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Backing up an instance

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Learn how to create manual and automatic backups of a Public Cloud instance.

You can create a single backup of an instance or configure a schedule to automate your instance backups. Backups can be used to restore your instance to a previous state or to create a new, identical instance.

 

Requirements

 

Topics

 

Instructions

Info

Two types of backup are available:

  • Local: A local backup is stored in the same region as your instance.
  • Remote: A remote backup automatically creates a copy of the local backup in a different region of your choice.

Each backup is billed separately — the remote backup will be charged based on the storage pricing of the selected remote region.

Note: Local Zones are not eligible for remote backups.

Creating a manual backup of an instance

Via the OVHcloud Control Panel
Via the OVHcloud API
Via the OpenStack CLI
Via Horizon

From the OVHcloud Control Panel, access the Public Cloud section and select your Public Cloud project.

Choose the Instances section from the left-hand menu.

Click the more options ... button to the right of your instance and choose Create a backup.

Instances more options

Local backup

Enter a name for the backup, review the pricing information, and click Confirm to finalize.

Instances create backup local

Remote backup

Enter a name for the backup, review the pricing information, and click Add a remote backup.

Enter a name for the remote backup, select a region, and click Confirm.

Instances create backup remote

It is not possible to track the backup's progress in real time. However, when you click the Instance Backup section, you can see the status "Backup in progress" during the process.

Once the backup is complete, the status will change to "Enabled."

Backup progress - Save an instance

 

Creating an automated backup of an instance

Info

If you want to automate this functionality directly via OpenStack, you can create a Mistral workflow associated with a cron trigger.

Via the OVHcloud Control Panel
Via the OVHcloud API

From the OVHcloud Control Panel, access the Public Cloud section and select your Public Cloud project.

Choose the Instances section from the left-hand menu.

Click the more options ... button to the right of your instance and choose Create an automatic backup.

Instances more options

You can configure the backup settings on the next page.

 

The workflow

Currently, only one workflow exists; it will create a backup of the instance and its primary volume.

Select Automatic instance backup as your workflow, then click Next.

Create workflow - Save an instance - step 1

 

The resource

Select the targeted instance that you wish to back up, then click Next.

Create workflow - Save an instance - step 2

 

The name

Give the schedule a name, take note of the pricing information, and then click Create.

Create workflow - Save an instance - step 3

Your backup workflow will be visible in the Workflow Management area under the Compute heading.

 

The schedule

You can set up a custom backup schedule or choose one of the default frequencies:

  • Daily backup with retention of the last 7 backups, or
  • Daily backup with retention of the last 14 backups.

Click Next.

Create workflow 4 rotation - step 7

Adding a remote backup

Click the Add a remote backup button, select a location, review the pricing information, and then click the Create button.

Create workflow 4 remote

 

Managing backups and schedules

Manual backups

Warning

NOTE: Instances and backups are charged separately. Deleting an instance will not stop the charges for instance backups. They must be deleted separately.

Warning

NOTE: You cannot delete an instance backup if an instance that has been spawned from that backup is running at the time of the delete action.

From the OVHcloud Control Panel, access the Public Cloud section and select your Public Cloud project.

Choose the Instance Backup section from the left-hand menu.

Click the more options ... button to the right of your backup.

From here, you can Create an instance (full instructions) or Delete the backup.

Backup more options

Via OVHcloud API

DELETE/cloud/project/{serviceName}/snapshot/{snapshotId}

 

Automatic backups

Warning

NOTE: Instances and workflows are charged separately. However, if you delete an instance, all workflows attached to it will be deleted automatically (after approx. 30 minutes).

From the OVHcloud Control Panel, access the Public Cloud section and select your Public Cloud project.

Choose the Workflow Management section from the left-hand menu.

Click the more options ... button to the right of your backup schedule.

From here, you can Delete the backup.

Delete workflow - Save an instance

Via OVHcloud API

DELETE/cloud/project/{serviceName}/region/{regionName}/workflow/backup/{backupWorkflowId}

 

Go further

Browse all the Compute guides.

Browse the rest of the OVHcloud US documentation for guides on our other products and services.

Learn more about Public Cloud Compute on the OVHcloud US website.