Snapshots Management
Create point-in-time backups of your virtual machines, restore them to create new VMs, and manage your backup history
The Snapshots page allows you to create point-in-time backups of your virtual machines, restore them to create new VMs, and manage your backup history.
Dashboard Overview
The snapshots dashboard provides key statistics and management capabilities:
Snapshot Statistics
System Overview
- Total Snapshots: Number of snapshots in the selected region
- Total Storage: Combined storage used by all snapshots
- Available VMs: Number of active VMs that can be snapshotted
- Restorable: Number of snapshots with SUCCESS/available status
Regional Management
Region-Based Organization
- Snapshots are organized by region
- Use region dropdown to filter snapshots by location
- Only snapshots and VMs in selected region are displayed
- Snapshots are region-specific and cannot be moved between regions
Region Filtering
Snapshots are organized by geographic region for optimal management:
United States
- US-based snapshot storage
- Low latency for US-based restoration
- Compliance with US data regulations
- Optimized for North American access
United States
- US-based snapshot storage
- Low latency for US-based restoration
- Compliance with US data regulations
- Optimized for North American access
Canada
- Canadian snapshot storage
- Optimized for Canadian and northern US access
- Privacy-focused data handling
- Regional data residency compliance
Europe
- European snapshot storage
- GDPR compliant data handling
- Low latency for European restoration
- EU data residency requirements
Snapshot Information Display
Each snapshot displays comprehensive information for effective management:
Basic Snapshot Details
Snapshot Identification
Snapshot Identification
Core Information
- Name: User-defined snapshot name (up to 50 characters)
- Size: Storage space used by the snapshot in GB
- Region: Geographic location where snapshot is stored
- Created: Date and time when snapshot was created
- Type: VM Snapshot or Image (if created as image)
Status Information
Status Information
Operational Status
- Status: SUCCESS/available (restorable) or other states
- Health: Overall snapshot integrity and accessibility
- Availability: Whether snapshot can be used for restoration
- Completeness: Verification that snapshot contains complete VM state
Source VM Information
Source VM Information
Original VM Details
- Source VM: Name and ID of the VM that was snapshotted
- VM Configuration: Hardware specifications at time of snapshot
- VM State: State of VM when snapshot was created
- Applications: Software and services running when snapshotted
Storage and Size Information
Storage Efficiency
Optimized Storage
- Snapshots use compression to reduce storage costs
- Incremental data storage where possible
- Deduplication for common data blocks
- Optimized for fast restoration
Size Calculation
Storage Metrics
- Size shown is actual storage used
- Compressed and optimized size
- May be smaller than original VM disk size
- Storage costs based on actual snapshot size
Pagination and Navigation
The snapshots interface includes efficient navigation for large snapshot collections:
Navigation Features
Page Display
6 snapshots displayed per page for optimal viewing
Navigation Controls
Previous/Next navigation buttons with direct page number selection
Pagination Logic
Pagination only appears when more than 6 snapshots exist
Responsive Design
Layout adapts for desktop and mobile viewing
Snapshot Organization
Time-Based Organization
- Snapshots ordered by creation date
- Newest snapshots displayed first
- Easy identification of recent backups
- Historical snapshot tracking
Time-Based Organization
- Snapshots ordered by creation date
- Newest snapshots displayed first
- Easy identification of recent backups
- Historical snapshot tracking
Geographic Organization
- Snapshots grouped by region
- Filter by region for targeted management
- Regional compliance and data residency
- Optimized for regional restoration
Operational Organization
- Success/available snapshots highlighted
- Error states clearly indicated
- In-progress snapshots tracked
- Restoration readiness clearly shown
Profile Requirements
Account Prerequisites:
Your account profile must be complete with billing information before creating snapshots. Ensure your account has the required details configured:
- Complete Profile: Full name, address, and contact information
- Billing Address: Complete address with postal code and country
- Payment Method: Valid payment method for snapshot storage costs
- Sufficient Credits: Adequate credits for snapshot storage charges
Snapshot Storage Costs
Snapshots incur storage costs based on the actual compressed size:
Storage Billing: $0.1 per TB per hour (€0.1 per TB per hour | ₹10 per TB per hour)
Storage costs are calculated hourly based on the actual snapshot size after compression and optimization.
