ApsaraDB RDS:Cross-region backup

Differences between cross-region backup and default backup

Prerequisites

• Your ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance must meet the following requirements:

  • Instance family: general-purpose or dedicated. Shared instance families are not supported.

  • Billing method: subscription or pay-as-you-go. serverless instances are not supported.

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

Billing

Usage notes

• Cross-region backup does not affect default backup. Both types of backups can exist concurrently.

• A cross-region backup is triggered after a default backup is completed. The system copies the default backup file to the cross-region backup storage.

• When you enable cross-region backup, the system checks for a valid backup set created within the last 24 hours. If one does not exist, the system triggers a full backup.

• Only Cluster Edition instances support cross-region backup in snapshot backup mode. For more information, see Differences between snapshot backup and physical backup.

• Full snapshot cross-region backup sets cannot be downloaded, but you can restore data from them to a new RDS instance. For more information, see Restore data across regions.

• When you enable cross-region log backup, the system checks for a valid backup set created within the last 24 hours:

  • If continuous archived logs are available after the valid backup set, the system copies these archived logs.

  • If no continuous archived logs are available after the valid backup set, the system triggers a 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. See the following table for details.

Procedure

• Enable cross-region backup

  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 > Pending Instances tab, select the instances for which you want to enable cross-region backup and click Backup Settings.

     Note

     • You can also click Settings in the Actions column of a target instance to enable cross-region backup for a single instance.

     • If you cannot find the instance on this page, make sure that it meets the Prerequisites.

  3. Configure the following parameters and click OK.

     Parameter	Description
     Cross-region Backup Status	The primary switch for cross-region backup. Select Enable.
     Backup Region	The destination region where backups are stored. Local backup files are automatically copied to this region.
     Cross-region Retention Period	Cross-region backup files can be retained for 7 to 1825 days (up to five years). Note Even if the RDS instance expires or is released, the retention period of the cross-region backup files is not affected. You can view unexpired backup files on the Cross-region Backup page in the console.
     Cross-region Log Backup Status	The switch for cross-region log backup. If you enable this feature, local log backup files are automatically copied to OSS in the destination region.
     Compliance Statement	Read and select the relevant agreement.

• Modify cross-region backup settings

  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 target instance and click Settings in the Actions column to modify the cross-region backup settings.

     Note

     For released instances, you can modify only the retention period.

• Disable cross-region backup

  If you no longer need the cross-region backup feature, you can disable it.

  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 target instance and click Settings in the Actions column.

  3. Set Cross-region Backup Status to Disable, set the Cross-region Retention Period to 7 days, and click OK.

     Note

     After you disable cross-region backup, no new backups are generated, and you are no longer charged for traffic fees. However, existing backups are not immediately deleted. According to the backup policy, backups are retained for at least 7 days. You can set the 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.

• View and download cross-region backups

  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, you can view all RDS instances in the current region for which cross-region backup is enabled.

     This page displays a table with the following information for each instance: Instance ID, Instance name, Database type, Running status, Cross-region backup status, Latest backup region, Latest backup start time, Cross-region retention period (days), and an entry for Cross-region backup settings.

  3. Click the instance ID. Then, find the target full backup set or log backup set and click Download in the Actions column.

  4. Select I have learnt the billing rules for backup file download., and then click Download.

     Note

     For more information about billing, see Network traffic fees.

References

• After you create a cross-region backup, you can Restore data across regions to a new or existing instance in the destination region.

• To modify the cross-region backup policy, such as the destination region and retention period, or to disable the cross-region backup feature, see Procedure in this topic.

• You can also call the following API operations to manage cross-region backups:

  • Pre-check 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 of an instance

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

  • Query the list of cross-region log backup files

  • Query available destination regions for cross-region backup

  • Query instances for which cross-region backup is enabled

FAQ

• Q: Why am I still charged after I disable cross-region backup?

  A: After you disable cross-region backup, new backups are no longer generated and you will not be charged for traffic. Existing backups are not immediately deleted but are retained for at least 7 days based on your backup policy. You can set the retention period to 7 days. After 7 days, the backup files are automatically deleted and you will no longer be charged for cross-region backup.

• Q: How do existing backup sets expire after I disable level-2 backup?

  • Cross-region level-2 backup

    The system retains backup sets based on the current cross-region backup retention period until all backup sets expire.

  • Intra-region level-2 backup

    The system does not clear level-2 backups, but you cannot view them, and no fees are incurred. You can view them again after you re-enable level-2 backup.

• Q: What resource plans can I use to offset the cross-region storage fees that are incurred for backups created in the ApsaraDB RDS console?

  A: No resource plans are available to offset cross-region storage fees for ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instances.