Creating Snapshots
Create point-in-time backups of your virtual machines to preserve their current state, data, and configuration
Create point-in-time backups of your virtual machines to preserve their current state, data, and configuration.
Prerequisites
Before creating snapshots, ensure you meet these requirements:
Prerequisites for Snapshot Creation:
- At least one virtual machine must be in ACTIVE state
- VM must be in the same region as where you want to create the snapshot
- Your account profile must be complete with billing information
- Sufficient credits for snapshot storage costs
Account Requirements
Complete Profile
Ensure your account profile is complete with all required billing information
Sufficient Credits
Verify you have adequate credits for snapshot storage costs
Active VMs
Have at least one VM in ACTIVE state available for snapshotting
Regional Planning
Plan which region you want to store your snapshots in
Step-by-Step Creation Process
To create a new snapshot:
Navigate to Snapshots
Navigate to the Snapshots page
Select Region
Select your desired region from the dropdown menu
Initiate Creation
Click the “Create Snapshot” button (disabled if no active VMs are available)
Configure Snapshot
In the Create Snapshot modal:
- Select a virtual machine from the dropdown
- Enter a unique snapshot name (required, 1-50 characters)
- Optionally click “Show advanced options” for additional settings
Advanced Options (Optional)
Configure advanced settings:
- Add description text for documentation
- Toggle “Create as Image” for deployment templates
Create Snapshot
Review your settings and click “Create Snapshot”
Basic Configuration
Virtual Machine Selection
VM Dropdown
Available VMs
- Dropdown shows only ACTIVE VMs in the selected region
- Displays VM name, GPU type, and region for easy identification
- Example format: “my-vm - H100-SXM5-80GB (CANADA-1)”
- If no VMs are available, you’ll see “No active VMs available”
VM Requirements
Eligible VMs
- VM must be in ACTIVE state
- VM must be fully operational and responsive
- VM should not be under heavy load during snapshot creation
- VM must have completed initial setup and configuration
Snapshot Naming
Naming Requirements
Naming Requirements
Required Field Specifications
- Required field - cannot be empty
- Length limit: 1-50 characters
- Allowed characters: Letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens (-), underscores (_), periods (.)
- Must be unique within your account
- Real-time character count display (e.g., “25/50”)
Naming Best Practices
Naming Best Practices
Effective Naming Strategies
- Include date and time: “web-server-2024-06-19-14-30”
- Indicate purpose: “pre-update-backup” or “milestone-v2”
- Include project name: “ml-project-alpha-checkpoint”
- Use version numbers: “production-release-v1.2”
- Environment indicators: “staging-env-backup”
Validation Feedback
Validation Feedback
Real-time Validation
- Instant validation feedback for invalid names
- Character count display to track length
- Duplicate name detection and warnings
- Format validation with helpful error messages
Advanced Options
Click “Show advanced options” to access additional configuration settings:
Description Field
Documentation
Snapshot Description
- Optional text area for snapshot description
- Helps identify the snapshot’s purpose
- Useful for team collaboration and documentation
- No character limit enforced in UI
- Supports detailed documentation of snapshot contents
Best Practices
Description Content
- Include snapshot purpose and contents
- Document software versions and configurations
- Note any special considerations for restoration
- Include contact information for questions
- Document dependencies and requirements
Create as Image Option
Snapshot as Deployment Template
- Toggle switch to create snapshot as an image
- Images can be used for future VM deployments
- Appears in boot source options during VM creation
- Useful for standardizing environments across team
Snapshot as Deployment Template
- Toggle switch to create snapshot as an image
- Images can be used for future VM deployments
- Appears in boot source options during VM creation
- Useful for standardizing environments across team
Deployment Template Advantages
- Rapid Deployment: Quick VM creation from standardized template
- Environment Consistency: Identical configurations across deployments
- Team Collaboration: Shared environments for development teams
- Version Control: Multiple image versions for different configurations
When to Create Images
- Development environment templates
- Production deployment standards
- Training and educational environments
- Software distribution and deployment
- Disaster recovery templates
Creation Process Details
Snapshot Creation Workflow
Validation
System validates all input parameters and requirements
Initiation
Snapshot creation begins with VM state capture
Data Capture
Complete VM state, disk contents, and configuration captured
Compression
Snapshot data compressed and optimized for storage
Verification
Snapshot integrity verified and marked as available
Creation Process Monitoring
Progress Tracking
Progress Tracking
Real-time Updates
- Form validation occurs instantly (name format, VM selection)
- Button shows “Creating…” state with spinner animation
- Modal remains open during creation process
- Progress indicators show completion status
