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ApsaraDB RDS:Use the cross-region backup feature

Last Updated:Feb 18, 2024

This topic describes how to use the cross-region backup feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance. After you enable the cross-region backup feature, the backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated from the source region to the specified destination region. You can use this feature for regulatory compliance and disaster recovery.

Note

Differences between cross-region backups and default backups

Item

Cross-region backup

Default backup

Default configuration

By default, the feature is disabled. If you want to use the cross-region backup feature, you must manually enable the feature.

By default, the feature is enabled.

Backup storage

Backup files are stored in a region that is different from the region of the RDS instance.

Backup files are stored in the region in which the RDS instance resides.

Restoration

The data of a cross-region backup file can be restored only to a new RDS instance that resides in the destination region.

Data can be restored to one of the following RDS instances:

  • New RDS instance that resides in the same region as the original RDS instance

  • Original RDS instance

Retention period

If the RDS instance is released, its cross-region backup files are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify.

By default, the backup files of an RDS instance are retained for seven days after the RDS instance is released.

Prerequisites

  • The RDS instance meets the following requirements:

    • The RDS instance uses a general-purpose or dedicated instance type. Shared instance types are not supported.

    • The RDS instance uses cloud disks. Serverless RDS instances are not supported.

  • Note

    The RDS instance does not run SQL Server 2014 SE, SQL Server 2017 SE, or SQL Server 2019 SE on RDS Basic edition. The RDS instance also does not run SQL Server 2019 EE (Always On) or SQL Server 2022 EE (Always On).

  • Snapshot backups are used for RDS instances that run SQL Server 2017 EE (Always On). Physical backups are not supported.

  • Cloud disk encryption is disabled for the RDS instance. For more information, see Configure the cloud disk encryption feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.

  • The AliyunServiceRoleForDBS service-linked role is created by using your Alibaba Cloud account if you use the backup feature of ApsaraDB RDS for the first time. For more information, see How do I create a service-linked role for DBS?

Billing rules

The following fees are generated if you perform cross-region backups on an RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console:

  • Cross-region storage fee: USD 0.0002 per GB per hour

  • Network traffic fee. For more information, see Network traffic fees.

Note

If your RDS instance contains a large amount of data, we recommend that your use DBS storage plans to offset the network traffic fees. For more information, see Storage fees.

Usage notes

  • Cross-region backups do not affect default backups. These types of backups can exist at the same time.

  • After a default backup is complete, a cross-region backup is triggered. During the cross-region backup process, the original RDS instance replicates the default backup file that is generated to the destination region.

  • After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the system checks whether valid backup sets are generated for the RDS instance over the most recent 24 hours. If no valid backup sets are generated over the most recent 24 hours, a full backup is triggered for the RDS instance.

  • You can use the ApsaraDB RDS console to store the backup files that are generated by the snapshot backup feature to another region only for an RDS instance that runs SQL Server on RDS Cluster Edition. For more information, see Use the snapshot backup feature.

  • Cross-region snapshot backup files cannot be downloaded, but they can be used to restore data to a new RDS instance. For more information, see Restore the data of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance across regions.

  • After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the original RDS instance checks the valid backup sets that are generated over the most recent 24 hours.

    • If continuous log files are archived following the valid backup sets, the system dumps the archived log files to the destination region.

    • If no continuous binary log files are archived following the valid backup sets, a backup is triggered on the secondary RDS instance.

  • The cross-region backup feature is not supported in some Alibaba Cloud regions due to network reasons. The following table describes the Alibaba Cloud regions in which the feature is supported.

    Important
    • The cross-region backup feature allows you to replicate backup files from one Alibaba Cloud region to another, regardless of whether the regions are inside or outside China.

    • The cross-region backup feature allows you to replicate backup files only to a region that is different from the source region. The available destination regions vary based on your network environment.

    Supported environment

    Region

    Inside China

    China (Beijing), China (Shanghai), China (Hangzhou), China (Shenzhen), China (Qingdao), China (Guangzhou), China (Ulanqab), China (Heyuan), China (Chengdu), China (Hohhot), and China (Zhangjiakou)

    Outside China

    China (Hong Kong), US (Silicon Valley), US (Virginia), Singapore, Japan (Tokyo), Germany (Frankfurt), Australia (Sydney), Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur), Indonesia (Jakarta), India (Mumbai), Philippines (Manila), UK (London), South Korea (Seoul), and Thailand (Bangkok)

Procedure

  • Enable the cross-region backup feature for a single RDS instance

    1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Instances. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which your RDS instance resides.
    2. Find the RDS instance for which you want to enable cross-region backups. In the Actions column, choose More > Cross-region Backup Settings.

      Note
      • You can also go to the Backup and Restoration page of the RDS instance, click the Backup Strategy tab, and then click Edit in the Cross-region Backup Settings section.

