Automated Snapshots

Automated snapshots provide a convenient way to automatically create daily backups of your instances without manual intervention. These snapshots are created on a schedule and automatically cleaned up after a retention period.

Overview

Automated snapshots complement manual snapshots by providing:

  • Daily automatic backups of your instances
  • Automatic retention management - old snapshots are cleaned up automatically
  • Consistent backup schedule - snapshots are created at the same time every day
  • Peace of mind - know your data is being backed up regularly

How It Works

Schedule

By default, automated snapshots are created daily at 2:00 AM UTC. A backup policy replaces that default for one instance: from its Backups tab choose Set your own schedule and pick the time, the timezone it applies in, and whether snapshots are taken every day, on weekdays or once a week. On the schedule the system will automatically:

  1. Create a snapshot for each instance that has automated snapshots enabled
  2. Name the snapshot with a standardized format: automated-YYYYMMDD
  3. Mark the snapshot as automated for easy identification

Retention Policy

Automated snapshots are retained for 3 days by default; a backup policy sets any retention from 1 to 90 days. After this period, they are automatically deleted to free up storage space. This retention policy only applies to automated snapshots - manual snapshots are never automatically deleted.

The cleanup process runs daily at 4:00 AM UTC, removing snapshots older than the retention period.

Enabling Automated Snapshots

Automated snapshots are opt-in and must be enabled individually for each instance:

For VPS Instances

  1. Navigate to your VPS instance details page
  2. Go to the Settings or Snapshots tab
  3. Toggle the "Enable Automated Snapshots" option
  4. Save your changes

For Cache Instances

  1. Navigate to your Cache instance details page
  2. Go to the Settings or Snapshots tab
  3. Toggle the "Enable Automated Snapshots" option
  4. Save your changes

For Database Instances

  1. Navigate to your Database instance details page
  2. Go to the Settings or Snapshots tab
  3. Toggle the "Enable Automated Snapshots" option
  4. Save your changes

Viewing Automated Snapshots

You can view all your snapshots (both automated and manual) in two ways:

Centralized Snapshots Page

Visit the Snapshots page from the main navigation menu to see all snapshots across all your instances in one place. You can:

  • Filter by instance type (VPS, Cache, Database)
  • Filter by automated vs manual snapshots
  • Filter by status (ready, creating, failed, etc.)
  • Search by instance name
  • Sort by various columns

Instance Details Page

Each instance's details page shows snapshots specific to that instance, including both automated and manual snapshots. Automated snapshots are clearly marked with an "Automated" badge.

Automated vs Manual Snapshots

FeatureAutomated SnapshotsManual Snapshots
CreationAutomatic, daily at 2 AM UTCCreated manually by you
NamingStandardized: automated-YYYYMMDDCustom name of your choice
RetentionAutomatically deleted after 3 daysKept until manually deleted
Use CaseRegular daily backupsImportant milestones, pre-maintenance backups

Best Practices

  1. Enable for production instances - Always enable automated snapshots for production workloads
  2. Use manual snapshots too - Create manual snapshots before major changes or updates
  3. Monitor snapshot status - Check the snapshots page regularly to ensure backups are completing successfully
  4. Plan your maintenance - Schedule maintenance after the automated snapshot time (2 AM UTC) to ensure you have a recent backup

Restoring from Automated Snapshots

Automated snapshots work exactly like manual snapshots for restoration purposes:

  1. Navigate to the snapshot (either from the centralized Snapshots page or the instance details page)
  2. Click the Restore button
  3. Follow the restoration process

Note: You can restore from an automated snapshot even after it would normally be deleted, as long as you initiate the restore before the cleanup runs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the schedule?

Yes. Open the instance's Backups tab and choose Set your own schedule: pick the time and the timezone, and how often (every day, weekdays, or once a week). Instances without their own policy keep the 2:00 AM UTC default.

Can I change the retention period?

Yes, in the same backup policy: any retention from 1 to 90 days. Shortening it removes older automated snapshots at the next cleanup; manual snapshots are never touched.

What happens if a snapshot creation fails?

Failed automated snapshots are logged and visible in the snapshots list. The system will attempt to create a new snapshot the next day. You should investigate any persistent failures.

Do automated snapshots affect instance performance?

Snapshot creation has minimal impact on instance performance. The process is designed to be non-disruptive and runs during typically low-traffic hours.

Can I disable automated snapshots temporarily?

Yes, you can toggle the automated snapshots setting off at any time. Simply disable the option in your instance settings. You can re-enable it later.

Are automated snapshots included in my plan?

Snapshot storage follows the same pricing as manual snapshots. Check your billing dashboard for storage costs.