Snapshots: creating, rolling back and deleting

A snapshot is a point-in-time image of your server. Create it right before an update or a larger change - if something goes wrong, you roll the server back to exactly this state. You will find snapshots in the Snapshots tab.

Creating a snapshot

1. Click Create snapshot.
2. Enter a name consisting of letters, digits, - and _, for example before-update, and optionally a description.
3. With Include RAM state the memory contents are saved as well: when rolling back, the server continues exactly at this point. Without RAM it starts as after a restart. With RAM, creation takes longer.

Quota and expiry

How many snapshots you can have at the same time depends on the plan and on additionally booked slots; the display at the top shows, for example, "1 of 3 snapshots used". If all slots are used, "Create snapshot" is disabled until you delete a snapshot or book additional slots. Snapshots are deleted automatically after 14 days - the list shows when a snapshot expires. They are intended for short-term rollbacks, not as a permanent backup.

Rolling back

With Restore you roll the server back to the state of the snapshot. The current state is lost, including all data created since the snapshot. The snapshot itself remains until you delete it or it expires.

Deleting

Use the bin to delete a snapshot you no longer need. Snapshots named vor-neuinstallation-… are created by the reinstallation. They contain the old system; only when they are deleted is its disk released as well.

Booking additional snapshot slots

Your plan includes a fixed number of snapshots. If that is not enough, book additional slots: in the Snapshots tab in the Additional snapshot slots box below the list. There you can see how many slots are included, how many additional ones you have and how many are used, as well as the price per slot and month and the maximum number.

More slots

1. Increase the number with +.
2. Check change shows the monthly amount and the pro-rata amount until the next billing date.
3. Confirm and click Book with costs. You receive a pro-rata invoice; as soon as it is paid, the slots are available. From the next billing date they appear as a separate item on your invoice.

Fewer slots

Reduce the number with - and confirm. The reduction applies from the next billing date; until then you keep the slots you have paid for. There is no credit for the current period.

• You can only reduce if your existing snapshots still fit into the slots afterwards - otherwise delete snapshots first (the message states the number).
• You can withdraw a scheduled reduction with Revoke until the effective date.
• If you create further snapshots afterwards and they do not fit into the new number on the effective date, the reduction is postponed to the next billing date.

As snapshots are deleted automatically after 14 days, slots also become free again by themselves.