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.
As of December 14, 2020, the local snapshot feature for ESSDs is upgraded to the instant access feature for ESSDs.
Scenarios
- 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 |
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DevOps scenario |
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Scenario where snapshots need to be created to back up data before high-risk operations are performed |
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Precautions
- 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.
- 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.
Enable the instant access feature

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