Enable cross-region backups for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance

Differences between cross-region backups and default backups

• By default, the cross-region backup feature is disabled, and the default backup feature is enabled. If you require the cross-region backup feature, you must manually enable this feature.
• Cross-region backup files are stored in the destination region. Default backup files are stored in the source region.
• Cross-region backup files can be used to restore the data of the original RDS instance to an existing or new RDS instance that resides in the source or destination region. Default backup files can be used to restore the data of the original RDS instance to the same RDS instance or to a new RDS instance that resides in the source region.
• Cross-region backup files are independent of your RDS instance. If you release the original RDS instance, the cross-region backup files of the original RDS instance are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. However, default backup files are retained only for seven days.

Billing

Precautions:

• You can restore data from cross-region backup files to the source region or destination region. However, if transparent data encryption (TDE) is enabled, you can restore data from these files only to the source region. For more information, see Configure TDE for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
• Cross-region backups do not interrupt default backups. These two types of backups can be created at the same time.
• After a default backup is complete, a cross-region backup is triggered. During the backup process, the original RDS instance dumps the generated default backup files to the destination region.
• After you enable cross-region backups, the original RDS instance checks whether a valid data backup file is generated over the last 24 hours. If no valid data backup files are generated over the last 24 hours, the original RDS instance triggers a backup on its secondary RDS instance.
• After you enable cross-region log backups, the original RDS instance checks for valid data backup files that are generated over the last 24 hours.
  • If continuous log backup files are generated following valid data backup files, the original RDS instance dumps the log backup files to the destination region.
  • If no continuous log backup files are generated following valid data backup files, the original RDS instance triggers a backup on its secondary RDS instance.
• The cross-region backup feature is not supported in some Alibaba Cloud regions due to network reasons. The following table lists the Alibaba Cloud regions where the cross-region backup feature is supported.

  Source region	Destination region
  China (Hangzhou)	China (Shanghai), China (Qingdao), and China (Shenzhen)
  China (Shanghai)	China (Hangzhou), China (Qingdao), and China (Shenzhen)
  China (Qingdao)	China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), and China (Shenzhen)
  China (Beijing)	China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Qingdao), and China (Shenzhen)
  China (Shenzhen)	China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), and China (Qingdao)
  China (Hong Kong)	China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Qingdao), and China (Shenzhen)

Enable cross-region backups for a single RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console

1. Log on to the RDS management console, click on the left Instances , and then select a region above.
2. Find the RDS instance. Then, choose More > Cross-region Backup Settings in the Actions column.
   Note

   • You can also click Edit on the Cross-region Backup tab of the Backup and Restoration page.
   • If the Cross-region Backup Settings option or the Cross-region Backup tab does not appear, you must check that the RDS instance meets the requirements that are described in the "Prerequisites" section of this topic.
3. Configure the following parameters.
   

   Parameter	Description
   Cross-region Backup Status	The switch that is used to control the cross-region backup feature. Select Enable.
   Backup Region	The destination region to which you want to store cross-region backup files. ApsaraDB RDS automatically replicates backup files from the RDS instance to the destination region.
   Cross-region Retention Period	The period of time for which you want to retain cross-region backup files. Valid values: 7 to 1825. Unit: days. The longest cross-region backup retention period spans 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 log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console and click Cross-region Backup in the left-side navigation pane to view the retained cross-region backup files.
   Cross-region Log Backup Status:	The switch that is used to control the cross-region log backup feature. After you enable this feature, ApsaraDB RDS automatically replicates log backup files from the RDS instance to a specified Object Storage Service (OSS) bucket in the destination region.

4. Click OK.

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

1. Log on to the RDS management console, in the left-side navigation pane, click Backups , and then select a region above.
2. Click the Pending Instances tab.
3. Select the RDS instances and click Backup Settings below the instance list.
   Note You can also click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column of a single RDS instance to enable the cross-region backup feature only for the RDS instance.

   
4. Configure the following parameters.

   Parameter	Description
   Cross-region Backup Status	The switch that is used to control the cross-region backup feature. Select Enable.
   Backup Region	The destination region to which you want to store cross-region backup files. ApsaraDB RDS automatically replicates backup files from the RDS instance to the destination region.
   Cross-region Retention Period	The period of time for which you want to retain cross-region backup files. Valid values: 7 to 1825. Unit: days. The longest cross-region backup retention period spans 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 log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console and click Cross-region Backup in the left-side navigation pane to view the retained cross-region backup files.
   Cross-region Log Backup Status:	The switch that is used to control the cross-region log backup feature. After you enable this feature, ApsaraDB RDS automatically replicates log backup files from the RDS instance to a specified Object Storage Service (OSS) bucket in the destination region.

5. Click OK.

Modify the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance

A menu item named Cross-region Backup is added to the homepage of the ApsaraDB RDS console. You can modify the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance even after the RDS instance is released.

1. Log on to the RDS management console, in the left-side navigation pane, click Backups , and then select a region above.
2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance. 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 modify only the cross-region backup retention period.

Disable the cross-region backup feature for an RDS instance

If you do not require the cross-region backup feature, you can perform the following steps to disable this feature:

1. Log on to the RDS management console, in the left-side navigation pane, click Backups , and then select a region above.
2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance. Then, click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column.
3. In the dialog box that appears, set the Cross-region Backup Status parameter to Disabled and the Cross-region Retention Period parameter to 7.
   Note After you disable the cross-region backup feature, no new cross-region backup files are generated. However, the existing cross-region backup files are still retained for at least seven days. You must set the cross-region backup retention period to seven days. After the cross-region backup retention period that you specify elapses, ApsaraDB RDS deletes all the existing cross-region backup files and you are no longer charged for the storage of the cross-region backup files.
4. Click OK.

View the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance

1. Log on to the RDS management console, in the left-side navigation pane, click Backups , and then select a region above.
2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance. Then, you can view the cross-region backup settings of the RDS instance.
   

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 cross-region backups for your RDS instance, no new cross-region backup files are generated and you are no longer charged for the traffic that is consumed for the transmission of 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. For more information, see the "Modify the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance" section in this topic. After the cross-region backup retention period that you specify elapses, ApsaraDB RDS deletes all the existing cross-region backup files and you are no longer charged for the storage of the cross-region backup files.

Operations