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ApsaraDB RDS:Backup storage fees

Last Updated:Jan 22, 2024

This topic describes the billable items and pricing for the backup storage of an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance.

Billable items

Item

Code

Charged by

References

Storage for automatic backups or manual backups

BackupCharged

ApsaraDB RDS

Storage for cross-region backups on an RDS instance that uses local disks

DdrOssStorageSize

ApsaraDB RDS

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

Storage for cross-region backups on an RDS instance that uses cloud disks

BackupStorageSize

Database Backup (DBS)

Traffic that is consumed by cross-region backups

NetworkOutDuplicationSize

DBS

Internet traffic that is consumed for backup downloads

NetworkOutSize

DBS

Download backup files

File conversion fee generated when you use the advanced download feature for an RDS instance that uses cloud disks

BackupAnalyticSize

DBS

Storage for the retention of backup sets for a deleted RDS instance that uses local disks

StandardStorageSize

DBS

Retain backup files for a long period of time

Storage for the restoration of individual databases and tables on an RDS instance that uses local disks

CapacitySandboxStorageSize

DBS

Restore individual databases and tables

Billing rules

A free quota on storage is provided for each RDS instance to store backup files. If the total size of the backup files of your RDS instance does not exceed the free quota, no fees are charged. For more information, see View and manage the size of backup files. If the total size exceeds the free quota, you are charged an hourly fee for the excess backup storage that you use. The hourly fee is calculated by using the following formula: Hourly fee for backup storage = (Total size of backup files - Free quota) × Unit price of storage.

Total size of backup files

The total size of backup files is calculated by using the following formula: Total size of backup files = Size of data backup files + Size of log backup files.

Note

You can check the Backup Usage parameter in the Usage Statistics section of the Basic Information page of your RDS instance to view the total size of backup files.

Free quota

Storage type

Free quota

Description

Cloud disks

The free quota is equal to 200% of the storage capacity that you purchase for your RDS instance.

To view the free quota, you can check the Backup Usage parameter in the Usage Statistics section of the Basic Information page of your RDS instance.

Local disks

The free quota is equal to 50% of the storage capacity that you purchase for your RDS instance.

Unit price

Storage type

Unit price for the storage of backup files that are stored for up to 730 days (USD per GB-hour)

Unit price for the storage of archived backup files that are stored for more than 730 days (USD per GB-hour)

Cloud disks

0.00004

The unit price varies in different regions:

  • Japan (Tokyo), India (Mumbai), Singapore, Australia (Sydney), Indonesia (Jakarta), and Philippines (Manila): 0.000034

  • China (Hong Kong): 0.000031

  • UAE (Dubai): 0.000028

  • Germany (Frankfurt), UK (London), US (Silicon Valley), and US (Virginia): 0.000022

  • Other regions: 0.000025

Local disks

0.00020

Billing example

Your RDS instance resides in the China (Hong Kong) region, runs MySQL 8.0, uses cloud disks, and provides 20 GB of storage capacity. After you back up the RDS instance, 40 GB of data backup files and 20 GB of log backup files are stored. The following list describes the calculation method:

  • Free quota: 20 GB x 200% GB= 40 GB

  • Total size of the backup files of the RDS instance: 40 GB + 20 GB= 60 GB. The total size exceeds the free quota, and you are charged an hourly fee for the excess backup storage based on the following calculation: Hourly fee = (60 GB - 40 GB) x 0.00004 = USD 0.0008 per GB. The backup files are retained for up to 730 days.

Usage notes

  • The backup storage fee varies based on the total size of backup files. Backup files do not consume the storage capacity of your RDS instance. Therefore, the backup storage fee is not affected by the storage usage.

  • When you analyze the backup storage fee, you must check the total size of backup files. You do not need to check the storage usage.

  • Management operations that involves the change of cloud disks, such as the re-creation of a secondary RDS instance, have the following impacts on an RDS instance that uses cloud disks:

    • The backup storage of the RDS instance that uses cloud disks increases. As a result, the backup storage fees increase. The code of the billable item is BackupCharged.

    • The traffic consumed by cross-region backups of the RDS instance that uses cloud disks increases. As a result, the traffic fees of cross-region backups increase. The code of the billable item is NetworkOutDuplicationSize.

    • The cross-region backup storage of the RDS instance that uses cloud disks increases. As a result, the fees generated for cross-region backup storage increase. The code of the billable item is BackupStorageSize.

    Note

    For example, if you perform a DDL operation on an RDS instance that uses cloud disks and the operation causes the latency of data replication to the secondary RDS instance of the RDS instance to be longer, the system may automatically re-create the secondary RDS instance to ensure service stability. This increases the fees for the preceding billable items.

Methods to reduce the backup storage fee

  • Reduce the total size of backup files.

    You can delete the backup files that are no longer required. You can also reduce the backup frequency. For more information, see View and manage the size of backup files.

  • Increase the free quota.

    You can expand the storage capacity of your RDS instance. For more information, see Change instance specifications.

    The free quota varies based on the storage capacity of your RDS instance. If your RDS instance uses local disks and you expand the storage capacity of your RDS instance from 150 GB to 300 GB, the free quota is increased from 75 GB to 150 GB.

Billing FAQ

  • Why am I charged for backup storage even if the total size of the backup files of my RDS instance does not exceed the free quota for backup storage?

    You are charged for backup storage because the size of the backup files exceeded the free quota in the past, and the system does not deduct the additional fee at the earliest opportunity.

  • Why is the size of backup files larger than the amount of data on my RDS instance?

    The size of backup files may not equal the amount of data on your RDS instance.

    If your RDS instance uses cloud disks, the system creates snapshots to back up your RDS instance. The size of a snapshot backup file may be significantly larger than the amount of data. The free quota on backup storage for an RDS instance that uses cloud disks is 200% of the storage capacity of the RDS instance. The free quota on backup storage for an RDS instance that uses local disks is 50% of the storage capacity of the RDS instance.

    Note

    When the system calculates the size of a snapshot backup file, the system counts in all the non-empty blocks to which data is written. If the write operations are scattered among blocks, none of the blocks is empty. For example, if 3 MB of data is written across two, three, or four blocks, none of these blocks is empty. In this case, the system counts in all these blocks to calculate the total size. As a result, the size of the snapshot backup file is larger than the actual amount of data.

  • The backup retention period of my RDS instance is shortened from x days to y days. Why does the size of backup files remain unchanged?

    If no backup files are retained for more than y days, no backup files are deleted and the size of backup files remains unchanged after you shorten the backup retention period.