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Elastic Compute Service:Use the instant access feature

Last Updated:Mar 12, 2024

A larger amount of data on a disk requires a longer period of time to create a snapshot for the disk and upload the snapshot to Object Storage Service (OSS). The instant access feature allows you to access snapshots within seconds of snapshot creation, instead of after the snapshots are uploaded to OSS. The instant access feature can be used only for enhanced SSDs (ESSDs) at the performance levels 0, 1, 2, and 3 (PL0, PL1, PL2, and PL3 ESSDs) and ESSD AutoPL disks.

Feature upgrade

  • Starting 11:00 on October 12, 2023, you are no longer charged for the instant access storage of snapshots or for enabling the instant access feature.

  • Alibaba Cloud Elastic Compute Service (ECS) Snapshot is upgraded. By default, new snapshots of PL0, PL1, PL2, and PL3 ESSDs and ESSD AutoPL disks are instantly available after creation without the need for additional configurations, regardless of whether the snapshots are created manually or automatically. The new version of the instant access feature differs from the old version of the feature. For information about the differences between the old and new versions of the instant access feature, see the Old version vs. new version section in this topic.

For more information, see [Alibaba Cloud] [ECS Snapshot] [Price Reduction Notice for Instant Access Feature].

Old version vs. new version

Important

If you have snapshots for which the old version of the instant access feature is enabled, you can continue to use the old version of the feature for the snapshots until the feature expires or is disabled.

Determine the version of the instant access feature

You can check the status of the instant access feature to determine the version of the feature.

  • New version: In the snapshot list, Enabled is displayed in the Instant Access column.

    image.png

  • Old version: In the snapshot list, the expiration time of the instant access feature is displayed in the Instant Access column. Example: Oct 20, 2023, 11:07:07 Remaining Before Expiration.

    image.png

Differences between the old and new versions

Item

Old version

New version

Billing

  • Before 11:00 on October 12, 2023, you are charged for the instant access feature. Instant access fees include the fees for the instant access storage of snapshots and for enabling the instant access feature.

  • Starting 11:00 on October 12, 2023, the instant access feature is provided free of charge.

The instant access feature is provided free of charge.

Supported snapshot type

Manual snapshots.

Manual and automatic snapshots.

How to enable the feature

You can manually enable the instant access feature and specify a validity period for the feature.

The instant access feature is automatically enabled.

How to disable the feature

You can manually disable the instant access feature. For more information, see Disable the instant access feature.

The instant access feature cannot be disabled.

Initialization of disks for which instant access snapshots are created

Not supported.

Supported.

Maximum number of instant access snapshots that can be retained per disk

10.

The same as the maximum number of snapshots that can be retained per disk. For more information, see the Snapshot limits section of the "Limits" topic.

Limits

  • The instant access feature can be used only for PL0, PL1, PL2, and PL3 ESSDs and ESSD AutoPL disks.

  • The following table describes whether specific operations can be performed on the instant access snapshots of PL0, PL1, PL2, and PL3 ESSDs and ESSD AutoPL disks based on the creation progress of the snapshots. A check mark (✓) indicates that an operation can be performed. A cross mark (×) indicates that an operation cannot be performed.

    image.png

    Snapshot creation progress

    Roll back a disk by using a snapshot

    Create a disk from a snapshot

    Copy a snapshot

    Share a snapshot

    Create an image from a snapshot

    Available

    Progress of Upload to OSS: less than 100%

    Can be used to create PL0, PL1, PL2, and PL3 ESSDs and ESSD AutoPL disks.

    ×

    ×

    ×

    Available

    Progress of Upload to OSS: 100%

Enable or disable instant access

Enable the instant access feature

You can enable the instant access feature only when you create a snapshot for a disk. For more information, see Create a snapshot for a disk.

  • New version of the instant access feature: is automatically enabled.

  • Old version of the instant access feature: can be manually enabled and be disabled.

Disable the instant access feature

The old version of the instant access feature can be disabled. The new version of the instant access feature cannot be disabled.

  • When you enable the instant access feature, specify a validity period for the feature. The feature is automatically disabled when the validity period that you specify ends.

  • After a snapshot is created, you can disable the instant access feature by performing the following operations:

    1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Storage & Snapshots > Snapshots.

    2. In the top navigation bar, select the region and resource group to which the resource belongs. 地域

    3. Find the snapshot for which you want to disable the instant access feature. In the Actions column, choose 更多 > Disable Instant Access.

    4. In the Disable Instant Access message, click OK.