SSH-unreachable causes.

Source: notready.go:10–50 · ea017f6

| No public IP | Port 22 is mapped, but the machine has no publicly routable IP. This affects direct SSH over a public IP specifically; basic SSH (proxied through Runpod, no public IP required) may still work. | Use [Basic SSH](/pods/configuration/use-ssh#basic-ssh-with-key-authentication), which does not need a public IP. If you need direct SSH over a public IP, redeploy on a machine that provides one. |
| Mapping not ready yet | Port 22 is declared, but the host has not published the mapping yet. | Wait and try again. |

For the "No SSH port published" case, `runpodctl ssh info` gives you a ready-to-run command of the form `runpodctl pod update <pod-id> --ports <existing-ports>,22/tcp` that preserves your existing ports.

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-ssh.mdx:52

Confirms the exact remedy command form runpodctl pod update <pod-id> --ports <existing-ports>,22/tcp built by addSSHPortCommand, preserving existing declared ports before appending 22/tcp.

Source: notready.go:52–82 · ea017f6


For the "No SSH port published" case, `runpodctl ssh info` gives you a ready-to-run command of the form `runpodctl pod update <pod-id> --ports <existing-ports>,22/tcp` that preserves your existing ports.

<Warning>

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-ssh.mdx:54

Confirms --ports is wholesale replacement (not additive like --env), sourced from cmd/pod/update.go setting req.Ports to exactly what was passed; changing ports bumps pod version (editJob increments version), which can trigger a container recreate/restart.

Source: notready.go:52–68 · ea017f6


</Note>

`runpodctl ssh info` explains which of the following cases applies. It also reports the Pod's `runtimeStatus`, so you can match a not-ready result to the runtime status vocabulary:

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runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-ssh.mdx:41

Confirms runSSHInfoWithArgs includes a "runtimeStatus" key in the not-ready JSON/YAML output map alongside the error/id/name/status fields.

Source: ssh.go:191–211 · ea017f6

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pods/configuration/use-ssh.mdx:77

Confirms Basic SSH is described elsewhere in this same file as proxied through Runpod's systems, supporting the runpodctl-ssh.mdx claim that basic SSH does not require a public IP.

Source: use-ssh.mdx:77 · eeff71f

@promptless
promptless Bot marked this pull request as ready for review August 5, 2026 18:52
The --status flag matches desiredStatus (RUNNING/EXITED) case-insensitively
and does not accept runtimeStatus values like initializing, which now appear
on the same page. Reflects the merged --status help-text clarification from
runpodctl PR #315 (CON-690).
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-pod.mdx
Comment thread runpodctl/reference/runpodctl-ssh.mdx

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