This topic describes how to view and manage the backup size and backup billable items of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance. You can modify the backup settings to reduce the backup cost.
Billable items
Item | Code | Charged by | References |
Storage for automatic backups or manual backups | BackupCharged | ApsaraDB RDS | |
Storage for cross-region backups | DdrOssStorageSize | ApsaraDB RDS | |
Traffic that is consumed by cross-region backups | NetworkOutDuplicationSize | Database Backup (DBS) | |
Internet traffic that is consumed for backup downloads | NetworkOutSize | DBS |
Billing rules
A free quota on storage is provided for each RDS instance to store backup files. If the total size of the backup files of your RDS instance does not exceed the free quota, no fees are charged. If the total size exceeds the free quota, you are charged an hourly fee for the excess backup storage that you use. The hourly fee is calculated by using the following formula: Hourly fee for backup storage = (Total size of backup files - Free quota) × Unit price of storage.
Usage notes
The backup storage fee varies based on the total size of backup files. Backup files do not consume the storage capacity of your RDS instance. Therefore, the backup storage fee is not affected by the storage usage.
When you analyze the backup storage fee, you must check the total size of backup files. You do not need to check the storage usage.
Management operations that involves the change of cloud disks, such as the re-creation of a secondary RDS instance, have the following impacts on an RDS instance that uses cloud disks:
The backup storage of the RDS instance that uses cloud disks increases. As a result, the backup storage fees increase. The code of the billable item is BackupCharged.
The traffic consumed by cross-region backups of the RDS instance that uses cloud disks increases. As a result, the traffic fees of cross-region backups increase. The code of the billable item is NetworkOutDuplicationSize.
The cross-region backup storage of the RDS instance that uses cloud disks increases. As a result, the fees generated for cross-region backup storage increase. The code of the billable item is DdrOssStorageSize.
NoteFor example, if you perform a DDL operation on an RDS instance that uses cloud disks and the operation causes the latency of data replication to the secondary RDS instance of the RDS instance to be longer, the system may automatically re-create the secondary RDS instance to ensure service stability. This increases the fees for the preceding billable items.
Methods to reduce the backup storage fee
Reduce the total size of backup files.
Backup files cannot be manully deleted. However, you can reduce the backup frequency to reduce the number of backup files. You can also shorten the backup retention period, which allows the system to automatically delete expired backup files. For more information, see Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
Increase the free quota.
The free quota varies based on the storage capacity of your RDS instance. For example, your RDS instance uses the physical backup method and is expanded from 150 GB to 300 GB, the free quota increases from 75 GB to 150 GB. For more information, see Change the specifications of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
View the free quota on backup storage of an RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console
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.
In the Usage Statistics section of the page that appears, view the free quota that is displayed to the right of the Backup Usage parameter.
NoteThe free quota on backup storage varies based on the instance types. The free quota displayed in the Usage Statistics section of the RDS instance shall prevail.
Billing FAQ
Can I disable the backup feature of my RDS instance to stop being charged if the size of the backup files that are automatically generated exceeds the free quota?
The backup feature of RDS instances is enabled by default and cannot be disabled. However, you can modify the automatic backup strategies of your RDS instance to delete existing backup files or reduce the number of new backup files. For more information, see Delete backup files or reduce the size of backup files.
The backup retention period of my RDS instance is shortened from x days to y days. Why does the size of backup files remain unchanged?
If no backup files are retained for more than y days, no backup files are deleted and the size of backup files remains unchanged after you shorten the backup retention period.