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Using instance snapshots to create or restore an instance

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Find out how to restore an instance or create a new one from a snapshot

Objective

The OVHcloud Console enables you to create snapshots of your instances within a few clicks, as well as automating this process. You can make use of these instance snapshots for two basic purposes:

  • Creating a new instance with the snapshot as a template in order to duplicate the original instance, for example if you are configuring a load balancing infrastructure.
  • Restoring instances from a snapshot, for example if recent changes broke critical configurations on the instance.

This guide explains how to use snapshots to duplicate and restore your instances.

Requirements

OVHcloud Console Access

  • Direct link:
  • Navigation path: Public Cloud > Select your project > Compute > Instance Snapshot

Instructions

Info

Two types of snapshots are available:

  • Local: Stored in the same region as your instance.
  • Distant: Automatically replicated in another region of your choice.

The operations of creating and restoring an instance from a distant snapshot are fully supported via the OVHcloud API, offering greater flexibility and effortless integration into your automation processes.

Note: In the OVHcloud Console, you can create an instance from any snapshot listed on the Instance snapshots page, but you can only restore an existing instance from a snapshot stored in its own region.

Creating an instance from a snapshot

OVHcloud Console
OVHcloud API
OpenStack CLI
Horizon

In the left-hand menu of your Public Cloud project, click Instance Snapshot under Compute. The Instance snapshots page lists your snapshots.

Click the ... button in the row of the relevant snapshot, then select Create an instance.

The Create an instance page opens with some elements pre-defined:

  • Region: Your instance will be created in the same region as your snapshot. The region is determined by the snapshot and cannot be changed.
  • Image: The snapshot is preselected in the Snapshots tab of the Select an image section.
  • Model: Only the models that are compatible with your image are available, depending on your quota.

Choose the new instance's name, SSH key, network and billing settings, then click the Create my instance button.

For further information on creating an instance, please refer to this guide.

Info

In order to create the instance in a different data centre, you will first need to transfer the snapshot to the appropriate region. Please refer to our guide to transferring an instance backup.

Restoring an instance from a snapshot

OVHcloud Console
OVHcloud API

In the left-hand menu of your Public Cloud project, click Instances under Compute, then click on the name of the relevant instance.

In the General information card of the Overview tab, click Edit image on the Image row. The Edit image panel opens.

In the Select a distribution section, select the snapshots, then select the snapshot to restore in the Select an image section. Only the snapshots stored in the region of the instance are offered. Click on Edit image if you are certain that you want to overwrite the current image with the snapshot.

The instance will be reinstalled and restarted until the process is completed.

Warning

As stated in the warning message, all data on the instance will be deleted: any data added after the snapshot creation will be lost.

Go further

First steps

Taking a snapshot of an instance

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