Volume snapshots#

A volume snapshot is a point-in-time representation of a volume’s state, capturing a copy of its file system and data.

You can use a volume snapshot to:

  • Clone a volume — create a new volume from an existing snapshot.

  • Clone a virtual server — create a new virtual server from a volume created from a snapshot.

  • Change the volume type — preserve the current state of a volume using a snapshot and then create an identical volume with a different type.

A volume snapshot is not a backup of a virtual server’s volume. It is stored on the same hardware as the source volume and requires the primary storage to be available to perform any operation. To back up a system or secondary volume, use the automatic backup feature in the volume settings.

Create#

To create a volume snapshot:

  1. In the Control Panel, go to the Cloud → Volumes section.

  2. Select the required volume and click More.

  3. Go to the Snapshots tab.

  4. Click the Create snapshot button.

  5. Enter the name of the snapshot.

  6. Click the Create snapshot button.

A Snapshot has been created! A notification will appear in the lower-left corner, along with information about the snapshot’s date and time of creation, its name, size, and a delete button.

Restore data#

To restore data from a snapshot:

  1. In the Control Panel, go to the Cloud → Volume snapshots section.

  2. Select the required disk, click the down arrow button and select Create volume from the drop-down list.

    Alternatively, on the selected volume, click More for detailed information about the snapshot and then Create volume.

  3. Create volume from the snapshot page opens.

  4. Specify the name for the new volume.

  5. Choose one of five volume types.

  6. To create backup copies of a new volume, activate the automatic volume backup service and set up a schedule.

    Specify the days of the week on which you want to create a volume backup, the required time to create the backup, and the number of copies.

    Important

    The service is provided for free, but there is a fee for data storage.

  7. Click Create volume to complete.

Go to the Control Panel, go to the Cloud → Volumes and wait for the changing of volume status from CREATING to AVAILABLE.

The volume was created as an additional volume, but it might also be used as a system volume to create a virtual server.

Delete snapshot#

To delete a volume snapshot:

  1. In the Control Panel, go to the Cloud → Volume snapshots section.

  2. Select the required volume, click the down arrow button, and choose Delete from the drop-down list.

    Alternatively, on the selected volume, click More to view snapshot information. In the snapshot details panel that opens, click Delete.

  3. Confirm the snapshot deletion by clicking Confirm.

A Snapshot deleted! notification will appear in the lower-left corner.