ApsaraVideo VOD provides four tiered storage classes for audio and video files: Standard, Infrequent Access (IA), Archive Storage, and Cold Archive. Selecting an appropriate storage class based on your data access frequency helps you balance storage costs with access performance.
Storage class comparison
Evaluate data access frequency, supported features and limitations, and costs to select the right storage class.
Comparison metric | Scenarios | Data access | Feature limitations | Costs |
Standard | Ideal for social sharing, audio or video applications, large websites, and big data analytics, such as program downloads and mobile applications. | Real-time access with millisecond latency. |
| Highest. Billed at standard media asset storage fees. |
Infrequent Access | Suitable for infrequent access scenarios, such as once or twice per month on average, including hot standby data and surveillance videos. | Real-time access with millisecond latency. |
| Lower. Data retrieval fees apply for each access. |
Archive Storage | Suitable for long-term data storage, such as archives, medical images, scientific data, and film and television materials. | Low latency. Data must be restored before it can be read. Restoration takes approximately one minute. |
| Low. Data retrieval fees apply for each restore operation. Replica files are billed at Standard storage rates. |
Cold Archive | Suitable for cold data requiring very long-term retention, such as compliance data, raw data for AI or big data, film and television media resources, and archived educational videos. | High latency. Data must be restored before it can be read. Higher priority results in faster restoration. Restoration times by priority are as follows:
|
| Lowest. Data retrieval fees apply for each restore operation. Replica files are billed at Standard storage rates. |
Scenario 1: Change from Standard to another storage class
When data access frequency decreases, change the storage class from Standard to one of the other three storage classes to reduce costs.
After changing the storage class of a media asset to Infrequent Access, Archive Storage, or Cold Archive, you cannot perform media processing tasks such as transcoding, video editing, or snapshot capture.
Console
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the left navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video to go to the Audio/Video list page.
In the Actions column for the target audio or video, choose More > Modify Storage Class.
Select the target storage class and the storage scope. The storage scope defines the granularity of the change. Options include the following:
All: Includes the audio or video source file and all transcoded stream files.
Source File: Includes only the audio or video source file, excluding other transcoded streams.
After making your selection, click OK.
OpenAPI
You can call the Modify the storage class of a media asset API to batch modify media asset storage classes. To modify them to Infrequent Access (IA) storage, the core code of the request body is as follows:
com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.UpdateMediaStorageClassRequest updateMediaStorageClassRequest =
new com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.UpdateMediaStorageClassRequest()
.setMediaIds("d0386be5bedb71f0801b5017e1**")
.setScope("All")
.setStorageClass("IA");Scenario 2: Change from Infrequent Access to another storage class
If data read frequency increases and leads to excessive data retrieval fees, change the storage class from Infrequent Access to Standard.
If there is no need to read the data, change the storage class from Infrequent Access to Archive Storage or Cold Archive to reduce storage costs.
Console (only if the minimum storage duration of 30 days is met)
After a media asset has been stored in the Infrequent Access storage class for at least 30 days, you can change its storage class in the console. If the minimum storage duration is not met, an error message appears: 'Failed to change the storage class. The video does not meet the minimum storage duration requirement.' In this case, use the OpenAPI to make the change.
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the left navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video. The audio and video list page appears.
In the Actions column for the target audio or video, choose More > Modify Storage Class.
Select the target storage class and storage scope, then click OK.
OpenAPI
You can call the UpdateMediaStorageClass API to change the storage class, such as changing Infrequent Access (IA) storage that does not meet the 30-day minimum storage duration to Archive Storage. To do this, set AllowUpdateWithoutTimeLimit = true. This operation incurs storage fees for the period shorter than the minimum storage duration. The core code for the request body is as follows:
com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.UpdateMediaStorageClassRequest updateMediaStorageClassRequest = new com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.UpdateMediaStorageClassRequest()
.setMediaIds("d0386be5bedb71f0801b5017e1f90**")
.setScope("All")
.setStorageClass("Archive")
.setAllowUpdateWithoutTimeLimit(true);Scenario 3: Temporarily read data from Archive Storage or Cold Archive
To temporarily access audio or video files stored in Archive Storage or Cold Archive, you must first restore the files. You can access the files after the restoration completes.
Restoration incurs a data retrieval fee. For more information, see Media storage fees.
When you restore audio or video files from Archive Storage or Cold Archive, a Standard storage replica is created for access. This replica is billed at the Standard storage rate during its validity period.
You cannot restore an audio or video file that is already being restored. Playback and production operations, such as transcoding, video editing, and snapshot capture, are also not supported.
