Backups

A backup is a copy of an instance’s disk, stored on a separate backup server. You can restore it to the same instance, to another instance, or to a new one. For quick rollbacks on the same instance, see Snapshots.

Backups need a backup plan on the instance. Choose “Daily” or “Weekly” with the “Backups” option when you order, or change it later.

Automatic backups

With a plan, we take backups on its schedule and keep a set number of them. When a new backup completes, we delete the oldest ones over that number, manual backups included.

A scheduled backup is skipped if the instance is busy at that moment, for example during a reinstall.

Taking a backup

Head over to the instance list and open your instance
Select the “Backups” tab
Hit “New Backup”
Choose the disk, or leave it empty for the boot disk
Hit “Next”
Give the backup a name, or leave it empty for a generated name
Hit “Finish”

The instance stays online while we take the backup.

Backups show on the instance’s “Backups” tab and, for every instance in the workspace, on the “Backups” page in the sidebar.

Restoring onto an instance

Head over to the instance list and open your instance
Select the “Backups” tab
Hit “Restore” in the backup’s menu
Choose the target instance and disk, or leave the disk empty for the boot disk
Hit “Next”
Choose the backup
Hit “Finish”

Tick “Show all backups” to restore a backup from another instance. The target disk must be at least as large as the backup.

Restoring to a new instance

Head over to the instance list, under “Instances” in the sidebar
Hit “Order Server”
Under “Choose a template”, select the “Restore a Backup” tab

Read more about ordering in Deploy a Server.

Deleting a backup

Backups stay after you terminate an instance. Delete the ones you do not need.

Head over to your workspace’s “Backups” page in the sidebar
Hit “Delete” in the backup’s menu