<a id="snapshots"></a>

# Snapshots

Snapshots can be taken of a specific volume or a VM instance which can include
a boot volume and multiple data volumes. The snapshot takes a copy of the volume
or a VM instance at a specific time, and then subsequent snapshots create a change
log thus allowing for restoration of a single volume or an entire VM instance.
Volume snapshots can also be used to create images.

For remote snapshots, see [Remote Snapshots](b2os.md#remote-snapshots) under
[Backup to Object Storage (B2OS)](b2os.md#backup-to-object-store).

## Creating Snapshots of VM Instances

1. Navigate to the **Compute > Instances** view.
2. From the displayed list, select the VM instance for which the snapshot is
   to be created and click **More**.
3. In the More menu, select **Snapshot**.
4. In the displayed **Create Snapshot** window, enter a name for the new snapshot
   or accept the default name consisting of the original VM instance name and
   the date-time stamp of the snapshot creation.
5. Enter the description of the snapshot.
6. Click **OK**.  A new snapshot is created. It is displayed in the **Compute**
   > **Snapshots** view.

<a id="recover-vm-instances-from-snapshots"></a>

## Recover VM Instances from Snapshots

1. Navigate to the **Compute > Snapshots** view.

   To recover from Object Storage, select the **Remote Snapshots** tab.
2. From the displayed list, select a VM instance snapshot.
3. From the top toolbar, click **Restore**.
4. In the **Restore Instance > Compute** tab, enter the following:
   * **Name** - the display name for the VM instance.
   * **Instance Type** - defines the amount of compute resource of the VM
     instance (CPU and RAM).
   * **Key Pair** - set of security credentials for ensuring the identity of
     the user connecting to the VM instance.
   * **Options**:
     : * **Power Up** - launches the VM instance post-creation.
   * **High Availability** - check this option to ensure the instance is restarted
     in the event of a failure.
   * **Protect from Deletion** - check this option to protect the instance
     from accidental deletion.
5. In the **Restore Instance > Storage** tab, enter the following:
   * **Boot Volume** - size of boot volume in GB.
   * **Volume Type** - from the dropdown list, select the volume type that
     will be used for the boot volume of the VM instance.
6. In the **Restore Instance > Networking** tab, select from the following
   options:
   * **Same Network + IP** - the recovered VM instance will have the same IP as
     that in the snapshot.
   * **Same Network** - the recovered VM instance will be on same network as
     that in snapshot, but with different IP.
   * **Manual** - select any network.
7. In the **Restore Instance > Config** tab, enter the following:
   * **Tags** - attach one or more tags to this VM instance.
   * **Add** - to enter metadata key and value pairs.
8. Click **Finish**.

## Other VM Instance Snapshot Operations

The following other operations are available from top toolbar in
**Compute > Snapshots** view.

* **Modify** - create updated snapshot.
* **Delete** - delete a snapshot.
* **Copy** - copy a snapshot.

<a id="volume-snapshot-operations"></a>

## Volume Snapshot Operations

1. Navigate to the **Storage > Snapshots** view.

   To recover from Object Storage, select the **Remote Snapshots** tab.
2. Select a snapshot from the displayed list.

   The following operations are available from the top toolbar.
   * **Create** - create updated snapshot.
   * **Rename** - rename existing snapshot.
   * **Create Volume** - restore volume from a snapshot.
   * **Create Image** - create image from a snapshot.
   * **Delete** - delete a snapshot.