Console
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the left navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video to go to the audio and video list page.
In the Actions column for the target audio or video, choose More > Restore.
Review the information in the prompt and click OK.
Set the replica validity period and restore mode, then click OK.
Parameter
Description
Replica validity period
When data is restored, a Standard storage data replica is created for access. The replica validity period is the duration for which this replica is valid. Unit: days.
Restore mode
This parameter is required only when you restore audio or video files from the Cold Archive storage class. The higher the restore priority, the shorter the restoration time. Restoration times for different priorities are as follows:
Expedited: Within 1 hour.
Standard: Within 2 to 5 hours.
Bulk: Within 5 to 12 hours.
OpenAPI
You can also call the Restore Media Assets API to restore media assets stored in Archive or Cold Archive storage classes. For example, to restore a video resource that is already set to Archive Storage, the core code of the request body is as follows:
com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.RestoreMediaRequest restoreMediaRequest = new com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.RestoreMediaRequest()
.setScope("All")
.setMediaIds("d0386be5bedb71f0801b5017e1f90**")
.setRestoreDays("1");Scenario 4: Change from Archive Storage or Cold Archive to Standard
If the access frequency of a media asset increases and the latency of temporary restoration does not meet your business requirements, change the storage class to Standard. You cannot change it to Infrequent Access.
After a media asset has been stored in Archive Storage for at least 60 days or in Cold Archive for at least 180 days, you can change its storage class in the console. Otherwise, you must call the OpenAPI.
When you successfully change the storage class, the system automatically triggers a restore operation and incurs data retrieval fees. For more information, see Media Asset Storage Billing.
Console (only if the minimum storage duration is met)
If the minimum storage duration is not met, the change fails in the console and a message appears: 'Failed to change the storage class. The video does not meet the minimum storage duration requirement.' In this case, use the OpenAPI to make the change.
Log on to the ApsaraVideo VOD console.
In the left navigation pane, choose Media Files > Audio/Video. The audio and video list page appears.
In the Actions column for the target audio or video, choose More > Modify Storage Class. A secondary confirmation dialog box appears.
Set Target Storage Class to Standard and select a Storage Scope.
OpenAPI
You can call the UpdateMediaStorageClass operation to change the storage class. For example, if you change the storage class from Archive Storage to Standard for a file that has been stored for less than 60 days, set AllowUpdateWithoutTimeLimit = true. You will incur a fee for not meeting the minimum storage duration. The core code in the request body is as follows:
com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.UpdateMediaStorageClassRequest updateMediaStorageClassRequest = new com.aliyun.vod20170321.models.UpdateMediaStorageClassRequest()
.setMediaIds("d0386be5bedb71f0801b5017e1f90**")
.setScope("All")
.setStorageClass("Standard")
.setAllowUpdateWithoutTimeLimit(true);Limits
You can change the storage class of media assets in the console only in the Singapore region. In other regions, use the OpenAPI.
You can change the storage class only for audio and video files. Other file types, such as images and auxiliary media assets, are not supported.
Billing
Changing the storage class involves the following four types of fees. For details about storage and retrieval fees, see media asset storage billing:
Storage fee: Billed monthly based on the selected storage class and the amount of data. Unit prices are ranked from highest to lowest: Standard > Infrequent Access > Archive > Cold Archive.
Data retrieval fee:
Incurred when reading data from Infrequent Access storage.
Incurred when restoring data from Archive Storage or Cold Archive.
Incurred when changing the storage class from Archive or Cold Archive to Standard, which triggers an automatic restoration.
Fee for not meeting the minimum storage duration: If you modify or delete a media asset in Infrequent Access, Archive, or Cold Archive storage before the minimum storage duration is met, you are charged a one-time fee for the remaining days.
Temporary replica storage fee: A restore operation creates a temporary Standard storage replica. During its validity period, this replica is billed at the Standard storage rate.
FAQ
Why was I charged an extra fee when I changed a media asset from Infrequent Access to Standard storage?
This fee is charged because the media asset did not meet the 30-day minimum storage duration in the Infrequent Access storage class. The system bills you for the remaining days. For example, if you change the class after 10 days, you are charged for the remaining 20 days.
What is the difference between restoring a media asset from Archive/Cold Archive and changing its storage class?
Restoration is a temporary operation. It creates a Standard storage replica with a validity period for access. The storage class of the original file remains unchanged.
Changing the storage class is a permanent operation. It changes the storage class from Archive or Cold Archive to Standard and incurs a data retrieval fee. After the change, the asset is billed at the Standard storage rate and supports permanent, real-time access.