--- title: "How to use snapshots on a VPS" description: "Learn about the usage of snapshots for your OVHcloud VPS." url: https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/vps/using-snapshots lang: en --- > For AI agents: the complete documentation index is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms.txt, the full documentation bundle is available at https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/llms-full.txt. # How to use snapshots on a VPS **Learn about the usage of snapshots for your OVHcloud VPS.** Creating a snapshot is a fast and simple way to secure a functioning system before making changes that might have undesired or unforeseen consequences, for example, testing a new configuration or software. It does not, however, constitute a complete system backup strategy. **Note:** Before applying backup options, we recommend consulting the [VPS options](https://us.ovhcloud.com/vps/options/) for pricing comparisons and further details.   ## Requirements - Access to the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/) - An active [Virtual Private Server](https://us.ovhcloud.com/vps/) in your OVHcloud account **Warning:** **NOTE:** This feature is currently limited for Virtual Private Servers in [Local Zones](https://us.ovhcloud.com/vps/vps-amd/); you can enable, create, or restore from snapshots, but you cannot download the snapshot in Local Zones.   ## Topics - [Enabling the Snapshot Option](#step-1-enabling-the-snapshot-option) - [Taking a Snapshot](#step-2-taking-a-snapshot) - [Deleting/Restoring a Snapshot](#step-3-deleting-or-restoring-a-snapshot) - [Downloading a Snapshot](#downloading-a-snapshot) - [Best Practices for Using Snapshots](#best-practice-for-using-snapshots)   ## Instructions ### Step 1: Subscribing the snapshot option From the [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/), navigate to the `Virtual private servers` section via the `Bare Metal Cloud` menu and select your VPS service. From the **Home** tab, scroll down to the **Backup** panel. If Snapshot is already enabled, go to [Step 2](#step-2-tkaing-a-snapshot). If not, click the _more options_ `...` button next to **Snapshot** and select `Order` from the drop-down menu. On the new screen, please review the pricing information and then click `Order`. A new tab will open, where you will be guided through the order process and receive a confirmation email when you are finished.   ### Step 2: Taking a snapshot Once the option is enabled, click the _more options_ `...` button next to the **Snapshot** option and select `Take a snapshot` from the drop-down menu. Proceed through the pop-up menu. You can write a description that will be attached to your snapshot. The time it takes to create the snapshot depends on the storage space in use. Afterward, refresh your page to see the creation timestamp in the **Backups** panel.   ### Step 3: Deleting or restoring a Snapshot Since you can only have one snapshot activated at a time, the existing snapshot has to be deleted before creating a new one. To do so, click the _more options_ `...` button, then choose `Delete the snapshot` from the drop-down menu. If you are sure that you want to reset your VPS to the status of the snapshot creation, click `Restore the snapshot` and confirm the execution in the pop-up window. **Important:** **WARNING:** Please note that when you restore a VPS from a snapshot, the snapshot will be deleted. If you wish to keep the same snapshot, you should take a new one before making changes to the restored system. If the snapshot function is too limited for your project, consider switching to the [Automated Backups](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/vps/using-automated-backups.md) option.   ### Downloading a Snapshot The current snapshot can be retrieved via a download link. Click on the _more options_ `...