Volume backups

The scheduled backup service allows you to automate the creation of full volume backups. Backups can be created only for the system and additional volumes of virtual servers.

Backup creation is fully automated and follows a defined schedule. The schedule is configured in the Control Panel using a backup plan that specifies the days of the week, the creation interval, and the number of copies to retain. In the plan, you must define how often volume backups are created and how many backup copies are stored simultaneously.

Note that a backup includes only the data present on the volume at the moment the backup was taken. Any data that existed only in the virtual server’s memory and was not written to the volume will not be included.

A volume snapshot is created first, and the backup is taken from this snapshot rather than directly from the volume, ensuring that the virtual server does not experience additional load.

Quick volume backup

To create a quick backup of the volume:

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

  2. Select the required volume and click More.

  3. Next, go to the Backups tab.

  4. Click the Create backup button.

  5. Еnter the name of the backup шn the opened field.

  6. Click the Create backup button.

A message Backup has been created will appear in the lower left corner, as well as the information about the date and time of creation, the name of the copy, the size of the copy, and the button to delete the copy.

Note

During the process of the volume’s backup, the other actions on the volume are temporarily unavailable.

After the backup is completed the copy status will change from creating to available.

Automatic volume backup

To create a automatic backup of the volume:

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

  2. Select the required volume and click More.

  3. At the bottom of the page in the Automatic backup section click the Turn on button.

  4. Set up a backup schedule. Specify the days of the week when you want your backup to be created, the time you want to create a backup, and how many copies to keep. .. note:: The backup’s creation time is specified in the UTC time zone.

  5. Click Save.

All created copies can be viewed or deleted in the Cloud → Volumes section.

Important

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

Restoring from a backup

Caution

Scheduled backups do not have automatic performance and consistency checks. We recommend restoring periodically from backups to check that the restore works correctly.

Hint

During the process of restoring a new volume with the same size as the original volume is created.

Hint

The restored volume can be connected to a virtual server or the volume can be used to create a new virtual server.

To restore a volume from a backup:

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

  2. Select the required, click the down arrow button, and select Restore from the drop-down list, or click More for detailed information about the copy and then Restore.

  3. Restore volume from backup page opens.

  4. Specify a name for the new volume.

  5. Choose one of the volume tariff plans.

  6. Select the volume’s availability zone.

  7. For the creation of the backup copies of a new volume connect the automatic volume backup service and set up a schedule.

  8. Click Create volume.

The new volume will appear in the Cloud → Volumes section. Wait for the changing of the volume’s state from RESTORING-BACKUP to AVAILABLE. The volume was created as an additional one but can also be used as a system volume to create a virtual server.

Automatic deletion of volume backups

Backups are automatically deleted according to the configured retention limit.

Each time a volume backup is created, the service checks the total number of stored copies. If the number exceeds the specified limit, the oldest backup is removed.

Backups are retained even if the volume or virtual server is deleted.