      • If the Cross-region Backup Settings section or the Backup Strategy tab is not displayed, you must check whether the RDS instance meets all prerequisites.

    3. Configure the following parameters.

      Parameter

      Description

      Cross-region Backup

      Specify whether to enable the cross-region backup feature. In this example, select Enable.

      Backup Region

      The destination region to which the backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated.

      Cross-region Retention Period

      Specify the number of days for which cross-region backup files are retained. Valid values: 7 to 1825. The value 1825 is equivalent to five years.

      Note

      After the RDS instance expires or is released, its cross-region backup files are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. You can perform the following operations to view the cross-region backup files that do not expire: Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. On the page that appears, click the Cross-region Backup tab.

      Cross-region Log Backup Status

      Specify whether to enable or disable the cross-region log backup feature. After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the log backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated to the specified OSS bucket in the destination region.

      Compliance Warranty on Cross-border Data Transfer

      Read and select the relevant agreement.

    4. Click OK.

  • Enable the cross-region backup feature for multiple RDS instances at a time

    1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instances reside.

    2. On the Cross-region Backup tab, click the Pending Instances tab.

    3. Select the RDS instances for which you want to enable cross-region backups. Then, click Backup Settings.

      Note

      You can also click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column of an RDS instance to enable the cross-region backup feature only for the RDS instance.

    4. Configure the following parameters.

      Parameter

      Description

      Cross-region Backup

      Specify whether to enable the cross-region backup feature. In this example, select Enable.

      Backup Region

      The destination region to which the backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated.

      Cross-region Retention Period

      Specify the number of days for which cross-region backup files are retained. Valid values: 7 to 1825. The value 1825 is equivalent to five years.

      Note

      After the RDS instance expires or is released, its cross-region backup files are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. You can perform the following operations to view the cross-region backup files that do not expire: Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. On the page that appears, click the Cross-region Backup tab.

      Cross-region Log Backup Status

      Specify whether to enable or disable the cross-region log backup feature. After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the log backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated to the specified OSS bucket in the destination region.

      Compliance Warranty on Cross-border Data Transfer

      Read and select the relevant agreement.

    5. Click OK.

  • Modify the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance

    1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which your RDS instance resides.

    2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance for which you want to modify the cross-region backup settings. Then, click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column to modify the cross-region backup settings of the RDS instance.

      Note

      If the RDS instance is released, you can only change the cross-region backup retention period.

  • Disable cross-region backups for an RDS instance

    If you no longer require cross-region backups, you can perform the following steps to disable the cross-region backup feature:

    1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which your RDS instance resides.

    2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance for which you want to disable cross-region backups. Then, click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column.

    3. Change the values of the Cross-region Backup Status parameter to Disabled and the Cross-region Backup Retention Policy parameter to 7.

      Note

      After you disable the cross-region backup feature for your RDS instance, no new cross-region backup files are generated and you are no longer charged for the traffic that is consumed to transmit cross-region backup files. However, you are still charged for the storage of the existing cross-region backup files within the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. The existing cross-region backup files are retained for at least seven days. You can set the cross-region backup retention period to seven days. After the seven-day retention period elapses, all existing cross-region backup files are deleted, and you are no longer charged for the storage of cross-region backup files. For more information about how to specify a cross-region backup retention period, see Procedure.

    4. Click OK.

  • View and download the cross-region backup sets of an RDS instance

    1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which your RDS instance resides.

    2. Click the Cross-region Backup tab. Then, click the Backup Instances tab to view the cross-region backup files of the RDS instance. 跨地域备份列表

    3. Click the ID of the RDS instance. On the page that appears, click the Data Backup or Log Backup tab. Then, find the backup set that you want to download, and click Download in the Actions column.

    4. Click Download.

      Note

      You are not charged for the traffic that is consumed to download backup sets over an internal network. However, you are charged for the traffic that is consumed to download backup sets over the Internet. For more information, see Network traffic fees.

References

FAQ

  • After I disable cross-region backups for my RDS instance, why am I still charged for the storage of cross-region backup files?

    After you disable the cross-region backup feature for your RDS instance, no new cross-region backup files are generated and you are no longer charged for the traffic that is consumed to transmit cross-region backup files. However, you are still charged for the storage of the existing cross-region backup files within the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. The existing cross-region backup files are retained for at least seven days. You can set the cross-region backup retention period to seven days. After the seven-day retention period elapses, all existing cross-region backup files are deleted, and you are no longer charged for the storage of cross-region backup files. For more information about how to specify a cross-region backup retention period, see Procedure.

  • What resource plan can I use to offset the fees generated for the cross-region backup storage when I perform cross-region backups on an RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console?

    No resource plan is available to offset the cross-region storage fees for your RDS instance.