Snapshot Lifecycle Management
Creation to Deletion Workflow
Planning
- Identify VMs that need regular backups
- Plan snapshot frequency based on change rates
- Consider retention policies for different types of data
- Plan for compliance and regulatory requirements
Creation
- Create snapshots during low-activity periods when possible
- Use descriptive names that indicate purpose and date
- Add descriptions for team collaboration and documentation
- Monitor creation progress and verify completion
Management
- Regular review of snapshot inventory
- Verify snapshot integrity and restorability
- Monitor storage costs and optimize retention
- Document snapshot purposes and retention policies
Cleanup
- Delete old snapshots based on retention policies
- Remove snapshots that are no longer needed
- Archive important snapshots for long-term retention
- Monitor storage usage and optimize costs
Snapshot Retention Strategies
Daily Backups
Daily Backups
Regular Backup Schedule
- Create daily snapshots for active development VMs
- Retain last 7 days for immediate recovery needs
- Weekly snapshots for longer-term backup
- Monthly snapshots for historical recovery
Milestone Snapshots
Milestone Snapshots
Project-Based Backups
- Create snapshots before major changes
- Version-based snapshots for software releases
- Pre/post deployment snapshots
- Long-term retention for important milestones
Compliance Snapshots
Compliance Snapshots
Regulatory Requirements
- Create snapshots for compliance auditing
- Long-term retention for regulatory requirements
- Documented retention and deletion policies
- Secure storage for sensitive data snapshots
Snapshot Operations
Available Actions
Create Snapshot
Backup Creation
- Create point-in-time backups of VMs
- Preserve complete VM state and data
- Include custom configurations and software
- Generate images for deployment templates
Restore Snapshot
VM Restoration
- Create new VMs from snapshots
- Restore complete environments instantly
- Deploy multiple VMs from single snapshot
- Cross-region restoration capabilities
Manage Snapshots
Lifecycle Management
- View detailed snapshot information
- Delete unnecessary snapshots
- Monitor storage usage and costs
- Organize snapshots for efficient management
Snapshot Status Monitoring
Multi-Region Snapshot Strategy
Cross-Region Considerations
Regional Limitations:
- Snapshots cannot be directly moved between regions
- Restoration must occur in the same region as the snapshot
- Cross-region backup requires creating new snapshots in target regions
- Plan regional backup strategies based on disaster recovery needs
Disaster Recovery Planning
Assess Requirements
- Identify critical VMs requiring cross-region backup
- Determine recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO)
- Plan for regional failover scenarios
- Consider compliance and data residency requirements
Implement Strategy
- Create snapshots in primary region for local recovery
- Deploy VMs in secondary regions from snapshots when needed
- Establish procedures for cross-region data synchronization
- Test disaster recovery procedures regularly
Monitor and Maintain
- Regular testing of cross-region restoration procedures
- Monitor snapshot consistency across regions
- Update disaster recovery plans based on changing requirements
- Train team on disaster recovery procedures
Snapshot Best Practices
Operational Best Practices
Snapshot Timing
Snapshot Timing
Optimal Backup Timing
- Create snapshots during periods of low VM activity
- Coordinate with application maintenance windows
- Consider time zone differences for global applications
- Plan snapshots around scheduled system updates
Naming and Documentation
Naming and Documentation
Snapshot Organization
- Use consistent naming conventions that include dates
- Add descriptions explaining snapshot purpose
- Document snapshot contents and intended use
- Include project or application identifiers in names
Testing and Validation
Testing and Validation
Snapshot Verification
- Regularly test snapshot restoration procedures
- Verify application functionality after restoration
- Test cross-region restoration capabilities
- Document and update restoration procedures
Cost Management
Cost Management
Storage Optimization
- Monitor snapshot storage costs regularly
- Implement retention policies to control costs
- Delete unnecessary or outdated snapshots
- Balance backup frequency with storage costs
Security Considerations
Data Protection
Snapshot Security
- Snapshots contain complete VM data including sensitive information
- Ensure proper access controls for snapshot management
- Consider encryption for snapshots containing sensitive data
- Monitor snapshot access and usage patterns
Compliance
Regulatory Requirements
- Understand data retention requirements for your industry
- Implement appropriate snapshot retention policies
- Document snapshot handling procedures for audits
- Ensure snapshot storage meets compliance requirements
Troubleshooting Snapshots
Common Issues
Snapshot Creation Problems
- VM State Issues: Ensure VM is in ACTIVE state
- Storage Space: Verify sufficient storage quota
- VM Load: Avoid snapshots during high VM activity
- Account Status: Ensure account has sufficient credits
Snapshot Creation Problems
- VM State Issues: Ensure VM is in ACTIVE state
- Storage Space: Verify sufficient storage quota
- VM Load: Avoid snapshots during high VM activity
- Account Status: Ensure account has sufficient credits
Snapshot Restoration Problems
- Snapshot Status: Verify snapshot is in SUCCESS state
- Region Matching: Ensure restoration in same region as snapshot
- Resource Availability: Check GPU and resource availability
- Naming Conflicts: Use unique VM names for restoration
Storage and Cost Issues
- High Storage Costs: Review snapshot retention policies
- Storage Quota: Monitor total snapshot storage usage
- Performance Impact: Consider snapshot frequency optimization
- Regional Distribution: Balance snapshots across regions
Snapshots provide comprehensive backup and recovery capabilities for your virtual machines. Regular snapshot creation, combined with proper retention policies, ensures data protection while managing storage costs effectively.
Create snapshots before major system changes, software updates, or configuration modifications. This provides a quick rollback option if issues arise during the change process.