Error Handling
Error Handling
Issue Resolution
- Any errors are displayed in red alert boxes
- Clear error messages explain issues and solutions
- Retry mechanisms for temporary failures
- Support contact information for persistent issues
Success Confirmation
Success Confirmation
Completion Notification
- Success results in modal closure and snapshots list refresh
- Snapshot appears in list with “Creating” status initially
- Status updates to “Success” when complete
- Notification of successful snapshot creation
Snapshot Creation Timing
Optimal Creation Windows
Low Activity Periods
Best Times for Snapshots
- During low VM activity or maintenance windows
- Outside of peak application usage hours
- Between batch processing jobs
- During scheduled maintenance periods
Avoid High Load
Times to Avoid
- During heavy computational workloads
- Peak user activity periods
- During backup or synchronization operations
- System update or installation processes
Performance Considerations
VM Performance Impact
VM Performance Impact
During Snapshot Creation
- Minimal performance impact on most applications
- Brief I/O increases during data capture
- Memory and CPU usage remain largely unaffected
- Network performance typically unimpacted
Duration Estimates
Duration Estimates
Snapshot Creation Time
- Small VMs (< 100GB): 5-15 minutes
- Medium VMs (100-500GB): 15-45 minutes
- Large VMs (> 500GB): 45+ minutes
- Time varies based on data volume and VM activity
Resource Optimization
Resource Optimization
Minimizing Impact
- Schedule snapshots during maintenance windows
- Avoid concurrent snapshots of multiple VMs
- Consider VM workload patterns when scheduling
- Monitor VM performance during snapshot creation
Snapshot Storage and Costs
Storage Optimization
Storage Efficiency:
- Snapshots use advanced compression algorithms
- Duplicate data blocks are deduplicated
- Only changed data is stored in incremental snapshots
- Storage costs based on actual compressed size
Cost Management
Billing Information
- Rate: $0.1 per TB per hour (€0.1 per TB per hour | ₹10 per TB per hour)
- Billing Method: Hourly based on actual snapshot size
- Compression: Snapshots are compressed to reduce costs
- No Transfer Costs: No charges for snapshot creation or restoration
Billing Information
- Rate: $0.1 per TB per hour (€0.1 per TB per hour | ₹10 per TB per hour)
- Billing Method: Hourly based on actual snapshot size
- Compression: Snapshots are compressed to reduce costs
- No Transfer Costs: No charges for snapshot creation or restoration
Reducing Storage Costs
- Delete unnecessary snapshots regularly
- Implement retention policies based on business needs
- Use incremental backups where possible
- Monitor snapshot storage usage and trends
Cost Estimation
- Estimate snapshot size based on VM disk usage
- Plan for compression ratio (typically 30-70% reduction)
- Calculate monthly costs based on retention policy
- Monitor actual costs vs. estimates
Troubleshooting Snapshot Creation
Common Creation Issues
VM Not Available
- Problem: No VMs available for snapshotting
- Solution: Ensure at least one VM is in ACTIVE state
- Verification: Check VM status in dashboard
- Prevention: Maintain VMs in operational state
VM Not Available
- Problem: No VMs available for snapshotting
- Solution: Ensure at least one VM is in ACTIVE state
- Verification: Check VM status in dashboard
- Prevention: Maintain VMs in operational state
Account Requirements
- Problem: Cannot create snapshots due to account status
- Solution: Complete account profile with billing information
- Verification: Check account completion status
- Prevention: Maintain current account information and sufficient credits
Resource Limitations
- Problem: Insufficient storage quota or credits
- Solution: Add credits or clean up existing snapshots
- Verification: Check current credit balance and storage usage
- Prevention: Monitor resource usage and plan capacity
Creation Failures
- Problem: Snapshot creation fails or times out
- Solution: Retry during low VM activity periods
- Verification: Check VM health and performance
- Prevention: Schedule snapshots during maintenance windows
Error Resolution
Identify Issue
- Review error messages carefully
- Check VM status and health
- Verify account and credit status
- Assess current system load
Apply Solution
- Address specific error conditions
- Wait for VM to reach stable state if needed
- Add credits or complete profile as required
- Retry during optimal conditions
Verify Success
- Monitor snapshot creation progress
- Verify snapshot appears in list
- Check snapshot status reaches “Success”
- Test snapshot accessibility
Prevent Recurrence
- Document successful procedures
- Plan optimal timing for future snapshots
- Monitor account and resource status
- Establish regular snapshot schedule
Important Notes:
- Snapshot creation can take several minutes depending on VM disk size
- The source VM remains operational during snapshot creation
- Snapshot names must be unique across your entire account
- Only VMs in ACTIVE state can be snapshotted
- If no active VMs exist, the Create Snapshot button will be disabled
Pro Tip: Use descriptive snapshot names that include the date, purpose, and version information. This makes it much easier to identify the right snapshot for restoration later, especially when managing multiple snapshots across different projects.
