Volume snapshots

#What a volume snapshot is

A volume snapshot is a read-only copy of a volume at the moment you take it. Copies of a machine's root disk are separate; see VM snapshots.

• Full-size, not incremental. Every snapshot stores the whole volume, not just the part in use.
• Billed until it is removed. Snapshots are not in the price list yet; we would rather say so than imply they are free.
• Taken by hand. There is no schedule.

#Take a snapshot

From Snapshots under Storage, press Take snapshot and choose the volume. Or open the volume and press Take snapshot under Snapshots of this volume.

Name it after why you are taking it, and confirm. It is ready in about 90 seconds; until then its page shows Still being taken and follows the copy.

For a consistent copy of a busy volume, such as a database's data directory, stop writes or flush them before you take it.

#Restore a snapshot

Restoring never touches the original volume. It makes a new one:

1. Open the snapshot from Snapshots.
2. Press Restore.
3. Give the New volume name and confirm.

The new volume is the same kind and size as the original, and starts unattached, so nothing on any machine changes until you attach it. From there you can mount it alongside the original and copy back only what you need.

The new volume is billed like any other from the moment it exists.

#Removing a snapshot

Open the snapshot and press Delete in its Delete card, then type its name to confirm. The copy is removed for good and can't be restored; its storage stops being billed once the platform confirms.