The more data that is stored in a disk, the longer it takes to create a snapshot for the disk. For enhanced SSDs (ESSDs), you can use the instant access feature to create snapshots within seconds.

Note

As of December 14, 2020, the local snapshot feature for ESSDs is upgraded to the instant access feature for ESSDs.

Scenarios

The instant access feature has the following benefits:
  • Instant access: After the instant access feature is enabled for a snapshot, the snapshot can be used to roll back disks or create disks across zones even when the snapshot is being created. This feature ensures instant access to a new snapshot for an ESSD regardless of the ESSD size.
  • Disk rollback without performance loss: You can use snapshots for which instant access is enabled to roll back ESSDs without performance loss or increase in the I/O latency of the ESSD.

In the scenarios described in the following table, we recommend that you enable the instant access feature to accelerate the creation of snapshots.

Scenario Description
DevOps scenario
  • Build a development and test environment based on snapshots.
  • Perform O&M operations in Elastic Compute Service (ECS) by using Operation Orchestration Service (OOS).
Scenario where snapshots need to be created to back up data before high-risk operations are performed
  • Replace system disks or resize disks.
  • Update business systems.
  • Execute diagnostic tasks in the ECS console.

Precautions

Before you enable instant access, take note of the following items:
  • This feature is applicable only to ESSDs.
  • Up to 10 snapshots that have instant access enabled can be retained for a single ESSD. If an ESSD already has 10 snapshots for which instant access is enabled, you cannot enable instant access for more snapshots of the ESSD.
  • ESSDs whose snapshots have instant access enabled cannot be re-initialized.
  • You can enable instant access only when you manually create a snapshot for an ESSD.
When you disable instant access, take note of the following items:
  • You cannot disable the instant access feature when a snapshot is being created. After the snapshot is created, you can disable this feature.
  • When you delete snapshots for which instance access is enabled, instant access is automatically disabled.
  • When you delete an ESSD for which instance access is enabled for its snapshot, instant access is automatically disabled.

Billing

After the instant access feature is enabled, you are charged both the snapshot storage fee and the instant access feature fee. The billable items of the instant access feature include the number of times the feature is enabled, the size of snapshots for instant access, and the usage duration. For more information, see Snapshots.

Note The instant access feature is separately billed. You can disable the feature to reduce costs after a snapshot is created. You are still charged for the storage of the snapshot.

Enable the instant access feature

  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Instances & Images > Instances.
  3. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  4. On the Instances page, find the instance that you want to manage and click its ID.
  5. On the Instance Details page, click the Cloud Disk tab.
  6. Find the ESSD for which you want to create a snapshot and click Create Snapshot in the Actions column.
  7. In the Create Snapshot dialog box, configure the parameters described in the following table.
    Parameter Description
    Snapshot Name Specify a name for the snapshot.
    Instant Access Turn on Instant Access.
    Duration of Instant Access Specify the number of days during which the instant access feature is available. The instant access feature is automatically disabled when the specified duration ends.
    Tag Configure the tag key and value of the snapshot.
  8. Click Create.
After the snapshot is created, choose Storage & Snapshots > Snapshots in the left-side navigation pane to check the state of instant access. enabled for a snapshot

After the instant access feature is enabled for a snapshot, you can use the snapshot to create a disk or roll back the original disk without the need to wait for the snapshot to be created. For more information, see Create a disk from a snapshot.

Disable the instant access feature

When you enable the instant access feature, you must set the Duration of Instant Access parameter. This feature is automatically disabled when the specified duration ends. After a snapshot is created, you can also manually disable instant access by performing the following operations:

  1. Log on to the ECS console.
  2. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Instances & Images > Instances.
  3. In the top navigation bar, select a region.
  4. On the Instances page, find the instance that you want to manage and click its ID.
  5. On the Instance Details page, click the Snapshot tab.
  6. Find the snapshot for which you want to disable instant access and click Disable Instant Access in the Actions column.
  7. In the Disable Instant Access message, click OK.

References