Creating Snapshots
Create point-in-time backups of your virtual machines to preserve their current state, data, and configuration
Create point-in-time backups of your virtual machines to preserve their current state, data, and configuration.
Prerequisites
Before creating snapshots, ensure you meet these requirements:
Prerequisites for Snapshot Creation:
- At least one virtual machine must be in ACTIVE state
- VM must be in the same region as where you want to create the snapshot
- Your account profile must be complete with billing information
- Sufficient credits for snapshot storage costs
Account Requirements
Complete Profile
Ensure your account profile is complete with all required billing information
Sufficient Credits
Verify you have adequate credits for snapshot storage costs
Active VMs
Have at least one VM in ACTIVE state available for snapshotting
Regional Planning
Plan which region you want to store your snapshots in
Step-by-Step Creation Process
To create a new snapshot:
Navigate to Snapshots
Navigate to the Snapshots page
Select Region
Select your desired region from the dropdown menu
Initiate Creation
Click the “Create Snapshot” button (disabled if no active VMs are available)
Configure Snapshot
In the Create Snapshot modal:
- Select a virtual machine from the dropdown
- Enter a unique snapshot name (required, 1-50 characters)
- Optionally click “Show advanced options” for additional settings
Advanced Options (Optional)
Configure advanced settings:
- Add description text for documentation
- Toggle “Create as Image” for deployment templates
Create Snapshot
Review your settings and click “Create Snapshot”
Basic Configuration
Virtual Machine Selection
VM Dropdown
Available VMs
- Dropdown shows only ACTIVE VMs in the selected region
- Displays VM name, GPU type, and region for easy identification
- Example format: “my-vm - H100-SXM5-80GB (CANADA-1)”
- If no VMs are available, you’ll see “No active VMs available”
VM Requirements
Eligible VMs
- VM must be in ACTIVE state
- VM must be fully operational and responsive
- VM should not be under heavy load during snapshot creation
- VM must have completed initial setup and configuration
Snapshot Naming
Naming Requirements
Naming Requirements
Required Field Specifications
- Required field - cannot be empty
- Length limit: 1-50 characters
- Allowed characters: Letters, numbers, spaces, hyphens (-), underscores (_), periods (.)
- Must be unique within your account
- Real-time character count display (e.g., “25/50”)
Naming Best Practices
Naming Best Practices
Effective Naming Strategies
- Include date and time: “web-server-2024-06-19-14-30”
- Indicate purpose: “pre-update-backup” or “milestone-v2”
- Include project name: “ml-project-alpha-checkpoint”
- Use version numbers: “production-release-v1.2”
- Environment indicators: “staging-env-backup”
Validation Feedback
Validation Feedback
Real-time Validation
- Instant validation feedback for invalid names
- Character count display to track length
- Duplicate name detection and warnings
- Format validation with helpful error messages
Advanced Options
Click “Show advanced options” to access additional configuration settings:
Description Field
Documentation
Snapshot Description
- Optional text area for snapshot description
- Helps identify the snapshot’s purpose
- Useful for team collaboration and documentation
- No character limit enforced in UI
- Supports detailed documentation of snapshot contents
Best Practices
Description Content
- Include snapshot purpose and contents
- Document software versions and configurations
- Note any special considerations for restoration
- Include contact information for questions
- Document dependencies and requirements
Create as Image Option
Snapshot as Deployment Template
- Toggle switch to create snapshot as an image
- Images can be used for future VM deployments
- Appears in boot source options during VM creation
- Useful for standardizing environments across team
Snapshot as Deployment Template
- Toggle switch to create snapshot as an image
- Images can be used for future VM deployments
- Appears in boot source options during VM creation
- Useful for standardizing environments across team
Deployment Template Advantages
- Rapid Deployment: Quick VM creation from standardized template
- Environment Consistency: Identical configurations across deployments
- Team Collaboration: Shared environments for development teams
- Version Control: Multiple image versions for different configurations
When to Create Images
- Development environment templates
- Production deployment standards
- Training and educational environments
- Software distribution and deployment
- Disaster recovery templates
Creation Process Details
Snapshot Creation Workflow
Validation
System validates all input parameters and requirements
Initiation
Snapshot creation begins with VM state capture
Data Capture
Complete VM state, disk contents, and configuration captured
Compression
Snapshot data compressed and optimized for storage
Verification
Snapshot integrity verified and marked as available
Creation Process Monitoring
Progress Tracking
Progress Tracking
Real-time Updates
- Form validation occurs instantly (name format, VM selection)
- Button shows “Creating…” state with spinner animation
- Modal remains open during creation process
- Progress indicators show completion status
Error Handling
