ApsaraDB RDS:Use the cross-region backup feature

After a cross-region backup is complete, you can restore the data of the RDS instance by using the generated cross-region backup files to an existing RDS instance or to a new RDS instance that resides in the destination region. For more information, see Restore the data of an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance across regions.

Differences between cross-region backups and default backups

Prerequisites

• The RDS instance meets the following requirements:

  • The RDS instance uses a general-purpose or dedicated instance type. Shared instance types are not supported.

  • The RDS instance uses cloud disks. Serverless RDS instances are not supported.

Note

The RDS instance does not run SQL Server 2014 SE, SQL Server 2017 SE, or SQL Server 2019 SE on RDS Basic edition. The RDS instance also does not run SQL Server 2019 EE or SQL Server 2022 EE on RDS Cluster Edition.

• Snapshot backups are used for RDS instances that run SQL Server 2017 EE on RDS Cluster Edition. Physical backups are not supported.

• Cloud disk encryption is disabled for the RDS instance. For more information, see Configure the cloud disk encryption feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.

• The AliyunServiceRoleForDBS service-linked role is created by using your Alibaba Cloud account when you use the backup feature of ApsaraDB RDS for the first time. For more information, see How do I create a service-linked role for DBS?

Billing rules

Limits

• Cross-region backups do not affect default backups. These types of backups can exist at the same time.

• After a default backup is complete, a cross-region backup is triggered. During the cross-region backup process, the system dumps the generated default backup files of the RDS instance to the destination region.

• After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the system checks whether valid backup sets are generated for the RDS instance over the most recent 24 hours. If no valid backup sets are generated over the most recent 24 hours, a full backup is triggered for the RDS instance.

• You can use the ApsaraDB RDS console to store the backup files that are generated by the snapshot backup feature to another region only for an RDS instance that runs SQL Server on RDS Cluster Edition. For more information, see Use the snapshot backup feature.

• After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the system checks the valid backup sets that are generated for the RDS instance over the most recent 24 hours.

  • If continuous log files are archived following the valid backup sets, the system dumps the archived log files to the destination region.

  • If no continuous binary log files are archived following the valid backup sets, a backup is triggered on the secondary RDS instance.

• The cross-region backup feature is not supported in some Alibaba Cloud regions due to network reasons. The following table describes the Alibaba Cloud regions in which the feature is supported.

  Source region	Destination region
  China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Qingdao), China (Beijing), China (Zhangjiakou), China (Hohhot), China (Shenzhen), China (Ulanqab), China (Chengdu), China (Guangzhou), and China (Heyuan)	China (Hangzhou), China (Shanghai), China (Qingdao), China (Shenzhen), China (Zhangjiakou), China (Hohhot), China (Beijing), China (Ulanqab), China (Chengdu), China (Guangzhou), and China (Heyuan) Note The backup files from the source region can be replicated to a region other than the source region. The available destination regions vary based on your business requirements.

Procedure

• Enable the cross-region backup feature for a single RDS instance

  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 RDS instance for which you want to enable the cross-region backup feature. In the Actions column, choose More > Cross-region Backup Settings.

     Note

     • You can also go to the Backup and Restoration page of the RDS instance, click the Backup Strategy tab, and then click Edit in the Cross-region Backup Settings section.

     • If the Cross-region Backup Settings section or the Backup Settings tab is not displayed, you must check whether the RDS instance meets all prerequisites.

  3. Configure the following parameters.

     Parameter	Description
     Cross-region Backup	Specifies whether to enable the cross-region backup feature. Select Enable.
     Backup Region	The destination region to which the backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated.
     Cross-region Retention Period	The retention period of cross-region backup files. Valid values: 7 to 1825. Unit: days. The longest cross-region backup retention period spans five years. Note After the RDS instance expires or is released, its cross-region backup files are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. You can perform the following operations to view the cross-region backup files that do not expire: Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. On the page that appears, click the Cross-region Backup tab.
     Cross-region Log Backup	Specifies whether to enable the cross-region log backup feature. After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the log backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated to the specified OSS bucket in the destination region.
     Compliance Commitments Regarding Cross-border Data Transfers	Read and select the relevant agreement.

