ApsaraDB RDS:Cross-region backup

Differences between cross-region backup and default backup

Prerequisites

• Your ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance meets the following requirements:

  • For instances that use high-performance local disks: PostgreSQL 9.4 or 10 (High-availability Edition)

  • Instances that use cloud disks must run PostgreSQL 10 or later. Serverless instances are not supported.

• If you are using the ApsaraDB RDS backup service for the first time, use your primary Alibaba Cloud account to authorize the AliyunServiceRoleForDBS service-linked role.

• The instance must not be a new general-purpose instance type.

  Note

  While new general-purpose instance types provide enhanced elasticity, higher performance, and faster instance creation and modification, they do not yet fully support cross-region backup.

• For an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance with cloud disk encryption enabled, you must activate your Alibaba Cloud account in the destination region before you enable cross-region backup. For instructions, see the FAQ section in this topic.

Billing

Usage notes

• Cross-region backup does not affect default backups. Both types of backups can exist at the same time. A cross-region backup is a copy of a local backup in another region.

• A cross-region backup is triggered after a default backup completes. The system then copies the default backup to the specified destination region.

• If no valid backup set has been created in the last 24 hours when you enable cross-region backup, the system automatically triggers a new backup on the secondary instance.

Supported backup paths and regions

Due to network limitations, the cross-region backup feature is available only in specific regions. The following table describes the details.

Enable cross-region backup

1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Instances. In the top navigation bar, select the region in which your RDS instance resides.

2. Find the instance that you want to manage and in the Actions column, choose More > Cross-region Backup Settings.

   Note

   • You can also go to the instance details page. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backup and Restoration. On the Backup Settings tab, find the Cross-region Backup Settings section and click Edit.

   • If the Cross-region Backup Settings option is not displayed, check whether your instance meets the Prerequisites.

3. Configure the following parameters, select the billing and compliance statements, and then click OK.

   Parameter	Description
   Cross-region Backup	The master switch for the feature. Select Enable.
   Backup Region	The destination region where backup files are stored. Local backup files are automatically replicated to this region.
   Cross-region Backup Retention Policy	The retention period of cross-region backup files. Valid values: 7 to 1825 days. The maximum retention period is 5 years. Note Even if the RDS instance expires or is released, its cross-region backup files are retained based on the specified retention period. You can view the unexpired backup files on the Backup and Restoration > Cross-region Backups page of the instance.
   Cross-region Log Backup Status	The switch for cross-region log backup. After you enable this feature, local log backup files are automatically replicated to an Object Storage Service (OSS) bucket in the destination region.

   Important

   If you cannot enable cross-region backup for an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance with cloud disk encryption enabled, your Alibaba Cloud account may not be activated in the destination region. To resolve this issue, see the FAQ section and then try again.

Modify cross-region backup settings

You can modify the cross-region backup policy, including the destination region and the retention period for backup sets.

1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select a region.

2. On the Cross-region Backup > Backup Instances tab, find the instance that you want to manage and click Settings in the Actions column to modify the settings.

   Note

   If the instance is released, you can modify only the retention period. Other options cannot be modified.

Disable cross-region backup

You can disable the cross-region backup feature at any time.

1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select a region.

2. On the Cross-region Backup > Backup Instances tab, find the instance that you want to manage and click Settings in the Actions column.

3. Set Cross-region Backup Status to Disabled and set Cross-region Retention Period to 7 days.

   Note

   After you disable cross-region backup, no new backups are generated, and you are no longer charged for data transfer. However, existing backups are not immediately deleted. According to the backup policy, backups are retained for at least 7 days. You can set the cross-region backup retention period to 7 days. After 7 days, all backup files are automatically deleted, and you will no longer be charged for cross-region backup.

Download cross-region backups

You can download backup data from the destination region after a cross-region backup is complete.

1. Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. In the top navigation bar, select a region.

2. On the Cross-region Backup > Backup Instance tab, find the target instance, and click the instance ID.

3. On the Data Backup and Log Backup tabs, find the backup that you want to download and click Download in the Actions column to download full and incremental backup data, respectively.

4. Read and select the related agreements, and then click Download.

   Note

   When you download backup files, inbound traffic over an internal network is free of charge, but outbound traffic over the Internet is charged. For more information, see Network fees.

References

• After you complete a cross-region backup, you can restore data across regions to a new or existing instance in the destination region. For more information, see Restore data across regions.

• You can also call the following API operations to perform cross-region backup tasks:

  • Precheck whether an instance can be restored across regions

  • Restore data across regions to a new instance

  • Modify cross-region backup settings for an RDS instance

  • Query cross-region backup settings

  • Query database and table information for a cross-region backup

  • Query the list of cross-region data backup files for an RDS instance

  • Query the list of cross-region log backup files

  • Query destination regions available for cross-region backup

  • Query instances for which cross-region backup is enabled

FAQ