You can copy snapshots within the same region or across different regions to back up data. You can encrypt snapshot copies when you copy snapshots.

Prerequisites

  • A snapshot is created. For information about how to create a snapshot, see Create a snapshot of a disk.
  • Key Management Service (KMS) is activated before you copy a snapshot to create an encrypted snapshot copy. For information about how to activate KMS, see Activate KMS.

Use scenarios

Snapshot replication is applicable to the following scenarios:
  • DevOps scenarios

    You can copy snapshots to start business in new regions or migrate business systems to new regions. This helps you reduce O&M costs and improve data availability.

  • Cross-region backup scenarios

    Snapshot replication helps meet the requirements for compliance audit and improvement of business reliability. In the event of a disaster, you can restore your business systems by using new snapshots in another region. This reduces recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs).

Precautions

When you copy snapshots, take note of the items described in the following table.
ItemDescription
Replication feeAfter a snapshot is copied to a destination region, a snapshot copy is generated in the region, which incurs a data transfer fee. You are charged the data transfer fee for snapshot replication. In addition, you are charged for the snapshot copy based on the snapshot size and storage duration. For more information, see Snapshots.
Note The first time a disk snapshot is copied, all data stored in the disk is copied. All subsequent copies of the snapshot in the same region are incremental copies. Snapshots are billed based on snapshot sizes. Incremental copies can significantly reduce the sizes of snapshots to be copied.
Replication efficiencyIt is much faster to copy a snapshot than an image, and snapshot replication can be used to bypass capacity constraints. If you want to copy a large image, we recommend that you copy its associated snapshot to the destination region and create an image based on the snapshot copy in the region.
  • For information about how to copy a snapshot, perform the following procedure described in this topic.
  • For information about how to create an image based on a snapshot, see Create a custom image from a snapshot.
OtherThe tags that are added to snapshots cannot be copied together with the snapshots.
New snapshot (snapshot copy) limitThe ID of a snapshot copy is different from that of the copied snapshot (source snapshot). The snapshot copy cannot be used to roll back disks that are created from the source snapshot.

Copy a snapshot

  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Storage & Snapshots > Snapshots.
  3. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  4. Find the snapshot that you want to copy and click Copy Snapshot in the Actions column.
  5. In the Copy Snapshot dialog box, configure the parameters described in the following table.
    ParameterDescription
    Copy TypeSelect Copy or Copy and Encrypt.
    • Copy: supports only copying a snapshot across regions to back up data.
    • Copy and Encrypt: supports copying a snapshot within the same region or across regions to back up data and create an encrypted snapshot copy.
      Note Snapshots that are taken for encrypted disks are also encrypted. If the snapshot that you want to copy is an encrypted snapshot, you must select Copy and Encrypt.
    Destination RegionThe region to which to copy the snapshot.
    Encryption KeyIf you set Copy Type to Copy and Encrypt, you must specify Encryption Key.
    Select Default Service CMK or a custom key from the Encryption Key drop-down list.
    • Default Service CMK: the service-managed key that is used by Alibaba Cloud by default.
    • A custom key: a key that you created in KMS. For more information, see Create a CMK.
    Note The first time that you select an encryption key, click Go to Authorize and follow on-screen tips to attach the AliyunECSDiskEncryptDefaultRole role to grant ECS access to your KMS resources.
    Snapshot NameThe name of the new snapshot.
    DescriptionThe description of the new snapshot. We recommend that you enter information such as the purpose and environment of the new snapshot to facilitate subsequent management.
    TagThe tags to add to the new snapshot. The tags can facilitate subsequent management of the new snapshot.
    Note When you copy a snapshot, the tags that are added to the source snapshot cannot be copied together to the snapshot copy.
  6. Confirm and select the message related to snapshot replication fees, and then click Confirm to copy the source snapshot.
  7. Optional:Switch to the destination region to view the new snapshot.
    New snapshot
    • When the snapshot copying process is complete, Successful is displayed in the Progress column corresponding to the new snapshot, as shown in the red box marked ① in the preceding figure.
    • Move the pointer over Snapshot Copy in the Creation Method column corresponding to the new snapshot, as shown in the red box marked ② in the preceding figure. The ID of the source snapshot is displayed.
    • Check the Encrypted/Unencrypted column to determine whether the new snapshot is encrypted, as shown in the red box marked ③ in the preceding figure.
    You can use the new snapshot to perform the following operations:
    • Create Elastic Compute Service (ECS) instances or disks.

      Create ECS instances or disks based on the new snapshot in the destination region to quickly restore data. For more information, see Create a disk from a snapshot.

    • Create a custom image.

      If the source snapshot is a system disk snapshot, create a custom image from the new snapshot in the destination region and then use the custom image to create ECS instances that contain the application environments from the source snapshot. For more information, see Create a custom image from a snapshot.

Cancel a snapshot copying task

If Processing is displayed in the Progress column corresponding to a snapshot copy, you can cancel the snapshot copying task in the destination region.

  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Storage & Snapshots > Snapshots.
  3. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  4. Find the snapshot copy that is being generated. Then, choose More > Delete Snapshot in the Actions column.
    If you want to delete multiple snapshot copies, select the snapshot copies and click Delete Snapshot below the snapshot list.
  5. In the Delete Snapshot message, confirm the snapshot information and click Next.
  6. Confirm the information and click OK.