  4. Click OK.

• Enable the cross-region backup feature for multiple RDS instances at a time

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

  2. On the Cross-region Backup tab, click the Pending Instances tab.

  3. Select the RDS instances for which you want to enable the cross-region backup feature. Then, click Backup Settings.

     Note

     You can also click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column of a single RDS instance to enable the cross-region backup feature only for the RDS instance.

  4. Configure the following parameters.

     Parameter	Description
     Cross-region Backup	Specifies whether to enable the cross-region backup feature. Select Enable.
     Backup Region	The destination region to which the backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated.
     Cross-region Retention Period	The retention period of cross-region backup files. Valid values: 7 to 1825. Unit: days. The longest cross-region backup retention period spans five years. Note After the RDS instance expires or is released, its cross-region backup files are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. You can perform the following operations to view the cross-region backup files that do not expire: Log on to the ApsaraDB RDS console. In the left-side navigation pane, click Backups. On the page that appears, click the Cross-region Backup tab.
     Cross-region Log Backup	Specifies whether to enable the cross-region log backup feature. After you enable the cross-region log backup feature, the log backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated to the specified OSS bucket in the destination region.
     Compliance Commitments Regarding Cross-border Data Transfers	Read and select the relevant agreement.

  5. Click OK.

• Modify the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance

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

  2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance for which you want to modify the cross-region backup settings. Then, click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column to modify the cross-region backup settings of the RDS instance.

     Note

     If the RDS instance is released, you can change only the cross-region backup retention period.

• Disable the cross-region backup feature for an RDS instance

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

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

  2. On the Backups page, click the Cross-region Backup tab. Click the Backup Instances tab and find the RDS instance for which you want to disable the cross-region backup feature. Then, click Settings in the Cross-region Backup Settings column.

  3. Change the values of the Cross-region Backup Status parameter to Disabled and the Cross-region Backup Retention Period parameter to 7.

     Note

     After you disable the cross-region backup feature for your RDS instance, no new cross-region backup files are generated and you are no longer charged for the traffic that is consumed to transmit cross-region backup files. However, you are still charged for the storage of the existing cross-region backup files within the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. The existing cross-region backup files are retained for at least seven days. You can set the cross-region backup retention period to seven days. After the seven-day retention period elapses, all existing cross-region backup files are deleted, and you are no longer charged for the storage of cross-region backup files. For more information about how to specify a cross-region backup retention period, see Procedure.

  4. Click OK.

• View and download the cross-region backup sets of an RDS instance

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

  2. Click the Cross-region Backup tab. Then, click the Backup Instances tab to view the cross-region backup sets of the RDS instance.

  3. Click the ID of the RDS instance. On the page that appears, click the Data Backup or Log Backup tab. Then, find the backup set that you want to download, and click Download in the Actions column.

  4. Click Download.

     Note

     You are not charged for the traffic that is consumed to download backup sets over an internal network. However, you are charged for the traffic that is consumed to download backup sets over the Internet. For more information, see Network traffic fees.

FAQ

After I disable the cross-region backup feature for my RDS instance, why am I still charged for the storage of cross-region backup files?

After you disable the cross-region backup feature for your RDS instance, no new cross-region backup files are generated and you are no longer charged for the traffic that is consumed to transmit cross-region backup files. However, you are still charged for the storage of the existing cross-region backup files within the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. The existing cross-region backup files are retained for at least seven days. You can set the cross-region backup retention period to seven days. After the seven-day retention period elapses, all existing cross-region backup files are deleted and you are no longer charged for the storage of cross-region backup files. For more information about how to specify a cross-region backup retention period, see Procedure.

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