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

Snapshot Information Display

Each snapshot displays comprehensive information for effective management:

Basic Snapshot Details

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:

1

Page Display

6 snapshots displayed per page for optimal viewing

2

Navigation Controls

Previous/Next navigation buttons with direct page number selection

3

Pagination Logic

Pagination only appears when more than 6 snapshots exist

4

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

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

1

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
2

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
3

Management

  • Regular review of snapshot inventory
  • Verify snapshot integrity and restorability
  • Monitor storage costs and optimize retention
  • Document snapshot purposes and retention policies
4

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

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

Snapshot is complete and ready for restoration

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

1

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
2

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
3

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

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

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.