---
title: "Creating a volume backup"
description: "If you value the data stored in your Block Storage volumes, it is worth organizing a backup of this data to prevent the potential impact of any issue on it, whe"
url: https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/volume-backup
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 backup

If you value the data stored in your Block Storage volumes, it is worth organizing a backup of this data to prevent the potential impact of any issue on it, whether it is due to human error or a cluster incident.

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. You can learn more about volume snapshots in [this guide](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/create-volume-snapshot.md).

A **volume backup** is 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.

Both volume snapshot and volume backup allow you to:

- Create backups of your volume with a few clicks and keep them for as long as you need.
- Use the backups to restore your volume state.
- Use the backups as a template to create identical volumes.

 

## Requirements

- A detached [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 project](https://us.ovhcloud.com/public-cloud/)

#### 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

 

## Limitations

Backups of encrypted LUKS volume types can only be restored to the same encrypted LUKS volume type.

 

## Instructions

### Creating a Backup

**Warning:**

**NOTE:** To create a backup, the volume must be detached from its instance. Please see the **Detach a volume** section of our [Creating and configuring an additional disk on an instance](https://docs.us.ovhcloud.com/en/storage-and-backup/block-storage/create-and-configure-an-additional-disk-on-an-instance.md#detach-a-volume) guide for more information.

In the left-hand navigation bar, 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 back up,
- choose `Volume Backup`,
- name your backup, and
- click `Create backup`.

**Note:**

If your volume is attached to an instance, you will be prompted to detach it.

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

We would also recommend that you perform your backups outside of your production hours.

Other best practices include:

- Avoid creating snapshots and backups during peak hours.
- Regularly validate that you can get your data back from your volume snapshot or volume backup.
- Install the qemu-guest agent if it is not installed, or try to disable it if necessary.
- Even if not mandatory, prefer to detach your volume when creating a volume snapshot.

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

You will find the list of your volume backups by clicking `Volume Backup` under **Storage** in the left-hand navigation bar. As soon as the volume backup creation is requested, it will be added to this table.

Click the _more options_ `⋮` button to `Restore`, `Create`, or  `Delete` a volume based on the respective volume backup. You can find information about creating a volume from a backup 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.