Error Handling
Issue Resolution
- Any errors are displayed in red alert boxes
- Clear error messages explain issues and solutions
- Retry mechanisms for temporary failures
- Support contact information for persistent issues
Success Confirmation
Success Confirmation
Completion Notification
- Success results in modal closure and snapshots list refresh
- Snapshot appears in list with “Creating” status initially
- Status updates to “Success” when complete
- Notification of successful snapshot creation
Snapshot Creation Timing
Optimal Creation Windows
Low Activity Periods
Best Times for Snapshots
- During low VM activity or maintenance windows
- Outside of peak application usage hours
- Between batch processing jobs
- During scheduled maintenance periods
Avoid High Load
Times to Avoid
- During heavy computational workloads
- Peak user activity periods
- During backup or synchronization operations
- System update or installation processes
Performance Considerations
VM Performance Impact
VM Performance Impact
During Snapshot Creation
- Minimal performance impact on most applications
- Brief I/O increases during data capture
- Memory and CPU usage remain largely unaffected
- Network performance typically unimpacted
Duration Estimates
Duration Estimates
Snapshot Creation Time
- Small VMs (< 100GB): 5-15 minutes
- Medium VMs (100-500GB): 15-45 minutes
- Large VMs (> 500GB): 45+ minutes
- Time varies based on data volume and VM activity
Resource Optimization
Resource Optimization
Minimizing Impact
- Schedule snapshots during maintenance windows
- Avoid concurrent snapshots of multiple VMs
- Consider VM workload patterns when scheduling
- Monitor VM performance during snapshot creation
Snapshot Storage and Costs
Storage Optimization
Storage Efficiency:
- Snapshots use advanced compression algorithms
- Duplicate data blocks are deduplicated
- Only changed data is stored in incremental snapshots
- Storage costs based on actual compressed size
Cost Management
Billing Information
- Rate: $0.1 per TB per hour (€0.1 per TB per hour | ₹10 per TB per hour)
- Billing Method: Hourly based on actual snapshot size
- Compression: Snapshots are compressed to reduce costs
- No Transfer Costs: No charges for snapshot creation or restoration
Billing Information
- Rate: $0.1 per TB per hour (€0.1 per TB per hour | ₹10 per TB per hour)
- Billing Method: Hourly based on actual snapshot size
- Compression: Snapshots are compressed to reduce costs
- No Transfer Costs: No charges for snapshot creation or restoration
Reducing Storage Costs
- Delete unnecessary snapshots regularly
- Implement retention policies based on business needs
- Use incremental backups where possible
- Monitor snapshot storage usage and trends
Cost Estimation
- Estimate snapshot size based on VM disk usage
- Plan for compression ratio (typically 30-70% reduction)
- Calculate monthly costs based on retention policy
- Monitor actual costs vs. estimates
Troubleshooting Snapshot Creation
Common Creation Issues
VM Not Available
- Problem: No VMs available for snapshotting
- Solution: Ensure at least one VM is in ACTIVE state
- Verification: Check VM status in dashboard
- Prevention: Maintain VMs in operational state
VM Not Available
- Problem: No VMs available for snapshotting
- Solution: Ensure at least one VM is in ACTIVE state
- Verification: Check VM status in dashboard
- Prevention: Maintain VMs in operational state
Account Requirements
- Problem: Cannot create snapshots due to account status
- Solution: Complete account profile with billing information
- Verification: Check account completion status
- Prevention: Maintain current account information and sufficient credits
Resource Limitations
- Problem: Insufficient storage quota or credits
- Solution: Add credits or clean up existing snapshots
- Verification: Check current credit balance and storage usage
- Prevention: Monitor resource usage and plan capacity
Creation Failures
- Problem: Snapshot creation fails or times out
- Solution: Retry during low VM activity periods
- Verification: Check VM health and performance
- Prevention: Schedule snapshots during maintenance windows
Error Resolution
Identify Issue
- Review error messages carefully
- Check VM status and health
- Verify account and credit status
- Assess current system load
Apply Solution
- Address specific error conditions
- Wait for VM to reach stable state if needed
- Add credits or complete profile as required
- Retry during optimal conditions
Verify Success
- Monitor snapshot creation progress
- Verify snapshot appears in list
- Check snapshot status reaches “Success”
- Test snapshot accessibility
Prevent Recurrence
- Document successful procedures
- Plan optimal timing for future snapshots
- Monitor account and resource status
- Establish regular snapshot schedule
Important Notes:
- Snapshot creation can take several minutes depending on VM disk size
- The source VM remains operational during snapshot creation
- Snapshot names must be unique across your entire account
- Only VMs in ACTIVE state can be snapshotted
- If no active VMs exist, the Create Snapshot button will be disabled
Pro Tip: Use descriptive snapshot names that include the date, purpose, and version information. This makes it much easier to identify the right snapshot for restoration later, especially when managing multiple snapshots across different projects.