This topic describes how to use the cross-region backup feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance. After you enable the cross-region backup feature, the backup files of the RDS instance are automatically replicated from the source region to the specified destination region. You can use the backup files in the destination region to for regulatory compliance and disaster recovery.
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.
For more information about the default backup feature, see Back up an ApsaraDB RDS for SQL Server instance.
For more information about how to use the cross-region backup feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for MySQL instance, see Use the cross-region backup feature.
For more information about how to use the cross-region backup feature for an ApsaraDB RDS for PostgreSQL instance, see Use the cross-region backup feature.
Differences between cross-region backups and default backups
Item | Cross-region backup | Default backup |
Default configuration | By default, the feature is disabled. If you want to use the cross-region backup feature, you must manually enable the feature. | By default, the feature is enabled. |
Backup storage | Backup files are stored in a region that is different from the region of the RDS instance. | Backup files are stored in the region in which the RDS instance resides. |
Restoration | The data of a cross-region backup file can be restored only to a new RDS instance that resides in the destination region. | Data can be restored to one of the following RDS instances:
|
Retention period | If the RDS instance is released, its cross-region backup files are still retained based on the cross-region backup retention period that you specify. | By default, the backup files of an RDS instance are retained for seven days after the RDS instance is released. |
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.
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?
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.
Billing rules
The following fees are generated if you perform cross-region backups on an RDS instance in the ApsaraDB RDS console:
Cross-region storage fee: USD 0.0002 per GB-hour
Network traffic fee. For more information, see Network traffic fees.
If your RDS instance contains a large amount of data, we recommend that your use DBS storage plans to offset the network traffic fees. For more information, see Storage fees.
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)
NoteThe 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
- 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.
Find the RDS instance for which you want to enable the cross-region backup feature. In the Actions column, choose
.NoteYou 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.
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.
NoteAfter 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.
Click OK.
Enable the cross-region backup feature for multiple RDS instances at a time
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.
On the Cross-region Backup tab, click the Pending Instances tab.
Select the RDS instances for which you want to enable the cross-region backup feature. Then, click Backup Settings.
NoteYou 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.
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.
NoteAfter 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.
Click OK.
Modify the cross-region backup settings of an RDS instance
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.
On the Backups page, click the
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.NoteIf 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.
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.
On the Backups page, click the
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.Change the values of the Cross-region Backup Status parameter to Disabled and the Cross-region Backup Retention Period parameter to 7.
NoteAfter 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.
Click OK.
View and download the cross-region backup sets of an RDS instance
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.
Click the
tab. Then, click the Backup Instances tab to view the cross-region backup sets of the RDS instance.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.
Click Download.
NoteYou 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.
Related operations
Operation | Description |
Checks whether an instance has a cross-region backup set that can be used to restore data across regions. | |
Restores the data of an instance to a new instance. | |
Modifies the cross-region backup settings of an instance. | |
Queries the cross-region backup settings of an instance. | |
Queries the cross-region data backup files of an instance. | |
Queries the cross-region log backup files of an instance. | |
Queries the available destination regions to which the cross-region backup files from a specific source region can be replicated. | |
Queries the instances for which the cross-region backup feature is enabled in a region and the cross-region backup settings of the instances. |