---
title: "Creating a volume snapshot"
description: "A volume snapshot is a recovery point stored within the same storage cluster as the original volume. Operations will be fast, but in the event of an incident on"
url: https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/create-volume-snapshot
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.

# Creating a volume snapshot

A **volume snapshot** is a recovery point stored within the same storage cluster as the original volume. Operations will be fast, but in the event of an incident on the cluster, the volume and volume snapshot may become unavailable. Volume snapshot creation does not require the volume to be detached from the instance.

This is not to be confused with a **volume backup**, an image created out of your volume, which is stored in the Object Storage cluster where the original volume is located. The level of resiliency is ideal and will allow you to quickly react to any incident on your volume, creating another volume from the backup. Volume backup creation requires the volume to be detached from the instance. For more information on this option, please consult [this guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/volume-backup.md).

A snapshot of an additional volume serves two general purposes:

- You can create backups with a few clicks and keep them as long as needed.
- You can use the snapshot as a template for identical volumes.

 

## Requirements

- A [Block Storage volume](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/create-and-configure-an-additional-disk-on-an-instance.md) created in your [Public Cloud](https://us.ovhcloud.com/public-cloud/) project

#### OVHcloud Control Panel Access

- **Direct link:** [Public Cloud Projects](https://manager.us.ovhcloud.com/#/public-cloud/pci/projects)
- **Navigation path:** `Public Cloud` > Select your project

 

## Instructions

**Note:**

It is not required to detach the volume from its instance first. However, if you wish to detach your volume, please consult the **Detach a volume** section of [this guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/create-and-configure-an-additional-disk-on-an-instance.md#detach-a-volume).

In the left-hand menu, under **Storage**, choose `Block Storage`.

In the row of the volume concerned, click the _more options_ `...` button and select `Create a backup`.

On the next screen:

- select the volume you wish to backup,
- choose `Volume Snapshot`,
- name your snapshot, and
- click `Create backup`.

The snapshot creation time may take several hours, depending on the amount of data present on the volume, the instance resource utilization at the time of the snapshot, and other host-specific factors.

We would also recommend performing snapshots outside of your production hours.

Other best practices include:

- Avoid creating snapshots during peak hours.
- Install the qemu-guest agent if it is not installed... or try to disable it if necessary.
- Try not to "solicit" the server too much during the snapshot creation phase (I/O limitation, RAM consumption, etc.).

Since a volume snapshot is a clone of the entire disk, it will have the maximum size of the original volume, regardless of the actual disk space allocation.

After creating the snapshot, you can manage it by clicking `Volume Snapshot` in the left-hand menu under **Storage**.

To delete your snapshot, click the _more options_ `⋮` button and select `Delete`.

You can also `Create a volume` based on the respective snapshot. You can find further information in [this guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/create-volume-from-backup.md).

 

## Go further

Browse all the [Block Storage guides](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/landing-page-block-storage.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 [Block Storage](https://us.ovhcloud.com/public-cloud/block-storage/) on the OVHcloud US website.