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ApsaraDB RDS:Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance

Last Updated:Oct 26, 2023

This topic describes how to back up an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance. ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL supports automatic backups and manual backups. You can configure a backup policy that allows the system to automatically back up your RDS instance. You can also manually back up your RDS instance.

For more information about how to back up an RDS instance that runs a different database engine, see the following topics:

Note

The default backup feature that is provided by the system stores backup files in the same region as your RDS instance. If you want to store backup files to a region that is different from the region of your RDS instance, follow the instructions provided in Use the cross-region backup feature.

Backup description

Data backup

Log backup

Data backups are copies of the data of your RDS instance. Physical backups and snapshot backups are supported. You can use these backups to restore the data of your RDS instance. For more information, see Restore data of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance. The system automatically performs physical backups or snapshot backups on your RDS instance based on the storage type of the instance.

  • If your RDS instance is equipped with local disks, full physical backups are supported.

  • If your RDS instance is equipped with cloud disks, snapshot backups are supported. You can restore the data of your RDS instance from snapshot backup files to a new RDS instance.

Note

You can download full physical backup files and snapshot backup files. For more information, see Download backup files.

Log backups are copies of the archived log files of your RDS instance.

Note

If your RDS instance runs RDS Basic Edition, log backups are not supported.

Prerequisites

The AliyunServiceRoleForDBS service-linked role is created by using your Alibaba Cloud account when 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?

Usage notes

  • Do not execute DDL statements during a backup operation. If DDL statements are executed during a backup operation, the relevant tables are locked and the backup operation fails.

  • We recommend that you back up your RDS instance during off-peak hours.

  • If your RDS instance has a large amount of data, a backup may require a long period of time.

  • Backup files are retained for a specified period of time. Before the specified retention period elapses, we recommend that you download the backup files to your computer.

Billing rules

Each RDS instance is allocated a free quota for backup storage. If the backup storage of your RDS instance does not exceed the free quota, you are not charged for backup storage. If the backup storage exceeds the free quota, you are charged for the excess storage that you use. For more information about the free quota and billing rules, see Backup storage fees.

Configure automatic backups

After you configure a backup policy for your RDS instance, the system regularly backs up the RDS instance based on the backup policy.

  1. Go to the Instances page. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instance resides. Then, find the RDS instance and click the ID of the instance.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backup and Restoration.

  3. On the Backup and Restoration page, click the Backup Strategy tab. In the Data Backup Settings section, click Edit.

  4. In the dialog box that appears, configure the following parameters and click Save.

    Table 1. Data backup settings

    Instance category

    Parameter

    Description

    RDS instances that use cloud disks

    Snapshot Backup Period

    The cycle based on which you want to perform a backup. You can select one or more days of the week.

    Note

    For data security purposes, we recommend that you select at least two days of the week.

    Single-digit Second Backup

    Specifies whether to enable the single-digit second backup feature. If you enable this feature, the system completes each backup in 1 second.

    Note
    • If you enable this feature, the system performs a single-digit second backup on the RDS instance based on the backup period and backup time that you specified.

    • If you enable this feature, each manual backup is performed as a single-digit second backup. For more information, see Manually back up an RDS instance.

    • The retention period of backup files that are generated by the single-digit second backup feature is fixed as seven days.

    Snapshot Backup Start Time

    Specifies the period of time during which a data backup operation is performed. For example, you can set this parameter to 06:00-07:00. We recommend that you select an off-peak hour.

    Increase Snapshot Frequency

    The frequency at which snapshot backups are created. This feature enables you to configure a shorter interval to create snapshots by using the single-digit second backup feature, which increases the frequency of snapshots. You can increase the frequency to up to once every 15 minutes. For more information, see Use the high-frequency snapshot backup feature.

    Note

    If you want to enable the Increase Snapshot Frequency feature, you must enable the Single-digit Second Backup feature. If the Single-digit Second Backup feature is disabled, the system automatically enables the Single-digit Second Backup feature when you enable the Increase Snapshot Frequency feature.

    Snapshot Backup Retention (Days)

    The number of days for which you want to retain data backup files. Valid values: 7 to 730. Default value: 7.

    Note

    This parameter takes effect only for data backup files that are generated from standard backups. This parameter does not take effect for data backup files that are generated from single-digit second backups.

    Fast Restoration

    Specifies whether to enable the fast restoration feature for individual databases and tables for your RDS instance. If you enable the feature, you can restore a specified database to the original RDS instance by backup set or point in time without the need to restore all data. This feature can be used in scenarios such as quick restoration after misoperations and historical data analysis. For more information, see Restore individual databases and tables of an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance.

    Note

    The fast restoration feature for individual databases and tables is unavailable in some Alibaba Cloud regions.

    RDS instances that use local disks

    Data Retention Period (Days)

    The number of days for which you want to retain data backup files. Valid values: 7 to 730. Default value: 7.

    Backup Cycle

    The cycle based on which you want to perform a backup. You can select one or more days of the week.

    Note

    For data security purposes, we recommend that you select at least two days of the week.

    Backup Time

    Specifies the period of time during which a data backup operation is performed. For example, you can set this parameter to 06:00-07:00. We recommend that you select an off-peak hour.

    Table 2. Log backup settings

    Parameter

    Description

    Log Backup

    Specifies whether to enable the log backup feature. After this feature is enabled, you can restore the data of your RDS instance to a specified point in time.

    Important

    If you disable this feature, all log backup files are deleted and you cannot restore the data of the RDS instance to a specified point in time.

    Log Backup Retention Period

    • The number of days for which you want to retain log backup files. Valid values: 7 to 730. Default value: 7.

    • The log backup retention period must be shorter than or equal to the data backup retention period.

Manually back up an RDS instance

  1. Go to the Instances page. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which the RDS instance resides. Then, find the RDS instance and click the ID of the instance.
  2. In the upper-right corner of the page, click Backup Instance. In the dialog box that appears, click OK.

    物理备份
  3. Optional. In the upper-right corner of the page, click the 查看备份进度 icon. On the Tasks page, set the Task Type parameter to Manual Backup to view the progress of the backup task.

    image.png
    Note

    After the backup task is complete, you can download the backup file on the Data Backup or Log Backup tab under the Base Backups tab of the Backup and Restoration page. Some RDS instances do not support the download of backup files. These RDS instances include RDS instances that use cloud disks. For more information, see Download backup files.

FAQ

  1. Can I disable the data backup feature for my RDS instance?

    No, you cannot disable the log backup feature for your RDS instance. You can reduce the backup frequency to at least twice a week.

  2. Can I disable the log backup feature for my RDS instance?

    Yes, you can disable the log backup feature for your RDS instance. To disable the feature, log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console, go to the Backup Settings tab of your RDS instance, and then modify the backup settings.

Related operations

Operation

Description

CreateBackup

Creates data backup files for an instance.

DescribeBackups

Queries the data backups of an instance.

DescribeBackupPolicy

Queries the backup settings of an instance.

ModifyBackupPolicy

Modifies the backup settings of an instance.

DeleteBackup

Deletes the data backup files of an instance.

DescribeBackupTasks

Queries the backup tasks of an instance.

DescribeBinlogFiles

Queries the binary log files of an instance.