` button next to "Snapshot" and choose `Download the snapshot`. **Note:** If your VPS is of an older product range, you might receive an error message because the option is not available for a legacy VPS. These older services have the following naming scheme: _vpsXXXX.ovh.us_ (in which _X_ stands for a number). You can verify this server reference on the `Home` tab in your [OVHcloud Control Panel](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/#/hub). In the pop-up window, click on `Generate download link`. After a few seconds, a success message appears. Below it, you can copy the complete download command with one click. The size of the snapshot and the expiration date of the link will also be displayed. Note that the download link will expire after **24 hours**. The download command uses `curl`, in the following format: ```bash curl "https://storage.us-east-va.cloud.ovh.us/v1/AUTH_f5fgh4674dd706f15f6ffgf4z667d3f4g5f05/glance/5ceg3f93-8b49-436b-aefe-4185f9fc3f78? temp_url_sig=f508cacda60256d5f211ddddf3f81130e935f0e4&temp_url_expires=1678247579" --output vps-x11x11xyy.vps.ovh.us --fail ``` It should work from any command line terminal. When using Windows _PowerShell_ however, you will need to adjust the command as follows: ``` curl -Uri "https://storage.us-east-va.cloud.ovh.us/v1/AUTH_f5fgh4674dd706f15f6ffgf4z667d3f4g5f05/glance/5ceg3f93-8b49-436b-aefe-4185f9fc3f78? temp_url_sig=f508cacda60256d5f211ddddf3f81130e935f0e4&temp_url_expires=1678247579" -OutFile vps-x11x11xyy.vps.ovh.us ``` **Note:** We recommend not downloading snapshots directly to the VPS, to avoid using up the storage space. The downloaded file can be imported into your Public Cloud Project as an image (QCOW2) via [OpenStack](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/public-cloud/compute/upload-own-image.md). An example can be seen in [this guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/public-cloud/compute/upload-own-image.md).   ### Best Practices for Using Snapshots #### Configuring the QEMU agent on a VPS Snapshots are instantaneous images of your running system ("live snapshot"). To ensure the availability of your system when the snapshot is created, the QEMU agent is used to prepare the filesystem for the process. The required _qemu-guest-agent_ is not installed by default on most distributions. Moreover, licensing restrictions may prevent OVHcloud from including it in the available OS images. Therefore, it is best practice to verify and install the agent in case it is not activated on your VPS. Connect to your VPS via SSH and follow the instructions below, according to your operating system.   ##### **Debian-based distributions (Debian, Ubuntu)** Use the following command to check whether the system is properly set up for snapshots: ```bash file /dev/virtio-ports/org.qemu.guest_agent.0 /dev/virtio-ports/org.qemu.guest_agent.0: symbolic link to ../vport2p1 ``` If the output is different ("No such file or directory"), install the latest package: ```bash sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install qemu-guest-agent ``` Reboot the VPS: ```bash sudo reboot ``` Check the service to ensure it is running: ```bash sudo service qemu-guest-agent status ```   ##### **Redhat-based distributions (Centos, Fedora)** Use the following command to check whether the system is properly set up for snapshots: ```bash file /dev/virtio-ports/org.qemu.guest_agent.0 /dev/virtio-ports/org.qemu.guest_agent.0: symbolic link to ../vport2p1 ``` If the output is different ("No such file or directory"), install and enable the agent: ```bash sudo yum install qemu-guest-agent sudo chkconfig qemu-guest-agent on ``` Reboot the VPS: ```bash sudo reboot ``` Check the agent and verify that it is running: ```bash sudo service qemu-guest-agent status ```   ##### **Kernel issues on cPanel** Consult our [cPanel auto backup](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/vps/avoid-kernel-panic-cpanel-while-using-automated-backup.md) guide to find out how to fix issues with cPanel servers getting stuck during an OVHcloud automated backup.   ##### **Windows** You can install the agent via MSI file, available from the Fedora project website: [https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/latest-qemu-ga/](https://fedorapeople.org/groups/virt/virtio-win/direct-downloads/latest-qemu-ga/). Verify that the service is running by using this _PowerShell_ command: ``` PS C:\Users\Administrator> Get-Service QEMU-GA Status Name DisplayName ------ ---- ----------- Running QEMU-GA QEMU Guest Agent ```   ## Go further Browse all the [Virtual Private Servers guides](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/bare-metal-cloud/vps/landing-page-vps.md). Browse the rest of the [OVHcloud US documentation](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/index.md) for guides on our other products and services. Learn more about [VPS](https://us.ovhcloud.com/vps/) on the OVHcloud US website.