## Instance Snapshots Instance Snapshots are point-in-time copies of your virtual machine's root volume and data volumes. They provide a reliable way to create backups, test upgrades, and clone environments. ### Types of Snapshots 1. **Volume Snapshot**: Captures the data on a specific disk volume (e.g., Root or Data Disk). - **Consistent**: Best practice is to stop write operations or the instance before snapshotting to ensure data consistency. - **Backup**: Stored redundantly across availability zones. 2. **VM Snapshot (Memory Included)** *(Advanced)*: Captures the entire running state of the VM, including RAM contents. - **Live**: Can be taken while the VM is running. - **Instant Restore**: Reverts the VM exactly to the moment the snapshot was taken, preserving open applications. - **Note**: Requires KVM-specific support and may briefly pause the VM. ### Creating a Snapshot 1. Navigate to **Storage > Volumes**. 2. Select the volume you wish to back up (e.g., "ROOT-123"). 3. Click **Take Snapshot**. 4. **Name**: Provide a descriptive name (e.g., `backup-pre-upgrade`). 5. **Description**: Optional notes. ### Scheduled Backups You can automate daily, weekly, or monthly snapshots: 1. Select the volume. 2. Click **Recurring Snapshots**. 3. Define the **Time**, **Time Zone**, **Days of Week**, and **Keep Last X** (retention policy). ### Restoring from Snapshot To restore data: 1. Navigate to **Storage > Snapshots**. 2. Select the snapshot. 3. Click **Create Volume**: Creates a new disk volume from the snapshot. - **Detach** the old volume from the instance. - **Attach** the new volume. - **Or**: Create a **Template** (Image) from the snapshot to launch new instances. ### Usage & Pricing - Snapshots are billed based on the storage size consumed (incremental backups save space). - Regular pruning of old snapshots via retention policies is recommended to manage costs.