Block Volume Snapshots
Overview
Snapshots are point-in-time, incremental copies of a Block Volume. They enable fast backups, cloning, and disaster recovery without impacting the running workload. Snapshots can be created manually or via automated Snapshot Policies.
Key Features
- Create block-level snapshots of Block Volumes
- Restore from a snapshot to a new Block Volume
- Snapshot Policies with scheduling and retention management
Snapshot Policies
Automate snapshot creation and lifecycle management:
- Schedule: Cron-style schedule, minimum cadence hourly
- Retention: Configure by TTL in days and/or keep count (number of snapshots to retain)
- Target Selection: Apply to explicit volume IDs or select volumes by label selector
Example retention strategy:
- Keep hourly snapshots for 24 hours
- Keep daily snapshots for 7 days
- Keep weekly snapshots for 4 weeks
Creating Snapshots
Console
- Navigate to IaaS → Storage → Volumes
- On the dropdown behind the volume → Create Snapshots
- Click Create Snapshot, provide a name/description, and confirm
API
Use the Storage API to create a snapshot for a given volume. See the API reference under References → API.
Restoring From Snapshots
Restores create a new Block Volume from a snapshot:
- Open the snapshot details
- Choose Restore to Volume
- Provide a name and size (must be ≥ source volume restore size)
- Attach the new volume to a VM as needed
Limits and Behavior
- Restores create a brand-new volume; originals are unchanged
- Quotas and per-volume snapshot limits apply. See your Organisation Quota’s dashboard for your limits.