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Snapshots & backups ​

A snapshot captures your server's disk at a point in time so you can roll it back. A backup is a saved copy you keep and restore from later. Take a snapshot before a risky change; use backups as an ongoing safety net.

Snapshots ​

A snapshot freezes the disk as it is right now. If a change breaks the server, you roll back to the snapshot and the disk returns to that captured state.

You manage snapshots on an instance's Snapshots tab. You can also open Snapshots in the sidebar to see them across your workspace.

Create a snapshot ​

Open the instance, go to the Snapshots tab, and select New Snapshot. Give it a name you will recognize later. The panel captures the disk and the snapshot appears in the list, which shows its Status, the Date taken, and the Disk name.

The instance Snapshots tab with the New Snapshot button circled
Create a snapshot from the instance Snapshots tab (New Snapshot, circled).

Restore a snapshot ​

Find the snapshot in the list on the Snapshots tab and restore it. The panel rolls the disk back to the state it captured, so anything you changed after taking the snapshot is discarded.

Restoring a snapshot cannot be undone

Restoring a snapshot deletes all data created after it, and it invalidates all of the instance's other snapshots. This cannot be undone. If the instance is online, restoring also restarts it.

Backups ​

A backup is a saved copy of your server that you keep so you can restore from it later.

You manage backups on an instance's Backups tab. You can also open Backups in the sidebar to see them across your workspace.

Create a backup ​

Open the instance, go to the Backups tab, and select New Backup. The saved copy then appears in the list.

Restore a backup ​

Find the backup in the list on the Backups tab and restore it. The panel brings the server back to the state saved in that copy.

Snapshot before risky changes ​

Take a snapshot first whenever you are about to do something you might want to undo:

  • A reinstall, which wipes the disk.
  • An operating system or package upgrade.
  • A big configuration edit you are not sure about.

If the change goes wrong, you restore the snapshot and you are back where you started.

Keep names meaningful

Name each snapshot for the change you are about to make, for example before-upgrade or pre-reinstall. When you have several in the list, a clear name is what tells you which one to restore.